As a former NYC transportation commissioner, I am delighted that the city’s bus system is finally at the center of the political conversation. It hasn’t always been that way. Mayor David Dinkins not only appointed me DOT commissioner, he also nominated me to the MTA Board. The thought was the first-ever simultaneous appointments would advance our desire for a strong, coordinated mass transit strategy for NYC.

Within a few months of the new administration, due to a national recession, it became clear the city faced a budget crisis on the scale of billions of dollars. Money for new mass transit just wasn’t available. First Deputy Mayor Norman Steisel led an effort for tolling the East River Bridges to raise the money to support an increase in mass transit. Unfortunately, that effort was blocked by business and political forces beyond City Hall’s reach, and even if it was successful, the needs of NYC’s deteriorating bridges would have consumed all that was raised.

Since new subway construction was out of reach, we pursued a bus strategy,........

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