Brooklyn business owners rally against G train service shutdowns

August 21, 2026 - 03:11

Small business owners along the G line in Greenpoint are speaking out against planned weekend service shutdowns, saying the disruptions are already scaring off customers and cutting into sales. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has scheduled a series of track maintenance projects that will suspend G train service between Brooklyn and Queens on multiple weekends through the spring.

Owners of cafes, boutiques, and grocery stores in the neighborhood say the closures hit at the worst possible time, as weekend foot traffic is their main source of revenue. One coffee shop owner told reporters that Saturday sales dropped by nearly half during the first shutdown last month. Another bookstore manager noted that tourists and visitors who rely on the subway often turn around and leave when they see the station gates closed.

The local business improvement district has started a petition asking the MTA to shift the work to overnight hours or provide free shuttle buses that run more frequently than the current replacement service. They argue that the current shuttle schedule is unreliable and adds twenty to thirty minutes to any trip.

An MTA spokesperson said the work is necessary for signal upgrades and track replacements, and that the agency has tried to minimize impacts by grouping projects. But business owners remain skeptical, pointing out that the agency has not offered any compensation for lost income. They are planning a meeting with community board members next week to push for a revised schedule that keeps the trains running on weekends.