Emergency repairs are underway this weekend at the Michael J. Quill bus depot in Hell’s Kitchen, with crews working to reinforce a ramp leading into the facility. The depot, the largest in the MTA system, is home to approximately 350 buses serving a dozen Manhattan routes.
Repairs and Assessments
The repairs began Friday evening after defects were discovered on at least one ramp earlier that day. Donald Yates, vice president of Manhattan and Bronx buses for the Transport Workers Union Local 100, stated that the MTA expects the work to be completed by Monday morning and has “made some logistical moves” to maintain bus service throughout the weekend.
The situation unfolds after TWU Local 100 requested access to a structural assessment report on the depot, which was commissioned by the MTA. The MTA provided the report to union leadership on Thursday “on a confidential basis,” and neither the MTA nor the TWU has released a copy to the public.
Ongoing Concerns
The union has previously voiced concerns regarding the depot’s condition, specifically citing spalling concrete and cracks in the roof. The MTA has consistently maintained that the depot is safe. Yates clarified that the current ramp repair does not indicate a broader structural problem, stating, “The building’s not falling down — they have to make repairs to the ramp.”
The MTA was previously fined by the state Department of Labor in 2023 for delays in addressing roof repairs at the depot. The agency has allocated funds in its current capital plan for repairs at Michael J. Quill, as well as at the Gun Hill Depot and the East New York Depot, where a long-out-of-commission fire sprinkler system requires replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will bus service be disrupted?
Bus service at the MTA’s largest depot is expected to be unaffected during the repairs.
When is the repair work expected to finish?
The MTA expects the ramp repairs to be concluded by Monday morning.
Has the structural assessment report been made public?
No, the structural assessment report was provided to members of TWU Local 100 leadership “on a confidential basis” and has not been released to the public.
As the MTA continues repairs and assessments, it remains to be seen whether further issues will be identified and what impact those findings may have on the depot’s long-term maintenance schedule.
