Just hours before the public began weighing in on the pending mass transit cuts, local legislators and community residents gathered in northwest Queens to blast the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for its proposal to eliminate all service on the “W” train.
“We’re here today to call attention to the fact that Astoria needs better service not less service,” said City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. who led a group of protesters outside of the 30th Avenue subway station in Astoria on Tuesday, March 2. “This is one of the most vibrant growing neighborhoods in the entire city.”
In order to deal with a nearly $800 million budget gap, the MTA is proposing a series of measures that includes laying off employees, reducing or eliminating service on bus and subway lines and charging students for MetroCards.
In northwest Queens, the agency is proposing to eliminate the “W” train and supplement it with service on the “N” train and extending the “Q” train into Astoria. The agency acknowledges that the move would increase the number of passengers, transfers, wait time and overall travel for trips from Astoria to lower Manhattan.
“New Yorkers rely on subway lines like the ‘W’ to get to work, to job interviews and to doctors’ appointments,” said Assemblymember Michael Gianaris who represents the area. "This is a difficult time when people can least afford to deal with service cuts and the elimination of entire subway lines. It’s time for the MTA to get its own financial house in order before punishing the average straphanger over and over again.”
Aravella Simotas, an Astoria resident who is running for Gianaris’ Assembly seat, said that she has been taking the subway from Astoria to Manhattan for school and work for the past 15 years, and these cuts would be devastating to the community.
“I can tell you that this line is the lifeblood of Astoria,” Simotas said. “We cannot and should not accept any cuts to this line. We need more service, not less.”
Unless new funding sources are fund in the next few months, the cuts and service reductions will go into effect in July.
