Transportation

I just picked up my copy of the WIRE on my way home ,my family and I have been residents of the Island for over 30 years and were one of the "orignials" still left on the island. I can't believe that the tram is going under so much construction and the way there handling it is just wrong .The MTA really needs to step in and take the responsable for the Tram, its been a key support system for life on the island as some newcomers might not know. In 1995 when Metrocard was introduced and tokens remained for subways and buses only the tram had there own machines with there own token's that took the bills and coins and operated by and independent contractor.In 1999 the MTA took over the tram ,and passengers could use the the MTA tokens ONLY and Tram tokens were faded out leaving us stranded at the bottom of some list in an office on Jay Street or wherever headquaters must be.Needless to say the MTA has taken us threw so many adjustments on the Island ( Who could forget the Shuttle Train/Shuttle Train Exten. to 34th Street on wkdays / Nights and Weekend Service Changes/MTA Shuttle Buses to Q.Plza/ must I go on)and so many other things that we have become an island that is always "SUBJECT TO CHANGE".Many have moved off the island due to the high commute because of the problem and it only looks worse for the future . My suggestion ? A TOWN MEETING WITH ALL THE RESIDENTS FROM OCTAGON TO SOUTH-TOWN hey maybe even the Hospital Staff.(Fat Chance?) Well remember when the shuttle use to go to 57st/7Ave well currently thats the last stop on the "Q"line (Memories of good times)I say that we finally take back our island and ask that Q line be extended to 71st Ave Continental. It would ease so many of the crowds waiting on the platform at not only the Island but to our neigbor stations 21 street Q.Bridge and Lex & 63rd. which have been feeling the the heat of the extra passengers as well. Its no fun to have the doors open with people from Queens giving dirty looks.It also would allow Island residents to use the Broadway Line aswell as the 6th Ave Line . Its possiable. The MTA has uses it to re-route "R" trains threw the 63rd Street connection sometimes and its such a relieve.We've given the MTA so much of our island including there own brownstone at southpoint prk where there is access to a passage to the E/V line. I think they can do it for a population thats growing as fast as the buildings developments on the Island.

The MTA responds to that might be the that they can't handle another train at 71st/Continental where the end of the line is for the R,V,G trains but in 2001 when the island first got the "F" train, the "G" line on weekdays no longer ran the the full route and now ends at the Court House Square Station in South L.I.C during the weekdays.

My point in all this is that we need to push the the MTA and let them know we can't handle just one train and NO tram.Its just asking for disaster the red bus drivers driving to Queens Plaza in the morning is leaving it in the hands on RIOC and that's not fair to us and responsiablity of those drivers.

I only see trouble in the end up with more accidents and maybe a couple of fist fights on the platform.I suggest if you care about the island we need to stand up for it. We could really save ourselves.