[VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

At a transportation committee hearing this week, Councilman David G. Greenfield thanked MTA officials for finally acknowledging that it is time to bring the F express back to Brooklyn. He also took the opportunity to respond to critics of the plan who are opposing the restoration of service.

At the hearing, Greenfield thanked the officials, noting that “we’ve had this conversation literally since my first day on the City Council,” and praising the officials for releasing the report. In response to critics, Greenfield noted that riders who are disadvantaged by the new service will only lose, on average, one minute of time from their daily commutes. He also noted that those riders live in transit-rich areas with multiple other transit options, and said that for critics of the plan to “begrudge other New Yorkers” is “not very New York-like.” However, Greenfield added, he intends to continue the conversation about ways to improve service on the F line, including potentially by adding more local trains. Such measures, he said, would make the MTA’s planned changes “win-win.”

Bringing back the F express and restoring transit equity to southern Brooklyn has been a top priority for Greenfield from the start of his first campaign for City Council in 2010. After his election, it was one of the first issues he raised with MTA officials at one of his first transportation hearings as a City Councilman. The process was a lengthy one, but after several productive meetings with agency officials earlier this year, Greenfield was finally able to secure a promise that a report, along with recommendations, would be released. The MTA’s recommendations, released Tuesday, call for the restoration of express service between Jay Street-MetroTech and Church Avenue in both directions. When fully implemented next year, 50% of F trains running between those stations during weekday rush hours will offer express service. The service is expected to cut as much as 15 minutes from riders’ daily commutes.

“I’m thrilled that after working on this for six years, we were finally able to get this done,” Greenfield said afterTuesday’s hearing. “For people who live in southern Brooklyn, bringing back the F express is a game-changer that will make a real difference in their daily lives. I want to thank the MTA, particularly Chairman Thomas Prendergast and President Veronique Hakim, as well as all the local elected officials, community groups, and area residents who have been fighting alongside me for the last six years. This is a major victory for all of Brooklyn.”

(YWN Desk – NYC)