The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that 90 newly trained bus operators graduated following their successful completion of training at the Zerega Training Center in Castle Hill in the Bronx.

These operators will help New York City Transit (NYCT) tackle recent crew shortage challenges and bolster the frequency of bus service. This marked the formal end of six weeks of intensive training that began in November. The graduation took place as New York City Transit Bus and MTA Bus Company combined ridership hovers between 60 and 70 percent of pre-pandemic levels.

“More bus operators mean more service for New Yorkers at a time when riders are returning to the transit system,” said New York City Transit Interim President Craig Cipriano. “By improving our recruiting efforts and accelerating the training process, we are able to address the staff shortages that began during the pandemic.”

“Riders can expect a high level of bus service supported by this new group of bus operators,” said Acting President at the MTA Bus Company and Senior Vice President at New York City Transit's Department of Buses Frank Annicaro. “Our team is committed to doing its part to help bring back New York City.”

The new employees join the 265 bus operators who recently completed their training, and the hundreds of NYCT workers who are expected to be onboarded in the months ahead — part of a deliberate effort undertaken by the MTA to rapidly grow the number of bus operators, subway train operators and conductors. A hiring freeze — necessitated by a fiscal crisis that developed during the pandemic — depleted the ranks of bus operators with many veteran workers retiring or leaving their frontline posts.

The MTA is the best way to get around this holiday season. Most agencies are operating on weekend or holiday schedules for Christmas and New Year’s.

New York City Buses

Christmas Eve

On Friday, Dec. 24, buses will run on a Saturday schedule.

Christmas Day

On Saturday, Dec. 25, buses will run on a Sunday schedule.

Monday, Dec. 27 – Thursday, Dec. 30

Buses will run on a reduced weekday schedule with some exceptions. The following bus routes that normally have local and limited service will operate with only local service: M1, M4, Q4, Q5, Q17, Q27, Q36, Q43, Q46, Q83 and Q85.

New Year’s Eve

On Friday, Dec. 31, bus service will run on a reduced weekday schedule with some exceptions:

The following bus routes that normally have local and Limited service will operate with only local service: M1, M4, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q17, Q25, Q27, Q36, Q43, Q46, Q65, Q83, Q85

The following limited-only bus routes will not operate: S81, S84, S86, S91, S92, S94, S96, S98; use local routes S51, S74, S76, S61, S62, S44, S46, S48 instead

The following express bus routes will not operate: SIM4X, SIM8X

The following express bus route variations will not operate: BXM8 City Island service and Super Express trips on the QM2, QM5, QM8 and QM20

All service on routes BM1, BM2, BM3 and BM4 will operate via Downtown and Midtown. There will be no Brooklyn-bound service at stops located at Church St/Barclay St, Park Row/Spruce St, and Frankfort St/Pearl St.

New Year’s Day

On Saturday, Jan. 1, bus service will run on a Sunday schedule.