PHOTO: DOT official Eric Beaton (standing w/ mic) takes a question regarding Select Bus Service last Thursday at Community Board 10‘s meeting. Forum Photo by Michael V. Cusenza
As city Department of Transportation Planner Eric Beaton took questions regarding the Woodhaven-Cross Bay Select Bus Service Project last Thursday night from members of Community Board 10, one thing became clear: Many residents and business owners remain unconvinced of the $200 million plan, regardless of the design concept.
“The opinion in this board area is generally skeptical,” said CB 10 Chairwoman Betty Braton. “There is great concern.”
In March, DOT announced that Design Concept 2—a “transit-oriented boulevard” in which buses travel in designated lanes in the main roadway—had been selected out of the three that the agency and the MTA had developed.
According to DOT, Concept 2 “provides faster and more reliable bus service, allowing buses to travel free from turning or parking conflicts, with an anticipated travel time savings of 25 to 35 percent. Median transit stations with shelters, seating, and real-time bus information will be constructed, giving passengers high-quality waiting areas.”
Beaton noted how Woodhaven-Cross Bay is a “very important corridor to a lot of people. That bus service really isn’t as good as it could be. That’s why we reached out to the MTA.”
After processing feedback from pedestrians, drivers, mass transit commuters, homeowners and business owners over several months, DOT made a few tweaks to the plan, but as Beaton intimated last Thursday, nothing is set in stone right now.
“Something that we’re sensitive to as an agency is we don’t want to seem like we’re sitting in a room, coming up with something and saying ‘Here it is, I hope you like it,’” Beaton noted. “It is very important that we get this right. We’re here not to say that we’re done, but that [SBS] very much is a work in progress.”
DOT Queens Commissioner Nicole Garcia added, “We’ll be coming back in the fall with deeper, better design for you to take a look at.”
Board Member John Fazio voiced his opposition to the project while promoting the possibility of an alternative.
“This is going to be dangerous,” he said. “Why don’t we spend that $200 million on reviving the [Rockaway Beach Rail Line]? We are going backwards, not forwards.”
Fazio’s comments elicited cheers and applause.
Braton confirmed with Garcia that more public workshops to help educate the community on the project are being scheduled, and she encouraged all to attend.
By Michael V. Cusenza
michael@theforumnewsgroup.com
