Southern Brooklyn elected officials are uniting to express reservations about the current plan to institute a “bus-only” lane on the Kings Highway commercial strip. Express, reliable mass transit is certainly needed in the neighborhood, but collaboration and input from the community are key factors in any major change. Kings Highway is already heavily congested, and installing a bus-only lane while removing more than 100 parking spots could have a significant and negative impact on small businesses. Area officials are calling on the MTA and DOT to halt the implementation of the project until community concerns are addressed.

Councilman Chaim Deutsch said, “The state-run MTA and the Department of Transportation have decided to move forward with a plan to install a dedicated SBS bus lane for the B82 line on Kings Highway. I’m immensely frustrated that our district is being forced to endure a project that we believe will have negative effects on the small businesses and residents that are struggling to survive in our community. This plan will remove over 100 parking spots during peak hours – and local stores will be the ones that suffer, as customers choose to shop elsewhere. The Kings Highway Business District is already badly congested, and parking is extremely limited. Just in the past few years, we lost the 250 car parking garage on Kings Highway, as well as the municipal lot that used to house more than 100 cars.

I thank my colleagues Councilman Mark Treyger, Assemblymembers Dov Hikind and Steve Cymbrowitz and State Senator Simcha Felder, for joining me in standing up against the MTA and the DOT. The people who live, work, and represent this community deserve to have a say in what happens here.”

Councilmember Mark Treyger said, “I am requesting a meeting with DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, the MTA, relevant elected officials and civic leaders that represent both the residents and small businesses of this community so there can be direct dialogue with the decision makers that have say over the B82/SBS route. The purpose of this meeting is to have key stakeholders in the room at the same time, clearly articulate the communities’ concerns and get a better understanding of the plan to create a dedicated SBS route along Kings Highway. There must be a path forward that improves bus service without having significant adverse impacts on critical small business corridors in our community.”

Assemblyman Dov Hikind said, “Once again, here is government telling people what’s good for them, as if they know better! We have an amazing community that continues to grow. Why is it necessary to hurt them—to hurt residents and businesses? This is what we saw on Ocean Parkway and it’s happening all over again!”

“I have previously written to DOT about the detrimental impact such a large loss of parking will have on the retail and residential community. The area cannot and will not support such a loss and I stand with the countless number of constituents, business owners, and community groups who have called and emailed my office raising objections to this plan. NYC Transit should put their plan on hold until they come up with a better option,” said Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz.

“DOT is well aware of the high congestion and limited parking along Kings Highway. I again call on Commissioner Trottenberg to exclude the area between McDonald and Ocean Avenues from this shortsighted proposal. The hardship this crushing plan will impose on residents and local businesses is outrageous and unacceptable, and their answer to us is a resounding – we don’t care!” said State Senator Felder.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)