G Train Petition Now in MTA's Hands—Literally

Elected officials and advocacy groups supporting the extended G train joined together Wednesday afternoon to hand over a petition 11,000 signatures strong to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Started by Working Families Party, the petition is just one of three imploring MTA officials to maintain the five southernmost stops of the G train, with others from Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and still circulating. 

Matthew Cain, a communications associate with Working Families Party, delivered the signatures straight into the hands of Lois Tendler, the MTA's vice president of government and community relations. Despite assurances from the MTA that no decisions will be made until the completion of the Culver Viaduct in 2014, Cain said he hopes the weighty stack of papers will help MTA officials reconsider. 

"We’re asking them to commit to keeping the full G train before that so that transit riders in Brooklyn know what to expect,” Cain said. “When [the petition] goes into that building, we’re giving it over to their government relations office. Hopefully they’ll see the 11,000 names, take them into consideration and commit to keeping the full G train." 

Cain and his staff were joined by City Comptroller John Liu, District Leader Lincoln Restler and, following the hand-off, Councilman Brad Lander, D-Park Slope, as well as representatives from the Transport Workers Union and the advocacy group Transportation Alternatives.