Claim Flushing Firms Need Boost
State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky, Assembly Member Grace Meng and City Council Member Peter Koo called on MTA Executive Director Joseph Lhota to reschedule 7 train track work to avoid conflicting with the Lunar New Year Festival and Parade that will take place on Saturday, Feb. 4 in Flushing.
“Though this maintenance is critical, we must consider the effect on neighborhood businesses,” Stavisky said in a statement. “Suspension of the 7 train has always hurt businesses around the Flushing-Main Street Station, and we cannot ask the community to take this hit during one of the busiest and most important weekends of the year.”
“The Lunar New Year Festival is extremely important for small businesses in downtown Flushing,” added Meng. “Though maintenance of the 7 train is critical to keep this life line dependable and reliable, the economic significance of this week- end is paramount. While not completing this scheduled maintenance on one specific weekend will not cripple the upkeep effort, it could cause economic harm to local small businesses that need every dollar and every day to make a living.”
The parade kicks off at 11 a.m. this Saturday on 39th Avenue between Main Street and 138th Street. It proceeds east on 39th Avenue and turns right on Union Street traveling south to Sanford Avenue and then east to Main Street. From there, the parade travels north on Main Street to conclude at 39th Avenue. The fireworks display will take place at the Queens Crossing Mall at 39th Avenue beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Koo stated that “[d]uring these difficult economic times when small businesses are struggling to stay afloat, we must do everything to support merchants and stimulate our local economy. Therefore, the MTA must consider the impact major construction on the 7 line will have on the Flushing economy during the Lunar New year. I agree these repairs are necessary, but changing the start date from the weekend prior to Lunar New Year to even one weekend after would greatly help local businesses to sell their seasonal goods and conduct holiday services for their customers.”
“In 2008, we convinced the MTA to reschedule service disruptions during the Lunar New Year,” Stavisky concluded. “Though we have not yet heard back from Director Lhota, it is my hope that we will once again be able to protect the community during this important holiday.”
An MTA press release issued Wednesday, Feb. 1 reminded straphangers that 7 trains will operate between Queensboro Plaza and Flushing-Main Street but will be suspended between Queensboro Plaza and Times Square-42nd Street.
Parade-goers coming from Manhattan are advised to take the N or Q to Queensboro Plaza and transfer to the Flushing-bound 7. There will be extra N service and Q service will be extended to the Ditmars Boulevard station to provide more connections to the 7.
Customers may also take the E or F to Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue and transfer to the Flushingbound 7.
The Q12, Q13, Q15/15A, Q16, Q17, Q19, Q20A, Q20B, Q25, Q27, Q28, Q44, Q48, Q50, Q58, Q65 and Q66. bus routes operate in the area of the parade route and may be subject to reroutes, the MTA warned.
