Senator Golden Offers Mta Solution to Save Overnight Bus Service in Gerritsen Beach

Brooklyn- State Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn) today has sent a letter to Metropolitan Transit Authority Chairman Jay Walder offering a solution to offset the proposed termination of overnight bus service on the B31 in Gerritsen Beach.

Senator Golden is asking the MTA to consider re-routing the B 3 bus overnight so to include a portion of the B31 route that is slated for elimination. The MTA budget, as adopted, calls for the elimination of this service which is the only means of public transportation into and out of Gerritsen Beach as there is no train service. The elimination of overnight service will leave people stranded in this Brooklyn community.

Senator Golden has proposed re-routing one B3 bus per hour down Gerritsen Avenue and then have it continue back along its regular route. The east bound B3 currently travels past Gerritsen Avenue and Avenue U, and it is being proposed that at this point, it could turn south bound and go the 1.4 miles to the end of Gerritsen Avenue, stopping in the B31 bus stops. Upon reaching the end of Gerritsen Avenue, the bus could then turn around and return to its regular route.

Senator Golden stated, “The cut to the overnight service on the B31 is going to severely impact the quality of life of residents of Gerritsen Beach. This plan is a big mistake, as it will trap people in a community, and strand residents who are traveling to or from work in the early morning hours of the day, or for other reasons requiring bus service.”

Golden continued, “I hope that the MTA will take my suggestion and put it into effect if this cut is to be implemented at the end of June. This proposal would assist the commute of those traveling to and from the B and Q trains to Gerritsen Beach and at almost no cost, can this service be implemented. If the MTA does eliminate overnight service on the B31, I am sure this re-routing of the B3 will be welcomed as an alternative.”