MTA Agrees To Restore B37 Bus Service

Councilman Vincent Gentile’s goal of bringing the B37 bus line back into service was realized last night. According to a press release, Gentile announced that the service, which was discontinued three years ago, will begin rolling again.

Last April, we reported on Gentile’s call to restore the B37 bus back into action. The bus, which runs from Bay Ridge to Downtown Brooklyn, was discontinued due to low ridership and close proximity to the R train. Due to a $40 million MTA surplus and the fact that the R service will be significantly hampered due to construction, the agency decided to restore lines that were cut in 2010. Gentile hailed the return of the B37 as a major victory for Brooklyn residents.

“This is a major win for Brooklyn – for seniors, students, the disabled and businesses along the corridor – from Bay Ridge to Prospect Heights – for people who need to get to work, doctor’s appointments, schools and houses of worship – this route is essential. I can’t wait to take my first ride on the beloved B37,” Gentile said in a release.

State Senator Marty Golden also hailed the restoration as a victory.

“I am very encouraged to learn that at next week’s MTA Board Meeting, the restoration of the B 37 bus route will be among the agenda items,” Golden said in a press release.

Gentile and Golden filed a lawsuit against the Metropolitan Transit Authority in the wake of the 2010 termination of the B37 bus route, citing the community needs for such service due to the lack of elevator-friendly subway stations, preventing handicapped and seniors from traveling in Brooklyn.

UPDATE (1:13 p.m.): After noticing that some of the releases we’ve received noted that it was yet to be a done deal, we checked in with the MTA. So let’s make this clear: the MTA has not confirmed or announced the restoration of B37 service. If it is to be restored, it will be announced a next week’s MTA Board meeting, the MTA told Bensonhurst Bean.