Despite vocal public opposition, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board approved a series of proposed service cuts in a Midtown meeting, which will spell the end of the W and V subway lines and more than 20 bus lines.
With only two board members voting against the cuts, most of the board said that their agency is dealing with a budget deficit of nearly $800 million, and that the cuts will help the MTA reach a balanced budget by the new fiscal year in summer, as required by law.
Subway riders will soon lose the W and V trains.
The Q train would be extended to Astoria, Queens to alleviate some of the effects of the loss of the W line.
The M train will be merged with the V, but M service in southern Brooklyn and lower Manhattan will be eliminated.
Service would also be reduced on several other lines as a cost saver.
Bus riders in all five boroughs will be affected, with more than 20 lines set for complete elimination and many others facing shortened routes. Some lines are being extended to make up the difference.
Of the 34 members of the public who spoke at the meeting, most expressed objections to MTA staff layoffs, service cuts and fare increases.
A controversial proposal to cut student MetroCards will be dealt with in June, to allow the city and state more time to find funding.
(Read More: http://www.ny1.com/)
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6 Responses
they should cut the Franklyn avenue shuttle , however that will never happen since they will say that we are disfranchising our black brothers and sisters .
Will the B23 that never comes finally be cut?
Yossi,
Do you think that maybe, just maybe, the MTA actually counts (or estimates) the number of people who use a particular line and determines profitability based on those numbers — and that perhaps, just perhaps, people USE the Franklin Avenue shuttle and that it contributes to the MTA’s bottom line more than other lines?
The Wolf
Also, it should be noted, the report made it very clear that an important factor in deciding which lines to cut were those that had alternate service available. There is no real alternate service for the Franklin Avenue shuttle.
The Wolf
Will the B23 that never comes finally be cut?
According to the report, the B23 is being discontinued entirely.
The Wolf
The Wolf
they tried closing the Franklyn avenue shuttle in the past when the mta had budget problems , however our disenfranchised black brothers and sisters threatened to protest and go to court to save there line and that is why it is still here today.