Forum photos by Patricia Adams
A fallen tree branch came crashing down at the eastbound stop of the Q24 at 106th street and Atlantic Avenue last week, narrowly missing pedestrians waiting for the bus. Those who know the problems at the stop say it’s a tragedy waiting to happen.
By Patricia Adams
After a long line of broken promises by elected officials and city agencies, the owners at Sonny’s Auto Collision have been informed that the City refuses to move the Q24 bus stop which spans a section of broken sidewalk in front of their business establishment at 106th street and Atlantic Ave.
“We have been asking–begging–someone to do something about this dangerous condition for more than 10 years,” Sonny’s owner James Aurora told The Forum. “We came very close back in 2013 but then the MTA just reneged on their plans and we’ve been hitting brick walls on this issue ever since. “
Aurora says the problem is not just about how the impractical location of the stop affects his business, but the danger it poses to pedestrians waiting to board the eastbound Q24 on Atlantic Ave near the corner of 106th street and those who disembark at the same point.
The Forum has obtained copies of letters from two superintendents at the MTA back in 2013, which cite both the hazardous conditions and the complaints from bus riders.
On December 13, 2017, Joseph Riggi, Superintendent of Brooklyn Road Operations for the MTA sent an internal memo to the chain of command at the agency to report that he was flagged down by bus riders waiting at the stop who stated that they did not feel safe waiting for the bus because it was in between two driveways– one belonging to Sonny’s, the other to the private homeowner– who also complained that he should not be subjected to having a city bus stop block his driveway.
In his letter, Riggi also noted that there were tree pits with “up-rooting” trees in the bus stop contributing to the broken curb and sidewalk. He requested the removal of the stop stating, “I believe the removal of this stop will eliminate the possibility of an accident or injury, improve service to the Q24 route and … comply with the requests of customers and a homeowner.”
On December 24, 2013, only 11 days later, Riggi’s colleague another superintendent from Brooklyn Road Operations Mark McLilly, reported that a field meeting had taken place on the day before regarding the Q24 stop. McLilly stated in the letter the decision to move the stop saying, “…stop will be changed…due to car repair shop hazardous conditions.” But after the letters were written and plans to move the stop documented, no action was taken by the agency and all further requests have fallen on deaf ears.
“Many people have come into our office after falling in the bus stop. Thankfully it has only been skinned knees or twisted ankles thus far, but you have to ask yourself if it’s ok to think that riding a bus should present a physical threat,” said Aurora. And he says the most dangerous thing to happen was just last week when a tree limb broke off and came crashing to the ground. “Thankfully the couple standing there were limber enough to get out of the way, but a senior or a disabled person would surely have wound up under the fallen tree limb.”
The Forum intends to contact elected officials and agencies involved in the contreversy over the bus stop and will report on our findings.
