C RY D E R
P O I N T
FEBRUARY 7
WWW.QNS.COM | FEBRUARY 2020 | CRYDER POINT COURIER 7
Fast & Furious
MTA Proposal Would
Upend Beechhurst Bus
Services
BY JILL DAVIS & EILEEN ANNECHINO
In early January, news hit the
media that the MTA has radical
plans to dramatically alter—and
in many cases, drastically reduce
or eliminate—certain bus services
throughout Queens. Although the
MTA has said that these new plans
have been in the works for months
and included significant feedback
from residents, the announcement
seemed to have come out
of the blue and, no surprise, the
feedback from angry Queens residents
has been speeding down the
express lane of protests ever since.
For those who may not be
aware, the changes would have a
severe, negative impact on many
sections of the borough, but few
would be as adversely affected as
our own section of Beechhurst.
Along with a few other areas of
Queens, Beechhurst is known as a
“transit desert,” meaning that we
live in a neighborhood without
reasonable access to a NYC subway
or LIRR station. See the sidebar
for the potential impact.
WHAT’S BEEN
HAPPENING
In response to the proposed
changes, co-ops and condos in
the neighborhood quickly joined
forces to form a Beechhurst coalition.
Formed in a matter of days
over the week of Jan. 10, the coalition
currently consists of Board
members from Beechhurst Towers,
Clearview Gardens, Cryder
House, Cryder Point, Le Havre
and Wildflower I & II.
Together, these communities
total nearly 4,000 homes—and
upwards of 6,000 residents—who
would be impacted by the changes.
That total does not include the
many workers—property staff;
home health aids; employees of
neighborhood businesses—who
travel into and out of the area on a
daily basis, nor does it include the
many single-family homes in the
immediate area.
JANUARY 17:
MEETING WITH
SENATOR JOHN
LIU
Le Havre initiated a meeting
with NYS Senator John Liu, which
was held at Le Havre on Jan. 17.
Liu emphasized that the proposal
is currently in the draft
stage and no final plan has been
set. Although this statement offered
some relief, Liu also made it
clear that local area residents need
to speak out about their concerns,
sooner rather than later.
He also acknowledged that community
meetings with the MTA
have been held in other neighborhoods,
but none had been scheduled
for the Whitestone area and
that he would be announcing such
a meeting shortly. Subsequently, a
public meeting was announced
with the MTA which will be held
on Mar. 18 at the Greek Orthodox
Church on 150 Street (see Sidebar).
JANUARY 30:
MEETING WITH
ASSEMBLYMAN
ED BRAUNSTEIN
Le Havre scheduled this meeting
with Braunstein which was
attended by members of the
co-op/condo consortium. Braunstein
acknowledged that “there is
clearly a lack of understanding
by the MTA of local neighborhoods.”
He made clear his position
that any changes to express
bus service should be “off the
table,” but did ask the consortium
to review local bus services and
offer alternative suggestions to
the current proposal.
It is notable that this meeting
followed the resignation on Jan.
23 of Andy Byford, President
of the NYC Transit. Byford will
remain in his post until Feb. 21,
and as Braunstein noted, “We’re
not sure how the MTA is going
to proceed now that Byford has
left.”
The potential exists for plans to
remain in flux as the MTA sorts
itself out following Byford’s departure.
Nevertheless, the Beechhurst
consortium remains committed
to continuing its dialog with our
elected officials and will be reviewing
local bus services as requested.
Updates will be forthcoming as we
receive new information.
In the meantime, please see the
sidebar for how you can help in
this effort. Together, we can make
a difference.
PROPOSED BEECHHURST
BUS SERVICE CHANGES
EXPRESS BUS SERVICE
LOCAL BUS SERVICE
3rd Avenue service (QM32) eliminated
SEE MAP
New QMT163 replaces QM2 & QM20:
New QT49: Rerouted service from 166th St. &
No Saturday or Sunday service
PCB to Flushing
Reduction of Monday-Friday service hours
No service to Whitestone Village, Whitestone
Into Manhattan: Last bus leaves at 9am
Shopping Center or 154th Street stores
From Manhattan: First bus returns at 4pm/last
No weekend service and no off-peak service
bus returns 9:30pm
Reduction of Beechhurst stops
WHAT YOU CAN DO
CONTACT THE MTA &
LOCAL OFFICIALS
Residents are urged to email the MTA at new.
mta.info/queensredesign. Be sure to copy local
officials:
Senator John Liu
718-765-6675
liu@nysenate.gov
Assemblyman Ed Braunstein
718-357-3588
braunsteine@nyassembly.gov
Councilman Paul Vallone
718-619-8611
info@paulvallone.com
Congressman Tom Suozzi
718-631-0400
Suozzi.house.gov
ATTEND THE MTA
MEETING
Wednesday, Mar. 18, 7:00PM
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church
11-05 150 Street, Whitestone
SIGN A PETITION
Each co-op/condo is circulating a petition to
send to local officials. Be sure that your name is
included!
NYC Councilman Paul Vallone has also begun
a petition to the MTA which is endorsed by Tom
Suozzi, John Liu and Ed Braunstein. At press
time, more than 2,300 people have signed it.
Below is the web address for the petition:
https://www.change.org/p/mta-improve-dont
slash-bus-service-in-northeast-queens
/mta-improve-don-t-slash-bus-service-in-northeast-queens
link
link
/mta-improve-don-t-slash-bus-service-in-northeast-queens
/mta-improve-don-t-slash-bus-service-in-northeast-queens
link
/WWW.QNS.COM
/Suozzi.house.gov
link
link
link
