MTA Cuts May Affect Dumbo

November 25th, 2008

MTA announced a $1.4 billion budget gap and is proposing to eliminate train lines and bus routes. Fortunately for people coming and going to Dumbo via subway, the A/C, F, and 2/3 lines aren’t being cut. Williamsburg will be affected by subway abbreviation and cuts, according to a Brooklyn Paper article. However, the MTA is proposing plans to cut the B25 bus, says the NY Daily News list of proposed 2009 cuts. Eliminating the B25 bus will make it difficult for some commuters and residents as the B25 line is the only public transportation link from Dumbo to commercial areas of Brooklyn such as Montague Street, Joralemon and Court Streets, and Fulton Mall. In addition, it represents an important connection to other modes of transportation within the immediate area – the Water Taxi at Fulton Landing, the Brooklyn Bridge footpath, the 4,5,6,A,C and 2,3 subway lines. One person we spoke to who takes the B25 bus regularly stated that this will make it more difficult to travel around.

“Dumbo and parts of Brooklyn Heights are somewhat isolated, with subway trains more than a 7 minute walk away in many areas – the area is already public transportation challenged…Not to mention that some of the most fiscally productive people in the entire borough live in Brooklyn Heights and Dumbo and to take away these amenities just makes it more difficult to get into employment areas and represents another obstacle to productive living.”

The Dumbo Improvement District previously submitted plans to re-route the B25 bus, but was not granted the request. Also, let’s hope the MTA cost reduction doesn’t mean less service on the subway lines. If you’re concerned about the proposed changes, please comment below and we’ll pass them onto the MTA.

Previously:
{Dumbo BID Submits Plans to Re-route B25 Bus, 07Feb2007}
{Wanna Improve the F Train Service?, 26Apr2007}

Filed in Dumbo Residents, Dumbo Tidbits at 1:36 pm
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  • Peter
    Not so sure Smokey needs the $ these days. He's getting a bit more brazen doing his deals right in the middle of the street. I couldn't believe that I was crossing front street as the same time as him and see him go to shake someone's hand and in his hand he's got a bag of little white rocks and the other guy was handing him some cash.

    I miss Crackey....
  • Halfie
    I certainly don't think cutting bus lines is a good move, regardless of whether any given Dumbo resident gets winded by a 7 minute walk or not, but take a moment to consider getting a bicycle. Even if you don't see yourself ever commuting on it, a bike is the perfect way to get around Brooklyn for errands. It takes me 5 minutes to get to Montague, which would probably take me 20 minutes by foot. Just make sure you get a basket for it and a good lock and you're set. Especially with all the new bike lanes!
  • Steve
    I hear Smokey is giving piggyback rides for $.50, if you need a lift to the train!
  • Timothy
    I am not going to harass people who complain about a 7 minute walk but I walk from Main St. to the R train every day and it really is not that bad (even in the rain). The one time I decided to use the B25 to get a little closer it sat on Old Fulton for a few mins and probably made my trip longer than if I had walked.
    That said, they can't cut the bus, I agree with the poster who mentioned the other buses, I agree. They are always empty and come with a much greater frequency than the B25.
  • get off your asses
    While I don't think the MTA should cut the B25 bus for many reasons, I think it is pretty pathetic to complain about a 7 minute walk to the subway. Are you people serious???? Are you just the laziest bunch of New Yorkers or what??? I've lived all over NYC- West Village, UWS, UES, Brooklyn Heights- and my walk to the subway in Dumbo is comparable to previous commutes I've had.

    Dweedle- that is pretty much the most ridiculous statement I've read on this blog.... not habitable? Seriously? Obviously you don't live here. I think most of the people who live in Dumbo would disagree with that. As I mentioned, I've lived all over the city and this is definitely my favorite neighborhood. Love it here.

    CvonD- you can take the A,C one stop and switch to the 4 (assuming you are going to Manhattan)
  • Why can't the city save some money by kicking out the lowlife thug drug dealers from the farragut houses. The taxpayers are tired of paying their welfare checks.
  • Coco
    Dweedle - If you don't care they why give people who need the bus a hard time - you sound like a miserable, mean spirited person. If you have nothing else to do but bash people who, for whatever reason, find walking more than a mile to a subway less than pleasing, need to get a life. You said it yourself - "there's not even close to enough amenities to make it habitable" - THIS IS WHY WE NEED A BUS BACK AND FORTH. God help you should ever need help doing something or getting somewhere. Why don't you try living in SIBERIA if you are so happy to walk. ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;_) ;_) ;_) ;_) ;-) ;_) ;_)
  • dweedle
    Coco - nobody's pro-bus cutback, we just don't care whether it stays or not. What we find really hilarious is the poor widdle pookums complaining that they'll have to walk more than 7 minutes! It's so precious - these were probably the same people extolling the virtues of Dumbo as a "residential" neighborhood when people with half a brain could clearly see there's not even close to enough ameneties to make it habitable.

    Who's the fool now, Coco? ;-)
  • Coco
    Pete and others - If you don't mind the walk, good for you - have you ever considered that others do - so what's it to you?! Does that mean its ok for the mta to cut the bus.

    Again, how can anyone be Pro-bus cutback? Fool.
  • clueless mta
    Keep the B25. It's the only bus that serves a great area. Consider cutting back the B38, B41 and B42 buses instead. Whilst waiting for the B25 on Court Street I noted numerous B38's, B41's and B42's going by - all empty - within a ten minute span - easily a dozen buses in total. That's too many. It makes more sense to cut some of those back than it does to isolate an entire neighborhood by eliminating the B25.
  • Pete
    Yes, I can see how this would suck for a lot of people who need to commute into and out of the area but you some of these comments are really pathetic. Walking up to Brooklyn Heights is not a a major trek and neither is walking 7 minutes! Cjane can workout at the gym but the walk to the Brooklyn Heights is too much???
  • cjane
    No!!! I take that from Dumbo to Montague Street to run errands - dry cleaning, banking, grocery shopping, etc. and often return arms full. I cannot imagine walking all the way back from Montague Street back to Main Street carrying everything. I will probably end up cancelling my gym membership in Brooklyn Heights too if that happens.
  • Coco
    How could anyone be Pro-bus cutback? Dumb.
  • Adam
    What kind of a masochist wants to walk more than 7 minutes to a subway?
    And why would anyone begrudge another person who didn't want to walk that long a distance to get to work?
    Guess those bitter folks have nowhere to go - slacker? or just former members of the now defunct wall street liars and thieves (some of them)?
  • CvonD
    I think the wording was seven minutes OR MORE. I live in Dumbo and if I didn't take the B25 to the 4 train, I'd be walking at least 10-15 minutes to get there. Remember, seven minutes is almost a mile when running, so a seven minute walk is indeed much more than the norm in urban areas, especially in business attire. Seven plus is even worse.
  • Kim H
    Another hit to Dumbo property values.
  • dweedle
    "7 minute walk"....I've posted this article to a few forums. Absolutely f'ing hilarious!!!

    If you think a 7 minute walk to public transport qualifies as "isolated" then you really do need to get out of the city more!
  • spiral
    The notion of cutting the B25 bus which is the best link to the Brooklyn Bridge Park, Empire Fulton Fery Park, the new ice rink that will be beneath the Brooklyn Bridge - makes ZERO SENSE - typical - let's take a gem of a waterfront property, make all kinds of plans to redevelop it, then as soon as it really begins to thrive - we'll CUT IT OFF from the rest of Brooklyn and make it harder for people to get there. Typical MTA logic.
  • PainterLee
    Disabled people do ride that bus. Daily, in fact. There is a group who attends classes in the neighborhood - and they ride that bus all the time.
  • I'm fine with the walk up to the A/C as long as we can close off the entrance / exit to the BQE at Hicks & Fulton.
  • Womanhattan
    "7 minute walk" .. ? No wonder the rest of the world sees americans as fat complainers. hilarious.
  • Veronica
    Scott what a mean, sarcastic comment - if you dont want to take a bus, then don't but there are plenty of other people who rely on it, so if you have nothing to gain, nothing to lose and nothing supportive to say, then dont say it.
  • askjeez
    I hope they don't cut the B25. My family and I take it all the time to the A/C train. Agree that it's a pretty long walk from Old Fulton Street to the A/C. It's even worse in severe weather - cold, snow,sleet, rain, heat and humidity. I'd be better off wearing combat gear to work instead of my suit. I really hope they rethink that.
  • buspuss
    buses are for pussies!
  • The connection to the water taxi is a stronger one, in my book. There might be a good accessibility for the disabled argument here too...
  • The horrors! A seven minute walk to the train! Someone in outer Brooklyn is playing a tiny violin... if that's your best argument to keep this bus line, you might want to come up with another one...
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