Councilman Steve Levin Demands Restoration Of G/L Subway Lines

By on November 5, 2012 1:24 pm in Brooklyn Heights, Government, Other Brooklyn, Transportation

City Council Member Steve Levin, whose district includes Brooklyn Heights, is fuming that MTA has not yet restored G and L subway service following Hurricane Sandy. He tells The New York Observer, “Commuters along the G-train deserve the same service and respect that other lines get. And the same goes for the L-train.”

MTA has responded that fixing those lines is “our highest priority,” although it does not expect to restore service until some time this coming week, making these the last lines to resume even partial service.

“What I expect them to do is provide the fullest service possible,” Levin adds. “I expect that my constituents are treated the same as subway riders in every other neighborhood. It is a critical part of the city’s economy.” Levin represents Greenpoint and parts of the waterfront stretching from Williamsburg to Brooklyn Heights and into Park Slope. He is calling for shuttle bus service to help replace the absent trains.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz does not fully agree with Levin’s viewpoint. He says in the story, “The MTA has done a remarkable job of restoring more than 80% of the system under very difficult conditions, and making sure Brooklynites have as many transportation options to and from Manhattan, such as the bus bridge,” according to spokesman Mark Zustovich said. “Additionally, while we understand that the L line is heavily used, restoration of the J train provides at least some service close to Williamsburg and other areas served by the L.”

See more from the Observer story here.

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  • Wiley E.

    Keep up the good work, Steve.

  • EG

    I agree with Mr. Levin – the least they can do is provide additional shuttle bus service for the G. When they do track work they do, why is this any different? The buses they had been using for the bus bridges, are no longer serving that purpose. Provide G shuttle bus service if that is the least the MTA can do..

  • gatornyc

    It is utterly amazing that the MTA has 85% of subway service restored after the havoc wreaked by Sandy. A Columbia University study estimated that it would take 4-6 weeks to restore this level of service after an event like Sandy. The MTA certainly needs to get the G and L restored as soon as possible, but criticism of the MTA in this regard seems misplaced.

  • David on Middagh

    It was reported early on that the L would take longer to restore than other subway lines–for commuter triage or technical difficulty I don’t know.

  • Monty

    I think the MTA and Con Ed have done a pretty incredible job so far. They can’t fix every line at once, and they obviously prioritized based on the level of damage and the level of ridership. Some lines were bound to come before others. If the G and L are still out 2 weeks from now, I would be pissed, but if it’s another day or two I say kudos for a job well done.

  • David on Middagh

    OK, the Observer article: “The issue with the L-train is that the line remains flooded up to the Bedford Avenue station, with some of the most extensive flooding in the entire system…”

    For the sake of my Lower East Side friends, I cheer the MTA’s continuing efforts.

  • Angela

    Someone please please please help us get the G Line back. I live in Bed-stuy at the Bedford Nostrand stop and I have no other train options. The bus lines are CRAZY during rush hour and most buses are passing up the stop because they are already full. What are we suppose to do??? Options please!!

  • Mr. Crusty

    Posturing politicians make me want to puke. Hats off to the MTA for doing a fabulous job in getting the subway system up and running so quickly.

  • sue

    Mr. Crusty
    Levin is not a posturing Politican. I volunteered in his office over the weekend and he worked round the clock in Gowanus Houses -door to door. His office was a drop off spot for supplies which were driven to Coney Island , rockaway etc etc. He is the real deal and he needs to advocate for his constituents.. The job the MTA has done is great but riders of these lines need their service resumed asap.

  • Wiley E.

    Ka-flush, Krusty.

  • Mr. Crusty

    Sue then the Councilman should be talking to the Mayor and to the MTA to advocate for his constituency and not grandstand by “demanding” in public that his residents be “treated the same” as other residents insinuating of course that they are being treated unfairly in some way. That is grandstanding in my opinion and not advocacy.

  • sue

    Mr. Crusty
    How do you know he has not done those th/ings before going public?
    Did you check with his office?

  • Mr. Crusty

    Sue, is it is your and Levy’s position that the MTA is being unfair in how they are getting the system up and running? That it is not due the respective conditions of the different lines but rather that the MTA is treating some neighborhood preferentially? Because that is the impression one would get from his comments.

  • Senator Howell Tankerbell

    Anyone who thinks the MTA is doing a heckuva job doesn’t ride the G. They made a calculated decision that the restoration of this line was not a priority as it does not traverse the East River into Manhattan. MTA to Brooklyn/Queens: Drop Dead.

  • Mr. Crusty

    Levy=Levin

  • Monty

    Of course they made a calculated decision. The G serves far fewer people than other lines. Can you imagine the outcry if they had fixed the G first?

  • Wiley E.

    Don’t wipe your arse, be like Krusty.

  • Senator Howell Tankerbell

    There is a huge gulf between fixed first and completely neglect for nearly a week. Folks I know in Greenpoint saw no MTA presence at all until late Saturday. Heckuva job, Bloomie (and MTA).

  • Knight

    A typical Mr. Crusty response at 9:54PM last night. He can’t even get his own Councilman’s name right but professes to know the Councilman’s motivation.

  • Mr. Crusty

    Good argument there Knight. You bring such clarity to the subject. Again though why are you posting and not helping with the relief efforts for the victims of Sandy?

  • Mr. Crusty

    From the New York Observer

    As we previously reported, no tunnel saw more flooding than the L, which is among the reasons the MTA left it until the end of its recovery operations to pump out, because the more water, the longer it takes. Among the reasons the 4/5/6 and 2/3 were up and running so quickly is they needed minimal pumping. They also carry more people, making them, arguably a greater priority. Just don’t tell that to the people living in North Brooklyn.

    Meanwhile, the G-train may be clear of water, but signals still need to be repaired from what rushed in, which was salt water, remember, and thus more severe. Once repaired, the signals need to be tested. It does not appear that there will be G service tomorrow morning as a result, but the MTA has surprised us before, so keep those fingers cross.

    http://observer.com/2012/11/g-train-pumped-dry-but-repairs-remain-l-line-still-all-wet/

  • Tiger Lily

    They need shuttle busses while they repair the lines! As a former williamsburg/greenpoint resident I can tell you that this is unacceptable. The G and L are the only lines that service the northside of Williamsburg and Greenpoint.

  • PierrepontSkin

    What are you guys talking about, again?