Photo Courtesy of Alex Blenkinsopp
The City Department of Transportation on Thursday began working on the Cross Bay-Woodhaven Corridor Select Bus Service plan—two days after Community Board 9 voted overwhelmingly against the project.
By Michael V. Cusenza
The City last Thursday forged ahead with the first stage of construction on the Woodhaven-Cross Bay Corridor Select Bus Service plan – less than two days after Community Board 9 voted vigorously against the joint Department of Transportation/Metropolitan Transportation Authority project.
“This is a slap in the face to CB 9 and to the community,” fumed Alex Blenkinsopp, director of Communications for the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association. “DOT clearly knew they were going to do this regardless of what happened at the CB 9 meeting. They planned to push ahead despite the thousands of people who signed the petition against the SBS plan, despite the many speakers who criticized the plan at recent CB 9 meetings, despite their failure to respond to questions and feedback and suggestions from local residents, and despite the overwhelming opposition of the Community Board. DOT’s track record in our community is terrible, and it’s clear why: they don’t listen to the community, and they don’t care about what the community has to say. DOT is Mayor de Blasio’s agency, and its actions here are a reflection of how he governs.”
Blenkinsopp alerted south Queens communities via Twitter when he witnessed crews working on Woodhaven Boulevard near Jamaica Avenue.
“Less than 2 days after CB9 votes down SBS plan, @NYC_DOT starts work to expand the median for bus stop. (Worker confirmed this was purpose.),” he posted last Thursday morning.
“DOT conducted substantial outreach with the community since 2014 and listened closely to its concerns, resulting in changes to the original plan such as keeping left turns at Jamaica Avenue and elsewhere,” an agency spokesperson wrote in an email to The Forum. “Woodhaven SBS will bring safety improvements and more efficient bus services to the thousands who travel daily on the corridor, while maintaining traffic flow. We informed Community Board 9 on September 13th that work would be taking place in the area this fall. Jamaica Ave and Woodhaven Blvd has been one of the top three most dangerous intersections in the city and our goal is to move quickly on safety improvements at that location.”
DOT has said that its SBS vision for the perpetually clogged 14-mile corridor is a “transit-oriented boulevard” in which buses travel in designated lanes in the main roadway. This concept “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.”
Project concerns include the removal of a lane of traffic on both sides of the boulevards, banning left-hand turns at certain intersections, and the addition of bus stops to medians.
An administration source this week told The Forum that DOT and MTA will continue outreach and dialogue with stakeholders and the community as the project is implemented.
“This is not the end of the fight,” Blenkinsopp added.
