June 6, 2016

Thomas F. Prendergast
Chairman & CEO
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
2 Broadway
New York, NY 10004

Polly Trottenberg
Commissioner
New York City Department of Transportation
55 Water Street
New York, NY 10041

Dear Chairman Prendergast and Commissioner Trottenberg:

As elected officials representing areas that include 14th Street in Manhattan, we thank you
for holding the recent public meetings about the L line and for seeking public input on the
Canarsie tunnel project. To that purpose, we are writing to request the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority and New York City Department of Transportation study
reserving lanes of 14th Street for selected forms of traffic, particularly bus service during
the upcoming work. We need to mitigate the impact of construction, and that includes
exploring ways to best manage valuable street space and to support the increased number
of straphangers who will use cross-town buses during an L line closure.
Whichever L line plan is chosen, it is likely that the above-ground portion of 14th Street
will see gridlock if left as is during a long term disruption of L train service, including
more pedestrians, cyclists, and bus riders. According to the DOTs biannual pedestrian
volume index, pedestrian traffic on 14th Street has steadily increased since 2007, and we
anticipate that an L line closure will build significantly on this already dangerously
congested thoroughfare.
The Regional Plan Associations April 2016 whitepaper A New L Train for New Yorkers,
proposed that two lanes of traffic exclusively serve buses in each direction. In its plan, the
remaining lanes would be transformed to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists and no
private vehicles or taxicabs would be permitted. Obviously any workable plan would need
to at least allow for 24-hour emergency vehicles, Access-A-Ride, and other means of
transportation for people with disabilities temporary or permanent, and look at having
this access open during certain times of the day to accommodate people accessing health
care providers, as well as deliveries for local businesses and residences. The RPA proposal
also raises serious concerns about impairing transportation options for people who are
dependent on driving and traffic impacts on nearby cross-town streets.
Foremost, we request that you ensure an opportunity for thorough input from the public
and specifically from elected officials, community boards, block associations, local
businesses, non-profit institutions, and commuters in the scope of this proposed study.

The study should explore the potential traffic impact from river to river on streets
surrounding 14th Street, including at a minimum 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 17th Streets
and streets that begin or terminate at 14th Street, including Avenues A and B, Irving Place,
University Place, and Washington Street. Of particular note, 13th and 17th Streets which
travel from east to west unimpeded warrant further evaluation as they may bear the
burden of additional congestion as a result of changes to 14th Street. Additionally, the
study should consider the needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities.
While we note that strategic closures in other areas of the City such as Times Square
have increased travel efficiency, improved traffic, and enhanced pedestrian safety, every
corridor is different and has its own unique challenges. We believe that a study is
warranted to evaluate the particular challenges of this corridor.
Thank you for your consideration of this proposal. Should you have any questions or
concerns, please contact any of us directly or Senator Hoylmans office at 212-633-8052.
Sincerely,

Brad Hoylman
State Senator

Jerrold Nadler
Congressmember

Carolyn Maloney
Congressmember

Nydia Velzquez
Congressmember

Gale Brewer
Manhattan Borough President

Liz Krueger
State Senator

Dick Gottfried
Assemblymember

Brian Kavanagh
Assemblymember

Deborah Glick
Assemblymember

Corey Johnson
Council Member

Dan Garodnick
Council Member

cc:

Veronique Hakim, President, MTA New York City Transit

Margaret Forgione, Manhattan Borough Commissioner, DOT
Manhattan Community Boards 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6