With a winter filled with excessive snowfall and freezing temperatures, a number of new concerns surrounding safety and sanitation have arisen for Forest Hills and Rego Park, with a particular focus on the issue of snow removal.
During last Wednesday’s Community Board 6 meeting, Chairman Joseph Hennessey highlighted concerns about snow removal.
Hennessey said that the snow removal is “unfortunately not happening.” He cited the most prevailing concern as snow removal at the bus stops.
“They have people shoveling the stairs for the subway, why not for the bus stops?” he asked.
Joe Raskin, a representative of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, addressed issues pertaining to the MTA subway and buses.
Raskin said, “It’s been a rough winter—it’s not just the snow—it’s the cold weather.”
“I hope this is the first and last year that I hear the term polar vortex,” he continued.
Raskin addressed the bus stop snow removal issue, saying that “As far as the cleaned bus stops, that has never been our responsibility before.”
“In addition, the bus shelter area is supposed to be cleaned by the franchise of Cemusa” hired by the Department of Transportation, Raskin continued.
The Sanitation Department takes care of the snow removal in the space in front of the bus stops.
“This should be brought to the DOT and sanitation,” Raskin said.
One board member highlighted the safety aspect through her own experience, saying “I have to go out into the middle of traffic, to get onto the bus because I use a scooter. She noted the bus cannot go the curb because of the piles of snow.
Board members agreed that there needs to be a conversation surrounding bus stop snow removal.
“Every single day we have calls into the office about snow removal,” CB 6 District Manager Frank Gulluscio said.
Last Tuesday, Gulluscio said he followed up about the bus stop snow removal but has not yet received a response.
Raskin also addressed an issue with the bus routes.
“We have had a lot of complaints about buses keeping schedule,” Gulluscio said. “Later in the day, they start catching up, but they are still backed up.”
“If you notice a spot where this is happening a lot let me know and I’ll pass it along,” he added.
Members of the board cited issues with the Q60 and Q23 in the winter.
Raskin said there have been changes to the way the buses can warm up each morning, contributing to the hold up. The buses cannot just sit and run their engine for environmental reasons; they have to turn the engine off, meaning it takes longer for the buses to warm up in the morning and each time they have to be turned back on.
“This winter has had a major impact on us, before the snow even falls,” said Raskin.
By Kerry Goleski
