| Dave (Dave) | Saturday, August 28, 2004 - 01:44 am
We've had more bad news about G line service. Not only is the MTA planning to permanently cut back service 24/7 at Court Square Station -- now we're told that we won't get even basic customer service improvements like street transfers.
Street transfers allow subway riders to exit one station, cross the street, and enter another nearby station without paying a new fare; they offer a way for the MTA to provide better service at an insignificant cost. Street transfers would make Brooklyn more accessible from other parts of the city which are remote by current subway travel options. Commuters can benefit from added transfer options immediately while waiting for physical subway connections to be built (which can take years). To potentially achieve so much for such little cost and effort is truly a no-brainer.
Projects like the proposed MetroTech subway station connection will provide more transfer options for subway riders, but funding is far from secure and there will be years of waiting for construction to be completed. By contrast, implementing street transfers is a matter of simple MetroCard coding, which could be done relatively quickly. While MetroTech (and other) project plans progress, implementation of street transfers could immediately serve Downtown Brooklyn -- a boon for G train riders, who have so few travel alternatives as it is.
Here is a list of Brooklyn subway stations which are ideal for street transfers. Just think about the possibilities that transfers between these stations will offer
Hoyt-Schermerhorn station (A, C, G lines) – Atlantic Avenue/Pacific Street station (2, 3, 4, 5, M, N, R, W, D, Q lines)
Hoyt-Schermerhorn station (A, C, G lines) – Nevins Street station (2, 3, 4, 5, lines)
Hoyt-Schermerhorn station (A, C, G lines) – Hoyt Street station (2, 3 lines)
Fulton Street station (G line) – Lafayette Avenue (A, C lines)
Fulton Street station (G line) – Atlantic Avenue/Pacific Street station (2, 3, 4, 5, M, N, R, W, D, Q lines)
Broadway station (G line) – Hewes Street and Marcy Avenue (J/M/Z lines)
Currently, 49% of subway riders are still paying full fare via Pay-Per-Ride MetroCards. Full-fare customers deserve a proportionate level of customer service. With your help, we want to persuade MTA officials that implementing street transfers provides an instant commuter benefit that is too simple and inexpensive not to offer.
Please join us in calling on your local elected officials and the MTA Chairman, Peter Kalikow, to demand street transfers along the G line. To determine who represents you in government, go to
http//www.cmap.nypirg.org/netmaps/MyGovernment/NYC/MyGovernmentNYC.asp?cmd=start
Call MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow at 212 878 7200. Say you're a G train customer and you want street transfers now! |