The Transit Authority agreed last week to order an independent study on the impact of a change in a bus route in Yorkville. The agreement, between the authority and two neighborhood associations, settled a suit in which the neighborhood groups charged that the M31 bus route was altered without a required public hearing.
Earlier this year, citing financial reasons, the authority merged the route, which ran from 92d Street along York Avenue, with the M58, which ran crosstown on 57th Street.
Opponents of the change argued that service on the merged route would deteriorate as buses got bogged down in 57th Street traffic, and they were unhappy with the loss of stops near the express subway station at 59th Street and Lexington Avenue.
Under the settlement, an outside consultant has 150 days to prepare an evaluation of the changes on ridership and revenue, though recommendations would not be binding.
"But we hope that the M.T.A. will follow the guidelines of an authoritative expert," said Jack Lester, the lawyer for the 79th Street Neighborhood Association and the East 60's Neighborhood Association.
"We plan to act in good faith and proceed according to the findings," said Jared Lebow, a Transit Authority spokesman. M.H.
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