For more information, go to www.mta.info

For more information please visit the MTA’s website at www.mta.info

Southbound Q trains operate express between Kings Highway and Brighton Beach during the weekend of March 17-19.

Check www.mta.info for further updates.

Bicycle accidents and bicyclist injuries have seen a dramatic increase in the past year. Please be advised that in an effort to reduce these types of accidents, the 70th Precinct will be holding bicyclists more accountable for their actions by issuing traffic violations. Bicyclists must adhere to many of the same rules of the road as motorists do. For example, stopping at red lights, obeying traffic devices, etc.  In addition, to reduce serious injuries to bicyclists, the 70th Precinct will issue violations to bicyclists who utilize headphones while riding a bicycle, and do not utilize a bicycle lane when it is available. It is the 70th Precinct’s mission to keep the roadways safe for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists.  Thank you for your compliance.

Deputy Inspector Ralph Monteforte
70th Precinct Commanding Officer

• In Manhattan south of 86th Street, where passenger and commercial parking rates at muni-meters are $2.50 per hour, rates will increase to $3 per hour.
• Throughout the City, where passenger parking rates at metered locations are 25¢ for 20 minutes, rates will increase to 25¢ for 15 minutes.

DOT estimates that these changes will be complete by June 30th, 2011.

The scope of work includes the demolition of a building under the bridge; removal and reconstruction of concrete parapets, concrete deck slab and concrete encased steel stringers, utilities, curb and sidewalk at both sides of the bridge; repair of the spalled concrete underdeck and resurfacing of the existing asphalt pavement. Graffiti will be removed and parapets painted.

The contractor will work on only one side of the bridge at a time. On the side under construction, traffic will be reduced to one 11-foot travel lane with a 5-foot protected pedestrian walkway. The opposite side will continue to have two moving lanes with one parking lane and sidewalk. The scheduled completion date is the fall of 2011.

Work will be conducted from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

After working with CB14 and the Church Avenue Business Improvement District, DOT designed the plan to address the local community’s concerns about chronic traffic congestion on Church Avenue.

The new parking regulations, set to begin on January 18, 2011, designate 40 metered spaces for weekday truck deliveries from 7 a.m. – noon, freeing up the one-hour metered parking spaces in the afternoons for other motorists. Metered parking for passenger vehicles will continue to be available all day at 90 meters on Church Avenue and on side streets. By consolidating freight deliveries to morning hours, the initiative optimizes the use of curb space by encouraging deliveries to be made earlier in the day, reduces double parking and curb idling and supports the city’s economy by making it easier for business patrons to park. For businesses that need later deliveries, truck loading and unloading will be available until 3 p.m. on weekdays on Church Avenue between East 18^th and 19^th streets.

Read more about the changes that will take effect starting January 18, 2011.

• Saturday, October 23rd between 5 AM to 9 PM
• Saturday, October 30th between 5 AM to 9 PM
• November 1st to November 5th between 9 PM to 5 AM

• Starting Monday, September 13, 2010 at 5 AM, southbound/Coney Island-bound service on the Q and B lines will be restored to the Avenue H and Avenue M train stations.
• For two weeks, there will be northbound/Manhattan-bound service on the Avenue H and Avenue M train stations as well as southbound/Coney Island-bound service.
• Starting Friday, September 24, 2010, northbound/Manhattan-bound service will cease at Avenue H and Avenue M until approximately Summer 2011.
• Transit users will be able to access both northbound and southbound Q and B train service at Avenue J, so they will not have to transfer at Newkirk Avenue to get to the Avenue M train station.
• The Brighton Line Rehabilitation Project should be substantially completed by Summer 2011.
• Rehabilitation at the Newkirk Plaza pedestrian mall (not Newkirk Plaza Station) should be completed by the end of 2010.

This is to inform you that MTA NYC Transit will be operating shuttle buses along the Brighton B/Q subway line from Prospect Park to Stillwell Avenue during three upcoming weekends, due to the ongoing station rehabilition projects from Newkirk Avenue to Kings Highway along the line. Shuttle buses will service all stations between Prospect Park and Stillwell Avenue, and NYC Transit personnel will be available to assist our customers in utilizing the alternate service.  Posters will be placed at each affected station in advance of each weekend, and updated information will be available on our website at www.mta.info

The weekends when shuttle buses will replace trains (from 12:01 a.m. Saturdays through 5:00 a.m. Mondays are:

September 11-13
September 25-27
October 2-4 (this is currently a backup weekend and will be needed only if all work is not completed during the first two weekends)

Granite Construction has informed CB14 about the following street closure and work in conjunction with the Brighton Line Rehabilitation Project:

Please be advised that Avenue L between East 15 Street and East 16 Street will be closed to vehicular traffic for crane operation at Avenue L between the hours of 9:00 pm to 5:00 am from August 24, 2010 to September 1, 2010.

Granite Construction has informed CB14 about the following street closure and work in conjunction with the Brighton Line Rehabilitation Project:

Please be advised that Elm Avenue between East 15 Street and Avenue M will be closed to vehicular traffic for crane operation at Elm Avenue between the hours of 7:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Saturdays, and  9:00 am to 6:00 pm Sundays from September 9th to November 9th.

Dear Valued Customer:

Please be advised that National Grid will be working on your block to install a new gas main/service in the next week or two.  We would like to inform you about the nature of our work in case you have any questions.  We are working on Avenue L between Ocean Ave and East 17^th Street.

National Grid’s scheduled gas main installation and gas service replacements are necessary to accommodate the increased demand of gas in the area.  We are up-sizing the pipe diameter to boost pressures in the region and add to the reliability of service to our customers.  The main installation may be followed with service work to your building.  This timeframe between the two operations may take several weeks.  The anticipated duration of all of our work will be approximately ninety (90) business days.

Street Paving

Street paving will be repaved to insure a smooth surface. Paving is done in two steps:

1. Base paving- This first step restores the paving to two inches below street level

and will remain so for 21 working days or up to a month.

1. Topping- In this final step, high-grade asphalt is applied so that the restored areas

are even with the surrounding roadway.

Concrete Restoration

Sidewalks that are affected by our work will be filled with a temporary asphalt pavement.

Concrete openings should be restored within 21 days, with the exception of work done during mid-winter. Some delays in final restoration may occur because concrete can not be poured in inclement or cold weather.

Please note that National Grid may require access to your gas meter and service valve to perform the necessary work.  If the gas meter and valve is not accessible (i.e. behind sheetrock or obstructed) then you will need to provide clear access so that National Grid or its contractors (Hallen Construction) can complete the work safely.  Neither National Grid nor its contractors will be involved in the clearing or rebuilding of any obstructions.

We apologize for any inconvenience to you and your family. If you have any questions please call Community Investments Department, Renee McClure at (718) 403-2663.

Reminder:

As always, in the event of an emergency, call our emergency number at (718) 643-4050 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

National Grid

“We are very glad that CB14, DOT and the Church Avenue BID were able to work together on improving the flow of traffic and the availability of parking on one of the most heavily trafficked commercial strips in our district,” said Alvin M. Berk, Chairman.

Last year, the Board’s Transportation Committee, headed by co-chairs Morris Sacks and Joseph Basso, introduced a resolution, which was subsequently adopted by the Board, recommending to DOT that the time regulations for metered parking be reduced to encourage a greater turnover of parking spaces, reduce double parking, and therefore improve overall traffic conditions on Church Avenue.

DOT’s alternative proposal, the Park Smart Program, would have established higher parking meters rates that would increase during “peak” hours when DOT determined there was higher demand for parking.

“In these difficult economic times, we want to ensure that our local commercial strips are as welcoming to potential customers as possible.  This means more available and affordable parking so people continue to Shop Brooklyn!” added Doris Ortíz, District Manager.

Granite Construction has informed CB14 about the following street closure and work in conjunction with the Brighton Line Rehabilitation Project:

Please be advised that Elm Avenue between East 15 Street and Avenue M will be closed to vehicular traffic for crane operation at Elm Avenue between the hours of 7:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Saturdays, and  9:00 am to 6:00 pm Sundays from July 6th to October 6th.