MTA Holds Second Hearing On Planned L-Train Service Shutdown

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The second hearing on the planned rebuild of the Canarsie tunnel for the L Train was held Thursday night, and was well-attended, but civil.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is trying to decide which of the two potentially painful scenarios it will inflict on people who rely on the L Train to get across the city's East River. Work would start in 2019.

"When people understand why something has to be done they react pretty well to it," MTA Chairman Tom Prendergrast said.

As 1010 WINS' Al Jones reported, that doesn't mean they aren't concerned.

Rose Wilkins-Lightfoot said she favored a partial shutdown over three years.

"I am visually challenged and I'm thinking about the people who have difficulties when traveling," she said.

The subway tunnel beneath the East River is the lone connection between some of Brooklyn's hippest, youngest neighborhoods -- including Williamsburg and Bushwick -- and the bustling 14th Street corridor in Manhattan. But it will either be closed entirely for 18 months, or see extremely limited service for three years, under two possible plans for repairing damage caused by Superstorm Sandy.

Colleen Wessel-McCoy and her family ride the train twice a day, and she opposes the longer partial shutdown.

"For our family it would be better for them to just shut it down for a year and half," she said.

In any scenario, the MTA would add extra cars on the J, M and G lines. There would also be shuttle buses between L trains and other subways along with increased bus and ferry service between Brooklyn and Manhattan.

A decision is expected in two to three months, WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported.