l-train-2018

work on L Train's Canarsie tunnel won't start till 2018 but could take seven years to complete

(photo via @drbear_ny)
2018 L Train

There was another public meeting about the impending work on the L Train’s Canarsie Tunnel that, no matter how it’s done, is going to take a long time. Gothamist was there:

As Lentol told the Daily News, there are several plans under serious consideration. One would close the Canarsie tube completely for at least 18 months. Another option would close just one of the two tunnels that comprise the Canarsie tube, allowing continued service between Brooklyn and Manhattan–albeit at less frequent intervals–and taking at least three years. A third alternative, limiting tunnel work to nights and weekends, would allow regular daytime service but would take at least five and, as Levin said, as many as seven years.

Lentol said that work will likely begin in 2018. At Tuesday night’s meeting, Levin emphasized the importance of starting sooner rather than later, given the currently available federal funds for Sandy recovery.

“We have federal funds right now, about $700 million of federal funds, for Sandy recovery that can be dedicated to this, so that’s the lion’s share of what it would cost to do a significant amount of work there, and that’s not money you can always count on being there, to be honest with you,” Levin said. “We don’t know what’s going to happen with a new administration on the federal level, so…probably the prudent thing to do is to start looking ahead as soon as possible on how to do this.”

Clearly this is far from over. The MTA are promising to “to meet regularly with residents, businesses and others affected by the Canarsie Tube work, as well as to consult with elected officials representing the affected areas, before making any decisions about the construction process and service alternatives.” The next public meeting happens Wednesday, February 24t at 6:30 p.m. at 211 Ainslie Street.

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