MTA proposes two bus lines near Brooklyn/Queens border in Bushwick during CB4 meeting

Representatives from the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) proposed during Wednesday’s Brooklyn Community Board 4 meeting rerouting two bus lines near the Brooklyn/Queens border in Bushwick.

The proposed plan would eliminate both the B26 and Q58 buses from making turns on Wyckoff Avenue, having them turn down Ridgewood Place instead.

Andy Inglesby, assistant director of government and community affairs for the TA, cited dangerous turning conditions as the reason for proposing the route change.

“In the last year or so, there have been two fatal accidents in the vicinity of our Myrtle-Wyckoff intermodal project,” Inglesby told the board.

Currently, the B26 bus travels down Wyckoff Avenue, turns right on Palmetto Street, a left onto St. Nicholas Avenue, followed by a left onto Gates Avenue, and another left back onto Wyckoff Avenue.

The proposed change would have the B26 make a left turn off of Wyckoff Avenue onto Putnam Avenue. The bus would travel down Putnam Avenue for one block and make a right onto Ridgewood Place, then another right on Palmetto Street. The bus would have a layover in the Ridgewood Terminal before continuing on Palmetto Street and following its normal route from there.

The Q58 currently runs along Putnam Avenue, making a right on Wyckoff Avenue and another right onto Palmetto Street. The proposed reroute would have the Q58 continue on Putnam Avenue to Ridgewood Place where it would make the right onto Palmetto Street.

In regards to the streets that would have bus service if the reroutes were instituted, Inglesby announced, “we would not be putting any new bus stops on these streets.”

“We’re actually looking to do this as soon as possible, we’re looking to get these reroutes in as early as this spring,” Inglesby said. “We think it’s necessary because we want to make sure we eliminate the dangerous conditions that the community has expressed to us.”

Residents wanted to know if the MTA was taking into consideration the size of the streets, the effect of these new routes on parking and possibly adding new signage to the effected streets.

Inglesby said the MTA, in conjunction with the Department of Transportation, would consider changing Ridgewood Place to a one-way street, if the community expressed a desire to have that change implemented.

He also noted that there would be no loss of parking spaces on streets that would pick up bus service due to the change, except if there was a need for daylighting.

Daylighting is a procedure where cars would not be allowed to park up to the street corner, allowing buses to have clearer access for making turns.

If the community deems it necessary, the representatives noted, street signs—including a school crossing sign to protect the students who use Ridgewood Avenue as a route home from schools in the area—could be installed.