Brooklyn residents call on MTA to restore B71 bus route

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) -- Brooklyn residents are pushing for the MTA to revive a bus line that was axed more than a decade ago, which they feel would help make their neighborhoods more accessible.

The MTA is currently in the process of redesigning Brooklyn’s bus network in hopes of improving and modernizing bus service. As part of that plan, commuters are hoping the agency will bring back the B71 bus.

“Only on the Southern part of the neighborhood and way up on the Northern part of the neighborhood is there anything running in the other direction," said Timothy Gilles of the Park Slope Civic Council, referring to buses in Brooklyn that run from West to East. "What we’re saying is there used to be a bus route that ran from [Van Brunt St.] to Grand Army Plaza and then out [to] Eastern Parkway.”

Brooklyn has no lack of bus routes that go North and South through the borough, according to Gilles, who is part of a group of residents and local officials pushing to revive the B71 bus route. The bus once ran from Van Brunt Street to Roger’s Avenue but was axed by the MTA back in 2010.

“They were experiencing financial revenue issues -- budget issues, and it had less ridership than many other bus routes, so they eliminated it.”

But now that the population is growing in the area, Gilles said the bus line would connect residents to landmarks like Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Museum. Commuters in Gowanus told PIX11 that the lack of bus options makes it hard to get around.

“Like today for example, we wanted to go to Prospect Park, but it was such a hassle to get there," said commuter Nazra Amin. "We just decided not to, and so I think having that option would be really good, and it would kind of just increase our ability to go places.”

Gilles said residents have made several attempts in the past to revive the decades-old bus line. They’re now hoping the bus can return as the agency is currently redesigning the entire Brooklyn bus network.

“This is the perfect time to restore the B71 bus or some variant of it,” Gilles said.

PIX11 reached out to the MTA to see if they have any plans to revive the B71 bus route but are still waiting to hear back.