Statement of Senator Golden and Councilman Gentile on Mta Lawsuit Ruling

BROOKLYN − The Metropolitan Transportation Authority must return to court in July to prove that Access-a-Ride adequately serves senior citizens and the disabled community most heavily impacted by service reductions in south Brooklyn, ruled a State Supreme Court judge today.

Senator Martin Golden (R-C-I-Brooklyn) and Councilman Vincent Gentile (D-Brooklyn) coordinated the filing of a lawsuit seeking an injunction against changes to 11 bus lines in south Brooklyn this morning. Judge Kenneth T. Sherman denied the Authority’s request that the suit be dismissed, instead requiring all parties to return to Court on July 22, 2010 at 2 PM to review Access-a-Ride’s ability to fill the transportation gap in south Brooklyn after the cuts go into effect this Sunday.

The following is a joint statement of Senator Golden and Councilman Gentile:

“We filed this lawsuit to stop the MTA’s cuts from failing our neighborhood. The MTA has lost sight of its riders’ needs and interests; we have not. We know how important south Brooklyn bus lines are to local residents’ vitality and the vitality of our community as a whole; that vitality must not be sacrificed to the MTA’s shortsightedness.

“In the wake of the coming bus cuts, the only option left for seniors and the disabled is Access-a-Ride, which provides subpar and inflexible service at best. The July 22 hearing will force the MTA to prove that they are not failing south Brooklyn, and that Access-a-Ride is adequately serving the needs of our community.

“Judge Sherman expressed concern about our community’s lack of options in the wake of service cuts. It should be the top priority of the MTA to enhance and improve the service provided by Access-a-Ride in the wake of this ruling and as we head into a summer with fewer ways to travel within the City.”