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Letter to the MTA

Greenpoint-Williamsburg organization Neighbors Allied for Good Growth has recently formed a Transportation Working Group to address transportation issues in North Brooklyn. One of this group's goals is to advocate for improved transit access. The group drafted the following testimony, which was submitted at yesterday's MTA public hearing in Brooklyn on fare hikes and service changes.

If you want to join the transportation group, email transportation@nag-brooklyn.org. The next meeting is February 12th at 7pm.

Excerpt from the letter:

We firmly believe that the following must be addressed, particularly as they affect the neighborhoods of Greenpoint-Williamsburg:

Our local subway options provide insufficient service for our neighborhood's growing population;
The proposal to cut B39 and B48 bus service is unfair to local residents who depend on ADA accessible public transit; and,
The difference between funds available and funds necessary to achieve these goals must be allocated by the State Legislature and Governor to the MTA.

Full letter after the jump...

Douglas Sussman
Director, MTA Community Affairs
347 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Re: Written Comments to the MTA's Proposed Fare and Service Changes

Dear Mr. Sussman:

Neighbors Allied for Good Growth (NAG) is a volunteer-based community planning and environmental justice organization that has been performing grassroots organizing, advocacy and outreach/education to the North Brooklyn waterfront community of Greenpoint-Williamsburg since 1994. NAG advocates with and for the residents who live and work in our community, serving as a voice for the issues directly affecting our neighborhood.

We firmly believe that the following must be addressed, particularly as they affect the neighborhoods of Greenpoint-Williamsburg:

Our local subway options provide insufficient service for our neighborhood's growing population;
The proposal to cut B39 and B48 bus service is unfair to local residents who depend on ADA accessible public transit; and,
The difference between funds available and funds necessary to achieve these goals must be allocated by the State Legislature and Governor to the MTA.
Subway Service

North Brooklyn's population has increased dramatically in recent years. As a result, local subways have experienced a significant increase in ridership; most notably ridership on the L has increased over forty-six percent in the last 10 years. The resulting congestion and overcrowding has become problematic. In the morning rush hour it is commonplace to wait for three trains to pass Bedford Avenue before there is space to board. As a result, many residents ride the L train east of Williamsburg during rush hour in order to pick up the Manhattan-bound train at a less-congested subway station.

The fate of the G train is particularly important. The growing populations of Greenpoint-Williamsburg and other neighborhoods, such as Clinton Hill and Bedford-Stuyvesant, depend on this neglected line. The G is no longer an underutilized line— in fact, crowding during morning rush hours leads to long and inconsistent headways between trains (particularly in the northbound direction). The frequency of G service fails to accommodate this section of Brooklyn's burgeoning population, particularly at middays, in evenings, and at night. The G also has fewer cars than any other subway line (shortened from six cars in 2001). Besides leading to more running for the train on long platforms, the shortened train raises issues of security to riders who wait at the end of the platform, particularly at night.

The MTA promised better G service along with the last fare increase, and subsequently abandoned that promise. Decreasing the already poor service of the G train will be devastating to the communities that depend on it. We implore the MTA to increase, rather than decrease, the line's frequency and, for the sake of room and safety, add additional cars to each train.

Bus Service

The B39 bus provides local service from Williamsburg Bridge Plaza to the Lower East side. Albeit a short trip, the bus affords residents of South Williamsburg a necessary method of transportation across the East River. Given proposals to significantly decrease service on the J/M/Z subway lines, this will notably affect access to Manhattan via the Williamsburg Bridge. Because Manhattan J/M/Z stations are not ADA accessible, the elderly and handicapped residents of South Williamsburg depend upon the B39 as their only public transport option to Manhattan. This cut would have a particularly negative impact on these residents, and we request that the MTA strongly reconsider.

In addition, we condemn the MTA's plan to cut night and weekend service on the B48 bus, which links Greenpoint-Williamsburg with neighborhoods to the south. This bus serves as an essential connector to the G, L, and J/M/Z subway lines for elderly residents living in Far East Greenpoint, most of whom have no train options within reasonable walking distance. We strongly discourage you from cutting this much-needed service.

Mind the Budget Gap

While we recognize that unpopular decisions have to be made in order to address the MTA's current deficit, we also want to stress that the MTA has an obligation to the citizenry of New York City. Our communities depend on public transportation. We strongly discourage you from curtailing the services that are so fundamental to our communities, our economies, and our way of life.

We also strongly urge the Governor and legislature to close the budget gap with a significant contribution to the operating and capital program, as that is where accountability for the state of the MTA ultimately lies. Poor fiscal stewardship under the Pataki administration led the MTA to pay for its capital budget with non-bond debt— essentially paying the mortgage with a credit card. This irresponsible behavior has come to an end, but we need to step up to the plate by fully funding the MTA now.

If you have any questions, or would like to contact NAG concerning additional comments, please contact the NAG office at (718) 384-2248 or email NAG's Transportation Working Group at transportation@nag-brooklyn.org. Thank you very much.