Updated 01/23/2012 10:01 PM
MTA Dismisses Rep's Proposal For 7 Train Shuttle Bus
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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is rejecting a City Councilmember's offer to pay for shuttle bus service for passengers affected by the 7 train closures.
This past weekend was the first of 11 consecutive weekends the 7 train will be shut down between Times Square and Queensboro Plaza.
The MTA has shuttle buses running between Queensboro and the Vernon/Jackson station.
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, who represents the area, offered to pay $250,000 from his own discretionary funds for a shuttle bus that would take riders directly from Long Island City to Grand Central Station.
"It's a very real serious situation where business and small cultural institutions could go out of business," said Van Bramer. "Shame on the MTA for not doing more to mitigate the damage that's going to come as a result of these closures."
In declining his offer, the MTA says depending on traffic the councilman's direct bus service could end up taking longer.
The agency says its shuttle bus service should only add an additional 15 minutes to the average trip.