Two alternatives for the select bus route along Kings Highway
KINGS HIGHWAY – A strong pushback from local business owners and elected officials delayed implementation of a Select Bus Service on B82 Route along Kings Highway to July, and now it looks like more changes may be coming to the plan.
MTA & DOT have been meeting with elected officials and other stakeholders to discuss two alternatives to the original plan. There seems to be an agreement that busses could be running more efficiently, and a strong desire to preserve parking spaces by local merchants.
The original plan proposed establishing dedicated bus lanes along 28 blocks of Kings Highway between Bay Parkway and Ocean Avenue during morning and evening rush hours 7-10am and 4-7pm on weekdays affecting 170 or so parking spots. It also proposed establishing 27 truck loading zones and one turn bay.
The new options under consideration, offer the following choices:
- Dedicated bus lane with during peak hours of 7-10am and 4-7pm during weekdays along 17 blocks, and 17 no left turn restrictions including at Bay Parkway, and McDonald (except for trucks). Metered parking along side streets, 39 truck loading zones, 2 turn bays. Affects 126 parking spots.
2. Dedicated bus lane between 7am and 7pm every day of the week along 9 blocks adjacent to subway stations as well as between E7th and Ocean Parkway, and 17 no left turn restrictions. Metered parking on side streets and the number of loading zones gets increased to 40, 3 turn bays. Affects 81 parking spots.
Assemblyman Bill Colton (D-Gravesend, Bath Beach, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights) has been sharing the two alternatives that were proposed with merchants and residents along Kings Highway in his district gauging public opinion, and he seems a lot more optimistic that one of these proposals may be workable.
“Together, we must demand that the MTA return to the communities affected by this change to give them input into the revised plans, so the quality of the lives of both residents and commuters can be improved,” said the Assemblyman.
Colton was also wondering why enforcing moving or parking violations along Kings Highway seems to be so low on the NYPD agenda, given how much potential a bit of effort would have on easing congestion and improving bus speeds. He told us NYPD has not been part of the conversations about these plans, as far as he knew.
For his part, Councilman Chaim Deutsch is organizing a meeting for community stakeholders and elected officials this coming Monday, where MTA and DOT will present the options for review.
“These two proposed plans are still in the early stages of discussion. It’s a bit premature to make any decisions, but I’ve made it clear to the MTA and DOT that further conversations must be had with community stakeholders, including business owners and residents. We will continue to be vocal about these plans to ensure that our concerns are considered in the final plan that is implemented. The bottom line is that commuters deserve better transit and locals deserve to maintain their quality of life. Both of these goals can be achieved if we work as a team.”
