The MTA wants to break the bottlenecks on the longest bus route in Manhattan, the Daily News has learned.
The 12-mile long M5 bus — running from the George Washington Bridge to the Staten Island Ferry — will be split into two routes at 37th Street so that the buses are no longer stuck on congested midtown streets.
“The M5 is plagued by chronic reliability issues,” MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz said.
The agency hasn’t determined when the route will be changed.
Manhattan’s traffic woes can cause M5 buses to get so far behind schedule, roughly 15% of trips are cut short.
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With two separate routes, it’ll be easier for buses to complete their trips.
“They’re going to see improved service on both ends,” Ortiz said of M5 riders.
Most of the route’s passengers don’t travel the entire length of the stop, according to the MTA.
More than 60% of riders use the bus line north of 37th Street. while nearly a quarter of them use the bus exclusively south of the street.
Meanwhile, the MTA will also extend the M1 bus to Worth Street, instead of ending it at 8th Street.
“This proposal will mean more bus access across lower Manhattan, and shorten commutes throughout the borough,” said State Sen. Dan Squadron, who represents the area and backs the plan.
