New bill would give communities advance warning before MTA changes
Community boards would receive the notifications and be able to provide feedback before the changes take effect.
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New legislation would require the MTA to give at least 30 days’ notice before making planned service changes, particularly those that affect subway lines for extended periods.
Community boards would receive the notifications and be able to provide feedback before the changes take effect.
For many riders, the lack of warning has become a daily frustration.
“Every day, there’s another change,” said Richard, a Midwood resident. “The B is running local, the Q is not running, and you find out that day.”
Community Board 11 is among those supporting the measure, arguing that neighborhoods deserve more time to prepare for disruptions and communicate concerns.
Assembly Member William Colton, who represents parts of southern Brooklyn, said the bill is designed to give local leaders a voice in the process.
“They will have a say because their elected officials, their board president, their community planning board will contact the MTA and say, ‘Hey, this is the problem in this neighborhood,’” Colton said.
The bill would not give communities the power to block service changes or halt necessary repairs. But supporters say earlier notice could help residents and businesses better plan around weekend shutdowns and off‑peak disruptions — especially on heavily used lines like the B and Q.
“We need service just like Manhattan,” said Ramit, another Midwood resident. “We need the service to continue and be consistent. And we travel on the weekends too, and on off‑peak hours.”
Colton said that while the MTA may propose alternative travel options during outages, those alternatives often fall short for riders and local businesses.
The bill now heads to the state Senate for consideration.
