Elected Officials Call on Cuomo, de Blasio to Work to Solve L Train Closure

NEW YORK CITY, NY — Come 2019, there are going to be a whole lot of commuters looking for a solution to the L train being shut down between Manhattan and Brooklyn. State Sen. Daniel Squadron, along with 32 elected officials, want Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio and MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast to begin looking for a solution now.

The MTA officially announced the L train closure on Monday. During 18 months of Hurricane Sandy repair work, the line will be shut down between Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn and Eighth Avenue in Manhattan. The train will continue running between Bedford and Canarsie.

This week, Squadron penned a letter, signed by most of the major politicians in New York City, asking for the creation of an "interagency working group to mitigate the impact of the 18 month closure of the L train Canarsie tubes."

Sixteen agencies are named in the letter, including the Empire State Development Corporation, New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission and even the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

The letter was sent to Cuomo, de Blasio and Predergast. In response, MTA spokeswoman Beth DeFalco said that the agency "is committed to open partnership and community engagement on this project."

"Since the spring we have been working with the community, elected officials and other stakeholders to develop a robust outreach plan that will address service alternatives and minimize impacts on L line riders," she said. "We will continue to do so as we agree on the best available options for our customers."

"We stand ready to work collaboratively with all parties committed to delivering real, sensible mitigation solutions for those impacted by the L Train shutdown," said de Blasio spokesman Austin Finan. "In the meantime, we look to the MTA to put forth a clear cut plan well before the start of work, including the resources it will commit to keep New Yorkers moving."

"We appreciate that the agencies have undertaken collaborative efforts," said Zeeshan Ott, a spokesman for Squadron. "Our offices continue to believe that the best way to ensure collaboration is through an interagency process, like a working group."

The MTA has floated a few possible ideas for addressing the needs of 225,000 daily L train riders. The agency said this week that they would be working with the city and state to develop alternatives.

MTA is now starting the process of fully developing alternative service plans and will continue to work with the community, City and State agencies, and all stakeholders to minimize impacts of the closure with added service including additional capacity on the M, J, and G trains. MTA plans to work closely with the City and State to develop routes and determine service levels needed to accommodate projected ridership.

In addition to the already announced M, J and G expansion, other ideas discussed include adding a dedicated bus lane over the Williamsburg Bridge and expanded ferry service.

The letter also addresses an issue that was seemingly overlooked in the shutdown announcement — not only will the Canarsie tunnel be closed for 18 months, but all five stations in Manhattan will be closed.

In June, at one of the MTA's public forums on the shutdown, state Sen. Brad Hoylman — one of the signees of Wednesday's letter — called for 14th Street to be completely car-free and dedicated to cyclists, pedestrians and bus traffic.

Congresswoman Yvette Clark, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Congressman Jerry Nadler, Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Comptroller Scott Stringer, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, and multiple members of the city Council are among the 32 politicians who signed the letter.

Photo Credit: Eliza Rubin/Patch