via Riders Alliance on Facebook
Dec. 12, 2018 By Meghan Sackman
The Riders Alliance, a New York based transit activist group, is gearing up for its “Fix the Subway” community action meeting planned in Flushing tomorrow.
The meeting, which will take place at Flushing Library at 41-17 Main St. from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., calls on New Yorkers to gather and discuss current transit issues, along with possible ways to effectively push for a subway system that is reliable and safe for all.
The meeting comes as Queens subway riders have endured a string of problems along the 7 train and other lines, including more wait times, cancelled services, and no weekend service into Manhattan.
Yesterday, for instance, hundreds of commuters at the Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard stop were left scrambling for alternate routes to get into Manhattan after trains apparently stopped running at the location. Riders during the rush hour commute were even reportedly turned away from entering the station, according to Gothamist.
The meeting also comes as the alliance, now in its sixth year and behind campaigns like #CuomosMTA, is in the midst of their #FixTheSubway efforts, which builds on the infamous “summer of hell” in 2017.
The group says its efforts have proven successful, pointing to the recently approved Fair Fares legislation in City Council that will fund half-price Metrocards for low-income New Yorkers beginning in 2019. The alliance, leading up to the approval, had rallied around a #FairFares campaign.
The group, meanwhile, is also pushing for the relatively new Fast Forward plan to be fully funded and backed by the state.
The plan, spearheaded by NYCT president Andy Byford, includes modernizing signal systems and train cars, providing more ADA accessible stations, reimagining the bus network and accelerating accessibility.
“We are holding each legislator accountable all over Queens to support congestion pricing as part of a package to fund the Fast Forward Plan,” Rider’s Alliance member and Queens Community Organizer Alina Shen said in an e-mail to the Flushing Post.
As for Thursday’s community action meeting, the alliance has already held similar conversations in other Queens neighborhoods, including Astoria, Forest Hills and Corona.
No officials or press have been invited to Thursday night’s meeting, but all New Yorkers are welcome to attend.
Featured Events
