3:37 PM on May 30th, 2018

You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. In July 2020 the L train will have recently reactivated. But what, if any, of the ‘temporary improvements’ will remain?

The contenders:

• Ferry Service to 23rd street
• M14 SBS
• Williamsburg Bridge HOV Lane
• New Bus Routes Williamsburg <-> Manhattan
• Expanded G and M service

Of these the city has already committed to the M14 SBS and the expanded G and M service will, even if scaled back initially, eventually become re-up due to ridership increases along those corridors.

The new ferry service, with its 7 minute intervals during rush hour, may prove more useful and popular than the current East River Ferry, with its 20 minute intervals. Its staying power is unknown but it has a shot at fomenting a saner approach to ferries in the city, in which boats are deployed for high-frequency shuttle service between hubs instead of serving as many neighborhoods as possible for political reasons.

The new bus routes, and with them the bridge HOV lane, present as the least likely to stick around following the L’s reactivation. The routes will become redundant as they largely duplicate, rather than compliment, L and J,M,Z services. This contrasts with Chariot’s routes, which exist for trips that currently lack a one-seat subway ride.  Transit advocates will need to work hard to defend the expanded inter-borough bus service in 2020.