Wednesday, January 25, 2023

THE IMPACT OF THE BROOKLYN BUS NETWORK REDESIGN ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S BUS SERVICE


"BROOKLYN BUS NETWORK REDESIGN" (DRAFT PLAN)

Zoom meeting dates for Community Board 6, 7, 12, and 14:
CB6 - THURSDAY, JAN. 26TH
CB7 - TUESDAY, JAN. 31ST
CB12 - THURSDAY, FEB. 16TH
CB14 - THURSDAY, FEB. 23RD

The MTA recently released its proposal to revamp and improve bus routes in Brooklyn.  This follows the recent implementation of a redesigned Bronx Bus Network and approaching closure on the Queens Bus Network component.  The full "BROOKLYN BUS NETWORK REDESIGN" (DRAFT PLAN) can be seen and reviewed with these links...



There are many ways to comment, to protest or applaud the proposed changes (and to make suggestions of your own!).  An array of upcoming MTA 'listening sessions" via ZOOM is underway, arranged in numerical order of the Community Boards served by MTA / NYC Transit.  (*See list below for the schedule and how to participate*)

In addition to eliminating hundreds of bus stops throughout Brooklyn (details under the individual bus route), many route adjustments have been proposed under the MTA's Draft Plan...including significant route modifications, truncations AND eliminations.  A handful of NEW routes are also in the "Draft Plan."  Some key examples follow:

*The B16 - Would turn at the busy Church and McDonald Avenue intersection, eliminating service on 12th Avenue/Dahill Road (See which northbound and southbound stops would be added, kept, or removed at https://new.mta.info/document/101241);

*The B69 - This route would no longer be available in KENSINGTON and most of WINDSOR TERRACE on McDonald Avenue, terminating instead at Prospect Park West and 19th/20th Streets;

*The B103 - This Limited Stops, "one-seat-ride" (via the Prospect Expressway and 3rd/4th Avenues) - between KENSINGTON, Midwood and points east in Brooklyn and DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN /Civic Center/Courthouses/Borough Hall, etc. - would be ELIMINATED between the Flatbush/Nostrand "Junction" and Downtown.  (Since the B103 is a fully-accessible, equitable and swift ride, serving many diverse neighborhoods, it is the opinion of many that this would be a shortsighted MTA proposal);

*The BM1,BM2, BM3, BM4 Express Buses - They would no longer operate on Weekends...and with reduced frequency on Weekdays;

NOTES:  

(1)  There is a proposed NEW "B81" route - This line would partially replace the "B69" - on McDonald Avenue - then turn west on 9th Street towards RedHook, essentially reducing service to the heart of Park Slope and the Grand Army Plaza area by half, leaving only the B67 on 7th Avenue (every 30 minutes most hours);  On the plus side, the "B81" would restore service and bus stops on Cortelyou Road between McDonald Avenue and the Flatbush "Junction" - once served by the "B23" (also discontinued in June 2010), now by the "B103";

(2)  A NEW ROUTE (replacing and extending the B35/Church Avenue LIMITED bus) would be the "B55XT," a "Crosstown", similar "Limited" line - with service between Church & McDonald and J.F.K. AIRPORT.  This represents MTA innovation at its best, and should be enthusiastically applauded!

(3) There was no consideration given to resurrecting the B71 / Union Street bus, a victim of the massive MTA service cuts in June 2010.

Residents, Community Organizations, Elected Officials, Community Boards and other interested parties in KENSINGTON, WINDSOR TERRACE and other neighborhoods are invited (and encouraged!) to participate...Here are the dates for the MTA's upcoming "virtual" / ZOOM meetings...MTA officials and staff are available to answer questions, and will note suggestions placed in the Zoom "CHAT" feature...

CB6 - THURSDAY, JAN. 26TH
CB7 - TUESDAY, JAN. 31ST
CB12 - THURSDAY, FEB. 16TH
CB14 - THURSDAY, FEB. 23RD

To join the meetings, use the ZOOM link and details below...

Public workshops

We're planning a better bus network for Brooklyn, and we want 

to hear from you. Please join us for your community 

event! 

 
All workshops will happen from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sessions will 

begin at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., though you can join at any time. 


Please use this link to register for your community 

workshop. 


If you can’t make the workshop for your 

neighborhood, you can sign up for a different one. 

 

Each workshop will be conducted in English. Additional 

language interpreters as well as ASL and CART can be made 

available upon advance request via the registration form. 

Requests must be received no fewer than five business days 

before the workshop you want to attend. 


Please join Virtual Workshop on the date for your community 

via Zoom: 

https://mta.zoom.us/j/87221443989?pwd=L014cXlGQittY2p

ML3pSNlk1UTVjdz09 

Meeting ID: 872 2144 3989 

One tap mobile 

+19294362866,,87221443989#,,,,*5795343238# US (New 

York) 

+16465189805,,87221443989#,,,,*5795343238# US (New 

York) 

Date

Community district

Neighborhoods covered

Wednesday, January 11

Community District 1

East Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Northside, Southside, Williamsburg

Thursday, January 12

Community District 2

Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Clinton Hill, Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Fort Greene, Fulton Ferry, Navy Yard, Vinegar Hill

Tuesday, January 17

Community District 3

Bedford-Stuyvesant, Stuyvesant Heights, Tompkins Park North

Thursday, January 19

Community District 4

Bushwick

Tuesday, January 24

Community District 5

Broadway Junction, City Line, Cypress Hills, East New York, Highland Park, New Lots, Spring Creek, Starrett City

Thursday, January 26

Community District 6

Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Columbia St, Gowanus, Park Slope, Red Hook

Tuesday, January 31 

Community District 7

Sunset Park, Windsor Terrace

Thursday, February 2 

Community District 8

Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, Weeksville

Tuesday, February 7

Community District 9

Crown Heights South, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Wingate

Thursday, February 9

Community District 10

Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Fort Hamilton

Monday, February 13

Community District 11

Bath Beach, Bensonhurst, Gravesend, Mapleton 

Thursday, February 16

Community District 12

Borough Park, Kensington, Ocean Parkway

Tuesday, February 21

Community District 13

Brighton Beach, Coney Island, Gravesend, Homecrest, Sea Gate, West Brighton

Thursday, February 23

Community District 14

Ditmas Park, Flatbush, Manhattan Terrace, Midwood, Ocean Parkway, Prospect Park South

Wednesday, March 1

Community District 15

Gerritsen Beach, Gravesend, Homecrest, Kings Highway, Manhattan Beach, Plumb Beach, Sheepshead Bay

Thursday, March 2

Community District 16

Broadway Junction, Brownsville, Ocean Hill

Tuesday, March 7

Community District 17

East Flatbush, Farragut, Flatbush, Northeast Flatbush, Remsen Village, Rugby, Erasmus

Thursday, March 9

Community District 18

Bergen Beach, Canarsie, Flatlands, Georgetown, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Mill Island, Paerdegat Basin



The information was submitted to the KARMABrooklyn blog by Mike Rosenbluth.