MTA ON TRACK TO INSTALL ELEVATOR AT UTICA AVENUE
Community outraged by plans That Calls for Ramps to Individual Platform
By Keith L. Forest
After 20 years of negotiating, Community Board 3 is finally on track to having an elevator installed at the Utica Avenue A&C train station. Representatives from Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) attended CB3’s monthly meeting to share the good news. However, they were in for a surprise when their plan, which calls for an elevator to be installed on the North East side of the station and ramp access leading to the individual platforms, was not well received.
Attending members were outraged and felt the MTA once again short-changed them. The installation of ramps, members expressed, jeopardizes the health of the elderly and physically challenged by forcing them to navigate inclined slopes. Members demanded that the plans be revised to include elevator access from the street to the individual platforms. frustrated MTA members agreed to take suggestions back to the drawing board. Construction is set to begin spring 2011.
Community Board 3 also conducted a public hearing to address the 2011 City Budget. Although the board presented over 10 capital budget items and 9 expense items, due to recent citywide budget cuts the city only green lighted two (2) of its capital budget items. They are: installation of the elevator on Utica Ave and reconstruction of Nostrand Ave from Flushing to Atlantic. Board members took the opportunity to educate the public on the process and encourage the community to fight for alternative ways to support other projects such as Von King’s Cultural Art Center and the rehabilitation of Sumner Avenue Armory for community use.
Keith L. Forest is a freelance publicist, writer and proud Bedford-Stuyvesant home owner who lives and works in the beloved community. His current blog space mybedstuy.blogspot.com seeks to celebrate the people and places that make up this great community while addressing issues such as gentrification, predatory lending and other ill norms that seek to exploit, discredit and harm the area and its people.
