L Train Shutdown Plan Spurs Lawsuit From Locals

WEST VILLAGE, NY — A coalition of residents are suing New York City over its plans for the L train shutdown, arguing that the massive repair project will clog neighborhoods with traffic from the diverted train commuters.

A group of block associations from Chelsea and the West Village filed suit against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and other agencies on Tuesday, seeking a halt to the L train shutdown until transit officials address resident's concerns.

The lawsuit faults the L train shutdown plan for not making its train stations accessible with elevators. Residents also say they're concerned that the influx of vehicle and bike traffic from the shutdown would block the streets of the West Village and Chelsea, preventing emergency vehicles from moving easily and disrupting locals' lives.

The MTA was forced to take the drastic option of halting L train service entirely to allow for critical repairs to the Canarsie Tunnel, which was badly damaged during Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Construction is scheduled to being in April 2019, and will halt all service between Brooklyn and Manhattan and within Manhattan. A stretch of the L train will continue to run in Brooklyn between Rockaway Parkway and Bedford Avenue during the shutdown.

The closure of the L train, which is expected to begin in April 2019, will increase the number of bus commuters on 14th Street to 84,000 people each day, according to estimates from the MTA.

The MTA and the city are currently planning a number of different methods to provide for former L train commuters, including additional bus and ferry service and more train service on alternate lines. In addition, the Williamsburg Bridge will only be open to vehicles with three or more passengers during peak hours. In addition, the city has proposed restricting much of 14th Street to buses and some other permitted vehicles while closing much of the street to general traffic during peak hours.

The MTA declined to comment on pending litigation.

Image credit: Shutterstock