New York City Council members are making a bid to head off anticipated problems from the shutdown of R and G trains for repair work.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) plans to shut down parts of the R and G tunnels beginning this summer. The R tunnel between Brooklyn and Manhattan will close completely for 14 months from August, and the G tunnel between Brooklyn and Queens will be closed for 12 weekends in 2013, and for five consecutive weeks in 2014.
On Thursday, June 27, elected officials and representatives from community organizations gathered at City Hall to ask for alternatives for the transportation crisis they fear the shutdowns will create.
It’s expected that the closures will cause connecting lines, including the 2, 3, 4, 5, A, B, C, D, F, J, L, M, N, and Q trains, to become more crowded.
A letter sent to the MTA and the city, signed by 17 state and city elected officials, is asking for a more comprehensive plan. So far, the only solutions provided have been shuttle trains and additional MTA staff to guide people.
The letter details a number of community-generated ideas for easing the transportation woes that are feared to arise from the train closures. Some of the ideas include running more trains, adding some buses and ferries, and expediting the expansion of the city’s bike-share program.
They are asking for a response, and viable solutions and alternatives by mid-July.
