General

Bay Ridge deals with new R Train

August 8, 2013 Editorial Staff

BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photo by Amanda Glodowski

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Bay Ridgeites looking to take the train in Manhattan must now must transfer between trains in Brooklyn, causing confusion for some.

It is the only train I take in Brooklyn and now I cannot take it, said Ameenah Sukkur.

The last Manhattan-bound R train left the station at 11 p.m. on Friday August 2; it will not make the trip under the East River for another 14 months.

The only problem I had was trying to get to Jay Street for the C train but I didn’t know where to go, said Devi Ibraham who for the most part commutes on the R for work in Brooklyn.

The Montague Tube must be repaired due to damage left behind by Superstorm Sandy. The tube will receive repairs to tracks, tunnel lighting, power cable and signal equipment, at a cost of $308.6 million. These improvements are being paid for by the Federal Transit Administration, FTA, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA.

But, not everyone is complaining. My commute is not really affected, said Jesus Candelario. I usually transfer at 36th for the D or the N, or at 59th to go to Manhattan.

In efforts to make the transition run smoothly, the MTA has amped up weekday X27 bus service and on Friday August 5 the SeaStreak ferry began service from southwest Brooklyn, offering riders the ability to arrive at Wall Street in 15 minutes after departing from the 58^th Street Pier.

In addition, the MTA will be using the newer trains for the R line since it is easier to move them from the train yard onto the actual line. Once service returns to normal, the original trains will be put back into use. In a collaborative effort, the MTA changed subway maps, put out posters and made announcements to make the public aware of the possible changes in their commute.

We did everything that we could to inform customers ahead of time of why and about the work, said Kevin Ortiz, a spokesperson for the MTA. There was some slight confusion the first day — some folks were either unaware or forgot — but we had personnel directing people.

Commuters have been advised to transfer at Atlantic Avenue for the 2, 3, 4, 5, B, D, N or Q trains; at Dekalb for the B or Q; at MetroTech for the A, C or F and at Court Street for the 2, 3, 4 or 5. On weekends, the train will run over the Manhattan Bridge but in Brooklyn will skip the MetroTech and Court Street stations, and once it reaches Manhattan it will not stop at Whitehall Street, Rector Street or Cortlandt Street.