Transit Authority Cancels Q14 Bus Line Extension

No plans were being made to change the current bus turn-around at 7 Avenue. and Clintonville St., which the TA had deemed as potentially unsafe during inclement weather.
Last December, the confrontation began when the Transit Authority proposed substituting a new 11-block route ending system via 3rd Avenue to replace the current four-block turn-around at 7th Avenue.
TA representatives said that a significant population growth in Whitestone, plus the existing unsafe turn around corner had prompted their bus route change.
A similar proposal had been rejected by CB7 in 1988.
For the past month, the project has beset by rancorous bickering since CB7 began hearings on the project last Dec. 28.
A majority of CB7’s member indicated that they intended to vote against the bus line extension at the Board’s scheduled February meeting.
Community  group objections were echoed by a non-partisan phalanx of city, state and federal elected officials who represent the area.
There was a daily parade of anti-bus line demonstrations along the proposed 150st route.
The successful battle to cancel the proposed bus rout changes also bared the sharp split among civic activists in Whitestone. In less than a week members of the newly-formed Malba Gardens Neighborhood Association when house-to-house to get about a thousand local residents to sign their anti-bus petitions.
This entire area had been represented by The Greater Whitestone Taxpayers Civic Association, which has scheduled a meeting this week in the Whitestone Armory to discuss this topic.
Civic activist Tony Avella, who helped the fledgling Malba Gardens Neighborhood Association generate their successful campaign, hailed the grassroots effort that led "to victory for the community and residents."
The Q14 lines operates between 7 Avenue and Clintonville St. in Whitestone, and the Main St. station of the #7 subway line.