The community came out in full force on Monday night to hear and be heard on the issue of the possible subway station closure at Clark Street. To kick off the meetintg, NYC Transit President Andy Byford presented three different options for repairing the aged and failing elevators in the Clark Street 2/3 subway station. President Byford repeatedly said that he was interested in hearing from the community and that no decision had been made. Option #1 would mean the subway would bypass the station entirely for a period of 8 months while new elevators were installed. The station itself would remain open and the businesses within the station would be accessible to customers. This is the option preferred by the MTA. According to the agency, it would be the quickest and the least expensive. Option #2 would involve work on one elevator at a time over the course of 24 months, leaving two in operation at all times. Because of safety rules related to emergencies, two elevators need to be in operation at the same time. Option #3 would involve work on one elevator at a time over a 22-month period. Two elevators would be in operations only during peak times, with all trains skipping the station during weekends and off-peak times.
Important to note for Options 2 or 3: trains may be required to skip the station during peak times in emergencies, or if one or more of the operating elevators fail. Given the current elevator failure rate, the MTA estimates this could occur as frequently as one or two times a month. We urge you to complete the MTA survey about your preference. They are making an effort to solicit our feedback and we should respond. The survey will be live for approximately 10 days. As we told the media following the town hall, the BHA remains concerned about the impact any of the options, but especially the complete closure option, would have on the small businesses in and around the station, and would like to understand more about what can be done to minimize or mitigate any negative effects. We are currently researching the options and reaching out to city officials and other neighborhood organizations and Business Improvement Districts in areas that have been similarly impacted to learn more. Read more about the meeting and the various options.
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