Award Recognizes Innovative Women-Led Project
Marks the Seventh MTA Project to Receive Award in 11 Years
View Photos of Awards Dinner
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that it was the recipient of the Innovative Transportation Solutions Award from Women in Transportation Seminar – Greater New York Chapter (WTS-GNY) for the Bronx Local Bus Network Redesign, a transformative network redesign led by former MTA Project Manager, Jessica Cignarella. The award was accepted by Cignarella, and another leading member of the team, Cate Contino, at WTS-GNY's 42nd Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner on Tuesday, March 29.
The Bronx Local Bus Network Redesign is the first borough-wide redesign of all Local, Limited and Select Bus Service bus routes. The redesign strategically modifies bus service in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan to better meet the needs of the communities who rely on bus service to go to work, school, and leisure activities.
“Creating a modernized bus network that provides simpler, more frequent, reliable bus service, enhances connections, and expands bus priority for our customers that need it most was at the heart of the project,” said former MTA Project Manager Jessica Cignarella. “I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such an incredible team of dedicated individuals who truly care about bus riders and share the goal of delivering world class bus service to communities in the Bronx.”
“This award deservingly recognizes our bus network redesign team who have demonstrated passion and commitment to this project,” said MTA Assistant Director of Government and Community Relations Cate Contino. “There are many different moving pieces behind a bus network redesign and public engagement is one of the most important. I am proud to be part of a dynamic team that successfully navigated the planning and outreach intricacies to develop a process and a plan to bring better bus service to the Bronx.”
“The Bronx Local Bus Local Network Redesign offers riders more direct routes, faster service and bolsters off-peak service,” said MTA Bus Company Acting President and New York City Transit Department of Buses Senior Vice President Frank Annicaro. “It is an ambitious project undertaken by a talented group of individuals that worked in collaboration with the community and listened to their concerns to develop a plan that would best serve Bronx and Upper Manhattan residents.”
The Bronx Local Bus Network Redesign will launch on June 26, 2022. Key design strategies include bus stop balancing and streamlining routes to improve service reliability and commuter travel time. The project implements more service during off-peak periods and new connections that improve accessibility to other areas of the MTA’s transportation network. The redesigned bus network establishes a strong foundation on which the Authority can continue to build a successful, high frequency network that serves hundreds of thousands of customers. For more on the project, see https://new.mta.info/bronxbusredesign.
Previous MTA projects that received the Innovative Transportation Solutions Award listed below.
2021 – MTA LIRR Positive Train Control
2019 – MTA Reimagines the Customer Experience
2018 – MTA LIRR, Flushing Main Street ADA Station
2015 – MTA Bridges and Tunnels, Credit Card Pilot Program
2013 – MTA Bus Time
2011 – Rehabilitation of the West 96th Street Station
About WTS-GNY
Founded in 1980, WTS-GNY has grown to be the largest chapter with more than 650 members that focuses on creating educational and awareness programs that support the next generation of transportation professionals and promoting the advancement of women in the transportation industry. For more information, see About | WTS (wtsinternational.org).