By Alex Robinson
The MTA is set to unveil a plan to address heavy bus traffic that has plagued St. George’s Episcopal Church in Flushing for years.
The historic church, built in 1854, sits at the corner of 38th Avenue and Main Street, where there are stops for the Q20 and Q44 buses and a layover for bus drivers who have just finished their routes.
“There’s no parking for any people except buses,” Pastor Kam Chan said. “When we have a service for a funeral or marriage, there’s nowhere to park cars.”
The bus stops and layover also prevent disabled and elderly people from having an easy access point where they can be dropped off, said Chan. The church said it is in dire need of more parking as it holds services five days a week, runs ESL classes and operates a thrift store. The church also sees a significant number of visitors interested in the historic building, said Chan..
“At least give us a gap — a way out. They totally block the whole church and isolate it from the public,” Chan said.
On top of parking issues, Chan said bus drivers at the layover tend to urinate on the side of the church.
“We keep on washing the sidewalk every day. That’s a problem,” he said.
Church leaders are also concerned vibration from the idling buses could be causing structural damage to the church and its windows.
Chan said he has been appealing to elected officials for years to do something.
“If they have a funeral, where do they put the cars?” said Community Board 7 District Manager Marilyn Bitterman had brought the church’s concerns to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority two months ago. “It’s really not fair.”
A spokesman for Councilman Peter Koo (D-Flushing) said the office has written several letters to the MTA going back to 2010 about the issue. He said Koo is even working on legislation in an attempt to deal with the church’s problems with bus traffic.
The MTA said this week at the CB 7 district service cabinet session it has a plan to address the bus traffic, which it will discuss with church leaders, elected officials and community board members at a meeting yet to be scheduled. This will include an on-site walkthrough that will explain the plan.
“We just want to have some kind of improvement. Give the church a way to get in and out and a way to keep the church clean,” Chan said.
Reach reporter Alex Robinson by e-mail at arobinson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
