Re: “New Mega-Station at Gun Hill Road,” March 6–19 issue: Elliot Sander offered the Bronx even more hope in his March 3 State of the MTA address. 

In addition to Metro North and the extension of the D train to Gun Hill Road, Sander stated that he hoped to extend the Second Avenue subway into the outer boroughs and even showed a diagram containing a Bronx extension. Amtrak offers such an easy, efficient and relatively inexpensive route that this proposal is very realistic.

Sander also mentioned that the third track on Bronx lines can be used for more express service.  As I have argued many times, express service (in the direction of heavy travel) can be initiated on the No. 1 line from 96th to 145th streets; on the No. 2 from Third Avenue to Gun Hill Road; and from 149th Street to Burnside Avenue on the No. 4.  As with the No. 6 express, these services should be all-day and not rush hour-only, as should the current express service on the D and the No. 5. 

If these services are supplemented by service diversification (new routes for a one seat ride to more locations), mass transit in the Bronx would be far more rapid, efficient and attractive.  Sander also spoke about off-board loading which can easily be implemented for our local buses at busy stops such as Fordham Plaza and Westchester Square.

 None of these things will happen, however, unless our elected officials become more interested in fostering the borough’s transit needs.  Manhattan got the Second Avenue subway only because the elected officials of that borough organized the people and actively campaigned for it.  Our officials must do the same or nothing will happen.

John Rozankowski

Bedford Park