B Train Saga: Scavo Takes Action!

Good work, readers. Your letters to Community Board 15 Chairperson Theresa Scavo has helped spur her to action. After receiving several dozen letters from outraged Sheepshead Bites readers, Scavo sent a hard copy letter direct to the president of MTA New York City Transit, Howard H. Roberts Jr., demanding that they take a look into alternatives to closing down B express service for two years.

Scavo says it wasn’t just the letters, but also witnessing the current commuter clutter on the platform.

“Tuesday morning I was personally there at 8 a.m.,” she said. “The entire B platform was three deep. And I want to know why that many people need to be inconvenienced for a construction project.”

Scavo’s letter goes on to say that other options can be found, including having the train switch from local to express and express to local at various locations, thus easing the burden.

Although Scavo couldn’t provide us with a copy of that letter, she says it went out Tuesday morning. She’ll notify us when she hears back.

If you sent an e-mail to Scavo, don’t pat yourself on the back just yet. This still has a long way to go, and if B express service is to be saved we must continue to put pressure on our leaders. Scavo told me previously that, in addition to the closures, transit officials told her that only three – THREE – cars will be added to the tracks, which means we’ll be facing severe congestion issues. And you can bet we’re facing another fare hike next year, so in addition to crappier service we’ll be paying even higher prices.

This is a crisis caused by awful management and a disregard for commuters, but only you have the power to help stop it. Keep contacting your leaders. We’ve already heard from one local official that they received a call from the MTA complaining about our efforts at Sheepshead Bites – so they are taking notice. Keep on writing letters, and be sure to enlist your friends and families who use the B train as well.