Res. No. 1262
Resolution calling upon Metropolitan Transportation Authority to immediately improve service on the G line and to not implement any additional service cuts.
By Council Members James, Liu, Mendez, Yassky, de Blasio and Reyna
Whereas, The G line provides an important service to its passengers and according to New York City Transit, operates between the Smith-Ninth Street Station in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn and the Court Square Station in Long Island City, Queens, except on weekends and evenings, when service is extended to 71st Street-Continental Avenue in Forest Hills Queens; and
Whereas, According to the New York Times, the G line has the distinction of being the only line in the New York City subway system that does not travel through Manhattan, operating directly between Queens and Brooklyn, the City’s two largest boroughs according to the 2000 census; and
Whereas, Despite the importance of the G line to riders who must commute between Queens and Brooklyn, major cuts were made to G line service in 2001, which terminated much of the service beyond Court Square in Queens and shortened trains from six to four cars, according to the New York Daily News; and
Whereas, According to the New York Daily News, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced plans to increase the frequency of service on the G line, but also intends to end service in Queens at the Court Square Station during rush hour and during the day, thereby eliminating 13 G line stops in Queens; and
Whereas, By ending G line service at Court Square, instead of Queens Plaza, G line passengers who need to travel further into Queens will have to make an extra transfer to go towards Forest Hills, which according to the Straphangers Campaign, can be unpredictable and lengthy, especially at night; and
Whereas, With frequent service changes and decrepit stations on the G line, the New York Times wrote that many articles, blogs and forums describe the G line as the stepchild of the subway system; and
Whereas, When the Metropolitan Transportation Authority recently issued rider report cards for the G line, 3,903 riders responded and gave the G line a grade of D+; and
Whereas, According to the rider report card, the top three areas that riders thought needed improvement were improving wait times for trains, minimizing delays during trips and creating adequate room on board the subway cars during rush hour; and
Whereas, The G line serves many riders who travel between Brooklyn and Queens and have no other subway options; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the City Council calls upon Metropolitan Transportation Authority to immediately improve service on the G line and to not implement any additional service cuts.
PH
LS # 45301
2.8.08 - 10:50 am