CITY OF

MANHATTAN COMMUNITY BOARD 10 215 West 125th Street, 4th Floor—New York, NY 10027 T: 212-749-3105 F: 212-662-4215

CICELY HARRIS Chairperson

ANDREW LASSALLE District Manager

April 6, 2018

Re: MTA Closing 110th Street B & C Station for 6 Months, Starting Monday, April 9

Manhattan Community Board 10 (CB10) was informed for the first time on Tuesday, April 3rd that starting Monday, April 9, 2018, Transit (NYCT) will be closing the West 110th Street B/C Train station for six months to perform extensive renovations. CB10, representing Central , will be holding an emergency public meeting today, Friday, April 6th at 5 pm, with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) where CB10 members, elected officials, community leaders and residents can raise their concerns, have questions answered and explore options regarding potential postponement of the West 110th Street B/C train station closure, alternative transportation options and other steps to remedy inconveniences and safety issues that will result from the closing. We urge all community residents and elected officials to attend and express their concerns regarding the train station closing and NYCT and MTA’s lack of notice and transparency to Harlem residents.

Concerned residents contacted CB10 leadership regarding the planned station closure after noticing a flyer posted at the station on Tuesday, April 3rd – less than a week before the planned closure. That same day, CB10’s Transportation Committee Chair reached out to NYCT to inquire about the closure and the absence of notice. A NYCT official advised that they had not realized that the 110th Street Station was within CB10’s boundaries.

It is unacceptable that NYCT and MTA were not aware that West 110th Street is within CB10’s borders (which extend from West 110th Street to West 155th Street, and from 5th Avenue to Morningside Avenue). As a result of this failure, Central Harlem was given no opportunity to review or comment on this major infrastructure change. A reasonable review period would have given CB10 members, community residents, elected officials and community leaders the chance to weigh in on the timing of the project, alternative transportation options such as shuttle buses (which are not included in the MTA’s current plan) and increased service on existing bus lines, safety issues and other concerns.

The MTA and NYCT was given the opportunity to speak at CB10’s General Board Meeting on Wednesday, April 4th. However, due to the late notice and other critical matters on the agenda, the presentation was brief and time for questions was limited. NYCT officials were not able to provide sufficient information to respond to community concerns and questions.

We understand that notice was given and meetings held in other communities that will be affected by the 110th Street Station closing and similar station closings in Manhattan. It is unacceptable that Central Harlem was not provided with similar timely outreach and opportunity to be heard. This matter raises questions regarding a lack of transportation equity in neighborhoods like Central Harlem with large black and Latino communities who are often overlooked, dismissed, ignored, and disenfranchised. The actions of the MTA and NYCT and their consequences cannot be ignored.

We urge you to join us at the emergency hearing today, Friday, April 5th at 5pm at 215 W. 125th Street, 3rd Floor, NY, NY 10027 and to contact Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Office at 1-518-474-8390 and Mayor Bill De Blasio’s Office at (212) 788-7418 to voice your concerns.

For more information related to this emergency event, please contact the Community Board 10 District Office at 212-749-3105.

Sincerely,

Cicely Harris Chair, Manhattan Community Board 10

Raquel Vazquez Chair, CB 10 Transportation Committee

Cc: Governor Andrew Cuomo Congressman NYS Senator NYS Assemblywoman Inez Dickens NYS Assemblyman Robert J. Rodriguez NYS Assemblyman Al Tayor Mayor Bill De Blasio NYC Public Advocate Leticia James NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer NYC Councilman Bill Perkins Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota