"We Take The B 71": Local Residents Protest The MTA's Elimination Of Local Bus Route

Councilmembers Letitia James and Brad Lander

Yesterday afternoon, local residents took part in a rally to save the B71 bus, which will be eliminated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority on June 27th as part of the agency's cost saving measure. The B71 connects this community to Park Slope and is used by many school children, the elderly and handicapped.

Standing at one of its stops on Union Street at the corner of Smith Street, the protesters were joined by New York City Council Members Letitia James (35th District) and Brad Lander (39th District.) Representatives of Assemblywoman Joan Millman and of State Senator Daniel Squadron were also on hand, as was Doug Biviano, NYS Assembly Cadidate

Holding up signs which read "I take the B 71 to the Botanical Gardens/ the Brooklyn Museum/ the Park" politicians and residents pleaded with the MTA to reconsider the service cut.

The B71 will stop running on Monday. It is unlikely that the MTA will change its mind before then. However, it was impressive to see such a large group come out to protest the elimination of a bus route. And maybe, as Councilman Brad Lander told the protesters, it may not be a done deal yet.

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On June 27th, Say Good-Bye To The B71 And B75 Bus Lines

The Metropolitan Transit Authority is going ahead with its plan, put forth back in January, to eliminate the B75 and the B 71 bus lines, because of the agency's mounting budget woes. The idea had been floated by the M.T.A. numerous times in the past, but at the last minute, the money was always found to save the service. Not this time.

Both the 71 and the 75 will be eliminated on June 27. The B75 will be replaced by both the B57 and the B61. Unfortunately, the B71, which connects Carroll Gardens to Park Slope and is the lifeline of many school-aged kids, the handicapped and the elderly, will be totally eliminated.

The service cuts were made despite strong opposition and demonstrations by our local elected officials and area residents. Public transportation is vital for our neighborhoods and makes sense ecologically. The inability of the MTA to manage its finances and to balance its budget so that it can provide the services that its ridership rely on, is pitiful.

Though it seems as tough the cuts are definite, there still is a petition out there to save the
the B71 Bus. If you wish to sign it, click here:

http://www.petitiononline.com/saveB71/petition.html

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