MTA/NYC DOT L tunnel reconstruction town hall in Manhattan on May 9. (via NYC DOT)
May 15, 2018 By Nathaly Pesantez
A town hall for the public to weigh in on the upcoming L train shutdown will take place in East Williamsburg tomorrow.
The event, organized by the MTA and DOT, will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Progress High School, located at 850 Grand St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Both NYC Transit President Andy Byford and NYCDOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg will be at the town hall to give an overview of alternate service plans once the Canarsie tunnel connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn closes for repairs in April 2019.
Both agencies will give a preview of steps each is taking to help displaced riders, including street improvements, HOV restrictions on the Williamsburg Bridge, protected bike lanes in Brooklyn, and new bus routes.
“This crucial project presents an unprecedented challenge for us and our customers, and we’re committed to taking their input and getting this right,” Byford said in a statement.
Trottenberg said the outreach both agencies have done since 2016 on the project is all to minimize disruption to New Yorkers during the tunnel’s 15-month shutdown.
“We need riders, residents, and businesses in the affected Brooklyn and Manhattan communities to turn out and give us their input as our final plans evolve,” Trottenberg said.
The event is one of two town halls held by both agencies, with the first held last week in Manhattan. Local Manhattan residents at last week’s town hall largely voiced their concerns with increased traffic on 14th street and on neighboring streets, with some expressing opposition to protected bike lanes.
For more information on the L train shutdown, visit the MTA’s Canarsie Tunnel Reconstruction page.
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