L Train Shutdown: MTA to Hold 3rd Public Mouth-Off Session

CANARSIE, BROOKLYN — The city's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will host its third public discussion on the upcoming L Train shutdown this Thursday in Canarsie.

The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on May 26 at Beraca Baptist Church, located at 9602 Flatlands Ave.

Earlier this month, the MTA hosted one public meeting on the shutdown in Williamsburg, and another in Manhattan.

So far, city officials have outlined two main options for shutting down and repairing Canarsie Tunnel, which was flooded and damaged during Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

The first option would involve a full shutdown of the L for 18 months between the 8th Avenue station in Manhattan's East Village and the Bedford Avenue station in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Under that scenario, L trains would run between Bedford Avenue and Canarsie-Rockaway Parkway south of Brownsville, but wouldn't cross over into Manhattan — eliminating the L as a cross-borough commute option for many residents of eastern Brooklyn.

Under the second plan, which would last three years, the tunnel would only be partially shut down.

Trains would run from the Canarsie-Rockaway Parkway station in Canarsie to the Lorimer Street station in Williamsburg, then share one track between Bedford and 8th.

Both repair scenarios wouldn't begin until 2019.

However, the MTA will be choosing and solidifying a plan for the L Train within the next few months.

On Tuesday, the Riders Alliance, a public transit advocacy group and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer both publicly supported the full closure option.

City officials say the repair work is critical, and will double as an opportunity to enhance the already-overloaded line — improving its future efficiency and capacity.

A variety of alternative commute options for L Train riders during the repair work have also been discussed at recent meetings. Officials have proposed amping up service on the G, M, A and C lines, as well as opening new bus and bike lanes.

For an idea of what to expect at the MTA meeting Thursday in Canarsie, here's our writeup on the Williamsburg meeting, which featured visuals detailing L Train repair options; examples of equipment that must be repaired; and a public-comment period for questions and suggestions.

MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz said Tuesday that more public sessions will be held after Thursday, though they have yet to be announced.