Park Slope Group Wants 4th Ave Subway Changes Now

Some Park Slope activists have so little faith in the MTA's promise to renovate the dreary Fourth Avenue and Ninth Street station that they're imploring transit officials to scale back their plans and instead make a few specific improvements immediately. The massive refurbishment was supposed to begin this year and turn the "dank and dark" station into a light-filled hub with clean windows and a new copper roof. But the plans were later scaled back and postponed in the shadow of looming budget shortfalls.

The MTA now says the most urgent repair won't begin until 2010, to be completed in 2012. The more cosmetic improvements, like the long-overdue coat of paint and window repairs might not be done until 2014. Michael Cairl of the Park Slope Civic Council isn't holding his breath; he tells the Brooklyn Paper, "It’s become clearer that NYC Transit is not going to do a rehab of the Fourth Avenue station." Cairl's group wants the MTA to think smaller by implementing a few basic changes now, like reopening a long-shuttered entrance on the eastern side of Fourth Ave. (Park Slope commuters have to cross five lanes of perilous traffic to get to the F train.)

Cairl also says the MTA should put in a newsstand or cafe, which "would be a way for the MTA to make some money," he suggests to the Daily News. But New York City Transit spokesman Charles Seaton says they're sticking with their plan, and everyone can just forget about opening up that other subway entrance: "That’s something that we’re not contemplating at this point. The point is that [the project] is fully designed, and so making any changes in the new entrance is a major change."

Photo of Fourth Avenue elevated F platform courtesy Dalton Rooney.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on October 20, 2008 9:50 AM

Comments [rss]

barryap

The G train needs to run, period.

I hate seeing the signs in Queens saying no G service "until further notice."

Bottomless Chips

instead of trying to improve service as WesleySnipesAlot suggests, these people want to waste money so the station looks pretty.

these lobbyists are idiots

Um, it's a great thing that these "lobbyists" are trying to get their taxpayer dollar to work for them. This action is a pillar of what our nation is about.

Whether right or wrong, it's their right to complain.

Toby von Meistersinger

Basically if the subway station is not in a place in Manhattan where tourists go or some MTA board member may set foot if dog forbid they ever ride public transit then the station may get renovated.

WesleySnipesAlot

Also, anyone interested in what "could have been" do a Google search for "IND Second System" and try to hold back the ire and frustration. As amazing as the plan was in 1929... it could never be built today. ever.

flynn110

"Cairl also says the MTA should put in a newsstand or cafe, which "would be a way for the MTA to make some money,""

- there is a newsstand 5 feet in front of the turnstiles at this station.

Pull My Finger

Cry me a river for the poor people of Park Slop

fugothamist

^^meant to type:

g train does NOT stop at 4th ave

fugothamist

g train does to stop at 4th tave

just hangs out there

fugothamist

agree with WesleySnipesAlot

but that makes too much sense for the MTA..

requires them to think a little, which might cause brain damage and hence early retirement with disability

John Del Signore

The last stop on the G is Smith/9th. Then it "turns around" at 4th Ave. There is talk of extending it, though.

fugothamist

"F Park Slope."

that should be a t-shirt

sarahlucy

uh, the G does stop there? I agree it's a pretty shitty station, but there are waaaay worse ones. quite your whining, slopers.

sharpshoota

F Park Slope.

maryba

How nice for that neighborhood to have people willing to speak up for those changes.

There were 19 stations whose renovations have been "delayed" by the MTA. The only time someone's finally going to make a stink about fixing up my station, Ft Hamilton Pkwy on the N line--one of those 19 that won't be getting fixed--is when someone falls off the rotten platform or through the corroded stairs.

Sometimes I hope it's me that takes the spill, so that I can sue the pants off of them and finally get something out of all the subway hikes we've been subjected to, and will continue to face.

zodak

instead of trying to improve service as WesleySnipesAlot suggests, these people want to waste money so the station looks pretty.

these lobbyists are idiots

Think2wice

The MTA is in perpetual analysis paralysis.

These activists should be lobbying to kick start the "adopt-a-station" program and temporary naming rights that they MTA has been pussyfooting around for far too long.

Besides the most we could expect from the MTA in terms of station rehabilitation is another coat of paint on top of the other twenty coats of lead paint that hold the steel columns in place, which are nothing but rusted gristle at this point.

KiljoyWasHere

I'm with smit & snipes. More G please.

WesleySnipesAlot

the G train needs to run to Church Ave. (like it used to as the GG) and the V should run on the abandoned middle tracks of the F line to Church Ave. (there are more than enough tracks at Church Ave. for turn-arounds) but of course, this will never happen.

smitty

the G train needs to stop there.

Kojak

As mismanaged as the MTA is, this is not news. There are over 460 subway stations, some in far worse shape than the 4th Ave Subway station. So why are we hearing about it???

Oh yeah, its because this is Park Slope. Stop the presses! We need these changes NOW!

*Yawn*