Assemblymember Lentol Passes L Train Mitigation Bill, Calls for Plan from MTA

With the closure of the Canarsie Tunnel—aka the L Train Shutdown—now less than a year away, politicians are beginning to get serious with the MTA about the details of how the organization plans to mitigate the effects of the closure: they want to see a plan.

In Albany, State Assemblymember Joe Lentol (D-50) recently passed a bill calling on the MTA to not only create a detailed plan about how the organization will mitigate the effects of the closure, but also release the plan to the public for feedback.

Additionally, the bill calls for a camera enforcement system of the proposed bus priority and HOV lane that the MTA plans to do some of the heavy lifting in moving displaced L train riders across the Williamsburg Bridge—an early estimate from the agency was set for 70 buses per hour during peak hours.

“Our transportation leaders and economic leaders need to go above and beyond the usual way of managing projects by effecting the programs outlined in this legislation,” said Assemblymember Lentol. ‘Everyone wants the shut-down of the L-tunnel to be a success story and I believe this legislation will help us realize that goal.”

Brooklyn Assemblymembers Davila, Barron and Mosely joined Lentol by co-sponsoring the bill, which passed today in a 98-1 vote.

According to the bill: “Currently, there is no statutory requirement that would mandate the MTA to develop a plan to address the impacts of such a closure, allow for public feedback, and provide the plan to the community. ” The text not only mentions transportation hardships, but also economic hardships—something the North Brooklyn business community has been worried about for some time.