Massive Maspeth bus depot and maintenance shop

Built for the future
BY PETE DAVIS
Construction on the MTA New York City Transit’s massive, state-of-the-art bus depot and central maintenance facility in Maspeth is nearly 40 percent completed with an end date slated for January 2007.
The 600,000-square-foot, multi-storied complex, which is expected to cost $260 million, will provide parking for approximately 200 buses on the first floor while the maintenance facility, with the capacity to service 27 buses, will occupy the second floor.
“This will be our largest facility with a depot and central maintenance shop with all of the latest equipment,” said Deirdre Parker, a spokesperson for New York City Transit.
The surrounding communities have supported the project on Grand Avenue near 47th Street, which started construction in 2003, hoping that it will alleviate overcrowded conditions at the Fresh Pond depot in Ridgewood, as well as create new jobs for Maspeth residents.
“The creation of this facility will also make bus operations more efficient, which will translate into better service,” said Ted Renz, executive director of the Myrtle Avenue Business Improvement District and chairperson of Community Board 5’s Public Transportation Committee.
Although the community board may be in favor of the project, it does harbor reservations regarding the surrounding infrastructure.
Bob Holden, President of the Juniper Park Civic Association, said that he is concerned that the Grand Avenue Bridge located only one block away from this new facility is not equipped to handle the increased traffic the depot will bring.
The small drawbridge currently only allows traffic to go in one direction at a time on the bridge, making traffic backups even more likely with all the extra bus traffic. “It would have a great impact around the community and to have a bridge that is inadequate, it would create a log jam over there,” Holden said.
Holden said that discussions with the City about fixing the bridge have taken place, but that project would not be completed before the depot opens.