City wants to take its bus down to Fresh Pond Road. CB5 says it can’t no more.

An MTA bus. Photo courtesy of Chris Torres/Wikimedia Commons.

By Phineas Rueckert 

The Department of Transportation wants to take its bus down to the Fresh Pond Road.

But some local leaders say it can’t no more.

Assemblymember Cathy Nolan, Councilmember Bob Holden and the majority of Queens Community Board 5 have called on the city to delay installation of a bus lane on the Ridgewood commercial strip, citing concerns about its potential impact on local businesses.  

On Thursday morning, Holden and Nolan held a press conference in front of Kirsch Realty a week after Holden sent a letter to DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg recommending the delay.

“I am writing to request that the Department of Transportation suspend its current plan to implement a bus lane on Fresh Pond Road in Ridgewood, Queens,” Holden said in the letter. “After meeting with the DOT Queens Borough staff on multiple occasions and hearing from the small business owners and residents of Fresh Pond Road, I believe this bus lane proposal has been rushed into existence rather than first implementing less drastic traffic calming measures.” 

The plan took another hit Wednesday when CB5 rejected the proposed bus lane by a vote of 28-6, Queens Chronicle reported. 

Public transit advocates, on the other hand, say that the DOT should go ahead with the bus lane to reduce congestion and enable access to public transportation.

“As a Ridgewood resident and bus rider, I couldn't be more excited for a bus lane on Fresh Pond Road,” said Riders Alliance spokesperson Kerry Herlihy. “The Q58 is a vital and crowded bus line, and it is exasperating to be at the mercy of extreme congestion when I ride it down Fresh Pond.” 

"The Fresh Pond Road area's access to public transit makes it the thriving commercial center of Ridgewood, but cars and parking spots take up too much of the road for it to function properly,” Herlihy continued. “It's time we promote buses' ability to efficiently lessen traffic, noise pollution, and air pollution.”