N.Y. equips airport-bound buses with luggage racks

Focusing on the large number of customers who choose to take public transit to LaGuardia and Kennedy Airports, New York City Transit is beginning a pilot program to install luggage racks on some of the buses serving the airport routes. The new racks are expected to make for a more comfortable ride for passengers carrying luggage onboard, while providing more room for other passengers.

The first luggage rack-equipped bus was placed in service Tuesday morning on the M60 route, which begins its run to LaGuardia Airport from Broadway and 106th Street in Manhattan. Situated across from the bus' rear door, the unit provides a convenient place to store luggage, eliminating the need to leave bags in the aisle or stash them beneath seats.

"We believe that the racks will be a great amenity, making things more comfortable for our customers and even helping our bus operators speed their trips. We are going to have our managers out monitoring these buses, asking our customers and bus operators if they are seeing an improvement," said Joseph Smith, senior vice president, department of buses. "If the results are positive, we will expand the installation of the racks to other buses on these routes."

The racks will be installed on a total of 10 buses during the pilot and those buses will be placed on the seven routes that serve the two New York City airports.