MTA Overhauling B44 Route; Rehabbing Shuttle Service

Last week the MTA presented its plans to overhaul the Nostrand Avenue B44 bus service and rehab the Franklin Avenue Shuttle tracks to Community Board 8. In terms of the bus route, the MTA is installing its third “Select Bus Service” in the city on the nine-mile route along Nostrand Avenue. It is currently the seventh-busiest bus route citywide. The SBS includes a dedicated bus lane, reconfigured parking, sidewalk expansions with higher curbs, bus bulbs, and outdoor ticketing machines. Here’s a PDF with more details. Streetsblog has also been covering the community outreach associated with construction. Work should begin in mid-2012 and last until late that year.

As for the shuttle construction, there are three overstressed sections between the Franklin Avenue and Park Place stations where tracks must be reinstalled. Work won’t begin until the spring of 2012 and will last through September, but the MTA still gave an idea of the service changes ahead. During the months of April and May, there will be a full shutdown of the shuttle for six weekends. For three-and-a-half months, there will be a shutdown only between the Franklin Avenue and Park Place stops. There will also be another two weekends of full shutdowns in September. In every case, shuttle bus service will be provided.
Image by NYC DOT/MTA, via Streetsblog