By Howard Koplowitz
Glen Oaks Village President Bob Friedrich, who is a candidate for a state Assembly seat, offered 11 suggested stops for the city Taxi and Limousine Commission’s group ride program it is planning for Little Neck Parkway.
He said civic organizations based along the route from Floral Park to Little Neck are in agreement with the 11 stops.
Friedrich, who is challenging Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Little Neck) in this year’s Democratic primary — Friedrich lost to Weprin in a February special election for the seat — said he made the suggestions on his own and the TLC did not ask for his input.
“It is unfortunate that the TLC has not reached out to the local civic associations and housing co-ops along the route to help design the program,” he said.
“As president of New York’s largest garden apartment co-op with 10,000 residents and an active member of the community, I am familiar with the Q79 route and am suggesting the most useful stops for our residents,” Friedrich said. “With the group ride program, we have an opportunity to restore some of the lost service and even make it better. I am asking that the group ride program be in effect all day and evening and that MetroCards and transfers be permitted by seniors and students.”
The Q79, which ran along Little Neck Parkway, was cut by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
The 11 stops along Little Neck Parkway Friedrich suggested are the Little Neck Long Island Rail Road station; Northern Boulevard; Nassau Boulevard; 59th Avenue; 61st Avenue; 260th Street; 72nd Avenue; Union Turnpike; Hillside Avenue; Jericho Turnpike; and the Floral Park LIRR station.
Friedrich and other community leaders staged protests asking the MTA not to scrap the Q79, but their pleas went unanswered.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
