Senator Dilan Praises Proposed Transit Service Restorations as Part of MTA $29 Million Investment

Senator Martin Malavé Dilan (D-Bushwick) today praised the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s plan to restore transit services to North Brooklyn that were cut as part of the MTA’s 2009-2010 cost saving actions.

“The North Brooklyn communities of Greenpoint and Williamsburg lost some vital transit services as part of the 2010 reductions. Today, not only are some of these services returning, but are being expanded to meet growing demand. I commend MTA Chairman Lhota for making a little go a long way and responding to the needs of our growing Brooklyn communities,” said Senator Dilan, ranker Senate Transportation Committee.

Some improvements of particular interest to the communities of Greenpoint and Williamsburg include permanently extending the G Line to Church Avenue and the implementation of a new Williamsburg waterfront bus service to meet growing demand in the area. Also the MTA will restore the B24 weekend service from Greenpoint to Williamsburg Bridge Plaza and the B39 service that traverses the Williamsburg Bridge to the Lower East Side.

According to the MTA, the proposed restorations and service increases are based on a careful analysis that both meets the increased community needs and financial state of the authority. However, the authority will continue working with Senator Dilan as these proposals develop and as additional needs arise.

“As these proposed services go into effect, I will continue to work with the authority to ensure prompt and reliable service for each of our communities. Again, I commend and thank Chairman Lhota for his commitment to the ridership and improved transit service throughout the city,” said Senator Dilan.

The $29 million in service investments will begin this October and will be phased in over the course of a year.

Complete North Brooklyn service restorations, and expansion, include:

• Restore B2 weekend service from Midwood to Kings Plaza Mall via Avenue R;
• Restore B4 service east of Ocean Parkway to Knapp Street via Neptune, Sheepshead Bay Road, Emmons Avenue/Shore Parkway;
• Restore B48 service south of Atlantic Avenue to Prospect Park station via Franklin/Classon avenues;
• Extend B57 from Carroll Gardens to Red Hook via Court Street, Lorraine Street, Otsego Street;
• Restore B64 service south of Cropsey Avenue to Stillwell Avenue via Harway Avenue;
• Restore B69 weekend service from Kensington to Downtown Brooklyn;
• Implement new service connecting Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Vinegar Hill and the Brooklyn Navy Yard;
• Implement new bus service between New Lots Ave. Station in East New York and Spring Creek;
• Restore X27 weekend service from Bay Ridge to Midtown Manhattan and add new Bay Ridge stop on the X17 Staten Island route to serve former riders of the discontinued X28 weekend service;
• Restore Q24 service west of Broadway Junction to Bushwick Avenue via Broadway.