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May 21, 2010 Jay Walder, Chair Dear Mr. Walder, On behalf of the Northeast Queens Jewish Community Council, I write to urge the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to maintain Q79 bus service on Little Neck Parkway, which it unjustifiably voted to eliminate. An association of religious, education, fraternal and community organizations, the NEQJCC covers Bay Terrace, Bayside, Bellerose, Douglaston, Floral Park, Fresh Meadows, Glen Oaks, Hillcrest, Holliswood, Hollis Hills, Jamaica Estates, Little Neck, New Hyde Park, Oakland Gardens and Queens Village (north). The Q79 serves the heart of our community. Sound alternatives to the elimination of Q79 exist. The extension to Floral Park to the LIRR has received the most attention. It makes the most sense. Northeast Queens residents, especially our seniors and our youth, rely on the Q79 to reach the Little Neck Long Island Railroad Station, the Samuel Field Y and connect to buses and shopping along Jericho Turnpike, Hillside Avenue, the Long Island Expressway service road and Northern Boulevard. In addition to the Y, four other member-organizations, Bellerose Jewish Center, Little Neck Jewish Center, Temple Sholom and Temple Torah are situated on, or one block off, Little Neck Parkway. The proposed elimination of this important service will destroy north-south service in the communities of Bellerose, Floral Park, Glen Oaks, Douglaston and Little Neck. Instead, your agency should direct MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) to make the bus service on Little Neck Parkway more regular, and extend the southern terminus of the Q79 across the City-line and Jamaica Avenue to the Floral Park Long Island Railroad Station. Our community has been seeking the very practical extension of this bus line to the LIRR main line in the Village of Floral Park for more than two decades. If Queens can accept MTA Long Island Bus routes, communities outside Queens should similarly welcome buses from eastern Queens. Frankly, it makes no sense to cut service when intelligent actions can be taken to keep it intact. In addition, the Council urges that Q79 operate on Sunday. This not only encourages the weekend use of the Port Washington and Main LIRR lines, it provides a much need mode of transportation for our youth and seniors and others who lack motor vehicles. The Y, where the Council maintains it offices, the Farm Museum, the Perlmutter Center and other institutions operate on Sunday. Eastern Queens continues to be underserved by the mass transit in our region. Eastern Queens continues to experience increases in its senior citizens and youth populations. Instead of diminishing our service, the MTA and the NYCT should look at enhancing service to our communities. Sincerely, -30-
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