Long Island City Town Hall gets heated with MTA’s 7 train weekend shutdown

Go Van Bramer!

I’m an N train rider and only minimally impacted by the 7 issues, but I’m pleased to see Van Bramer’s response to this. I’ve liked the guy since I first read up on him during the primary, and am increasingly impressed. Glad to see him stepping up like this.

Of course only Democrats pander to the media….

#4 you must be a functional retard or a republican.

did anyone mention the problems on monday (presidents day)? it was a total mistake to have the 7 service suspended on a monday whether it was a holiday or not. queensboro plaza at rush hour was insane – the stairwells were packed wall to wall, platform to platform with standing people and getting off the N (queens bound) left us stuck on the top platform with no way to exit until we could make our way down through the masses. that kind of scenario can be dangerous!

4 says “This is NYC they should be running a much tighter ship.” This is laughable. I think this is probably the first time I’ve seen “NYC” and “tighter ship” appear in the same sentence.

No, MTA is living up exactly to the qualities that long-suffering NY’ers have been long accustomed: laziness, rudeness, lack of care, lack of talent and motivation, and wastefulness.

10, I’ve thought the same thing for many years. LIC never has dollar vans. Even if they dumped me right outside the Midtown Tunnel in Manhattan I’d be happy. It’s a quick, easy run for anybody looking to make some easy money.

Agreed, 12. Dollar vans aren’t a sufficient substitute for regular subway service. But until the MTA gets its finger out of his behind, there’s plenty of business out there for an entrepreneur looking to exploit our situation.

Go Jimmy! This is why you got our vote! Woohoo

How can that MTA woman get away with saying it would cost $113,000 per weekend to run a shuttle bus? That is ridiculous!!! I can buy two buses, get insurance, get a driver, pay for the tolls and the gas and come nowhere close to $113,000 for a weekend!!!!!!!!!

I’m not buying MTA’s excuses about the cost of running the shuttle bus either. They have buses, and they have employees who drive buses. So just let them put in some extra hours. Where are the other costs that would drive the total to $113K?

I think it’s just stubbornness on the MTA’s part.. and extreme disorganization. I agree with others, it’s good that Van Bramer is making noise about this, but it’s also clear that he is using this for media attention. He’s a politician – it’s not Democrat or Republican. In a way, who cares though if it gets a shuttle to Grand Central, which is what everyone knows is needed. The MTA is very clear the community wants that.. it has been for years. Every year they hold press conferences and protests… the MTA just don’t seem to care. Making more noise might not be the answer, since there is obviously some other root problem within the MTA that needs to be resolved.

I took the private shuttle (LIC Express) this weekend and it was great. We were in GC in less than ten minutes and on our way back we took a little longer because the Midtown Tunnel was reduced to one lane, but even with one lane we took 15 to 20 minutes.

The least the MTA and Port Authority should do is exempt the private shuttle from paying the toll for the tunnel. I want to thank ever business in the neighborhood for sponsoring this shuttle. It is a great idea and it made this whole 7 train debacle a much better experience.

A noisy train fan, ‘eh. Too bad. It’s better than breathing all that exhaust fumes from cars.