June 26, 2002 -- Transit and community activists yesterday called on subway commuters to demand that Gov. Pataki reverse controversial changes on the Queens Boulevard lines. "Call Gov. Pataki. He runs the MTA. Tell him the new E, F, G, and V routes aren't working for you!" read 25,000 fliers distributed by activists.

The coalition argues that last December's rerouting of the F express to a stop at 63rd Street and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan from a station 10 blocks south has inconvenienced commuters, while the new local V train has not reduced crowding on the E express train.

Citing Transit Authority statistics, activists noted that rush-hour E trains were running well above capacity in January and February, and continued exceeding capacity in most cars in March.

The coalition says the V train - which goes through the 53rd Street station - is not attractive to rush-hour riders because it makes local stops.

"The new routes offer many Queens riders poor choices," said city Councilman John Liu (D-Queens).

The coalition also opposes the Transit Authority's decision to cut the Brooklyn-to-Queens G line in half during weekdays, another change linked to the V.

A poll by the Straphangers Campaign advocacy group shortly after the service changes found that almost two-thirds of Queens Boulevard riders rated the new routes "poor" or "fair," while a third said they were "good" or "excellent."

"The MTA should listen to its riders and change their badly flawed plan," said the Straphangers' Gene Russianoff.

Transit Authority spokesman James Anyansi defended the route changes, which he said have added 22 percent more rush-hour trains.

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