Senator Golden Announces Express Bus Service to Be Restored and Access-a-Ride Taxi Voucher Program to Be Expanded to Livery Cabs in Brooklyn for Seniors and the Disabled

Brooklyn – State Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn), this morning announced that negotiations orchestrated through his leadership within the State Senate, have resulted in the return of Uptown/Downtown express bus service on the X27/X37 and the X28/X38 routes serving the Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach and Bensonhurst communities. The service will be restored on Tuesday, July 5, 2011.

Senator Golden also announced the expansion of the livery taxi voucher program for Access-A-Ride users which will provide more efficient service for those in Brooklyn and in the outer-boroughs. The taxi voucher program, which will be operated by the Corporate Transportation Group, and provide door to door service for those with subscription Access-A- Ride service, is expected to commence in the Fall.

Senator Marty Golden stated, “The services cuts of 2010 implemented by the Metropolitan Transit Authority were not equal throughout the city and severely impacted the seniors, the disabled and all people of this part of Brooklyn. The commutes for so many were intolerable and extensive and the MTA left us no other options. Poor bus service, complimented by train stations not fitted with elevators so to allow for access by seniors and the disabled, made getting traveling in our City almost impossible.”

Golden continued, “I thank the Metropolitan Transit Authority for listening and the plaintiffs for their advocacy on behalf of the many who need better transportation services. But the fight continues as Southwest Brooklyn still needs more of the service we lost returned to operation including weekend express bus service.”

Joining Senator Golden at the press conference was Matthew W. Daus, former Taxi & Limousine Commissioner and Chairman of the Transportation Practice Group at Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP and Professor Jonathan Peters of the College of Staten Island. Golden and Daus, joined by Councilman Vincent Gentile (D-Brooklyn) and Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-C-Brooklyn/Staten Island) announced the withdrawal of a lawsuit that was filed against the Metropolitan Transit Authority in New York State Supreme Court.

The plaintiffs, two of whom were in attendance this morning, Jean Ryan and Jen Halbert, filed the lawsuit, financially supported by Senator Golden , in response to service reductions that went into effect on June 27, 2010, alleging age and disability discrimination in violation of New York State and city Human Rights Law. The law firm of Windels Marx provided extensive pro bono work on the case and represents both Senator Golden and CTG.