Brooklyn, New York– The Restore the B37 Bus Coalition, an extensive grassroots alliance of local residents, workers, businesses, community groups, elected officials, and TWU Local 100 members along the Third Avenue Corridor in Brooklyn are cheering the MTA’s announcement that the B37 will be re-instated. The victory represents the culmination of the coalition’s three-year successful efforts to organize the communities of Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill, Gowanus, Red Hook, Sunset Park, and Bay Ridge in support of restoring the bus line.
“We applaud the leadership of our community and thank the MTA for making a wise and just decision on behalf of some of the most vulnerable members of our community. We look forward to working with the MTA to continuously address our communities’ transportation needs. Congratulations to the Restore The B37 Bus Coalition!” said Elizabeth Yeampierre, Executive Director, UPROSE.
“I’m thrilled that three years of tireless organizing by local residents, community groups, elected officials, and TWU Local 100 members have finally paid off. This shows what labor and community coalition-building can achieve! Together, we are working to make sure safe, accessible, and affordable public transportation truly serves the communities that need it the most. I commend MTA leadership for their decision to restore the B37, which is sorely needed in the communities along Third Avenue in Brooklyn. Congratulations to the Restore the B37 Bus Coalition!” said TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen.
“I cheer this victory on behalf of transit riders in underserved communities, particularly Sunset Park, which strongly felt the impact of this ill-planned cut,” said Councilwoman Sara M. Gonzalez. “Now our seniors, people with disabilities and those seeking health care at Lutheran can access that facility with far less inconvenience. Now our students along the corridor can more easily get to school. Now businesses are assured that their workers and shoppers can come and go with ease. Now everyone can get to the Barclays Center. Now Brooklynites from Bay Ridge to downtown Brooklyn who have transportation needs can access this vital artery.”
Councilman Vincent Gentile, 43rd District said, “Today I am proud to say the B37 is back! I thank the MTA for doing the right thing with their $40 million surplus and I commend all my partners in the mighty Restore the B37 Bus Coalition for never giving up on this fight and working hard behind the scenes to make this a reality. This is a major win for Brooklyn -for seniors, students, the disabled and businesses along the corridor – from Bay Ridge to Prospect Heights – for people who need to get to work, doctor’s appointments, schools and houses of worship – this route is essential. I can’t wait to take my first ride on the beloved B37!”
Senator Velmanette Montgomery said, “I am very happy that all the work the Restore the B37 Bus Coalition put in has been appreciated by the MTA, and I am very grateful to the MTA for their restoring this vital bus line to a rapidly growing service corridor. From Bay Ridge, to Sunset Park, to Gowanus, to Boerum Hill and Downtown Brooklyn, working people will be able to safely, securely, and affordably get to doctors, to school, and to work! Thank you all for this tremendous achievement!”
The Restore the B37 Bus Coalition is:
Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez; Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz; State Senator Martin Golden; State Senator Eric Adams; State Senator Diane J. Savino; State Senator
Velmanette Montgomery; Assemblyman James Brennan; Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny; Assemblyman Felix Ortiz; Assemblywoman Joan Millman; Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis;
Councilmember Stephen Levin; Councilmember Sara M. Gonzalez; Councilmember Brad Lander; Councilmember Vincent Gentile; Community Board 7; Community Board 10; Arab
American Association of NY; Asociacion Tepeya of NY; Bay Ridge Democrats; Brooklyn Center for Independence for the Disabled; Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce; Center for Family
Life; Fifth Avenue Committee; Gowanus Alliance; Lutheran Family Health Center*; Margarita’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Survivors Group; Mixteca; Neighbors Helping Neighbors; Red
Hook volunteer groups; Riders Alliance; Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation; Third Avenue Merchants Association; Transit Forward*; Turning Point; TWU
Local 100; United Sunset Park Senior Center; UPROSE*; Wyckoff Gardens Association; Young Progressive Democrats. *Founding members of the Restore the B37 Bus Coalition.