The city’s proposed $2.5 billion streetcar along the Brooklyn-Queens waterfront may not integrate with the MTA’s subway and bus system, Mayor de Blasio acknowledged Tuesday.
If the MTA doesn’t sign on, that would mean passengers won’t be able to transfer between the two systems without paying a second fare — a “fatal” flaw according to transportation advocates.
“It can be worked out — and it better be worked out because a lot of people are going to shun a trolley if there’s no free transfer,” said Gene Russianoff, a spokesman for the Straphangers Campaign. “It looks pretty fatal to me if it becomes a stand-alone system.”
Hizzoner said the city intends to work out an arrangement with the MTA, but insisted residents would benefit from more transit options regardless.
“Our goal is full integration, maximum transfers,” de Blasio said at a press conference in Red Hook.
“But even if this were a thing unto itself . . . it would still be adding intensely to people’s options and ability to get around.”