The shuttle bus that operated last summer to bring swimmers to the floating pool at Barretto Point Park may be eliminated in 2009.
The bus is likely to fall victim to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s budget crunch, according to MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan. The agency has warned that it faces a $1.2 billion budget gap. Its board has unveiled a menu of drastic service cuts and fare and toll hikes that it says it will implement if the city and state don’t find other ways to come up with the money it needs.The shuttle ran between the 2, 5 and 6 subway stops and Barretto Point Park from late June to Labor Day, following the route of the Bx6 until it reached Lafayette Avenue and made a loop to and from the park. Teens from The Point’s ACTION program lobbied hard for the bus service, joined by Community Board 2 and elected officials. They had hoped to make service to the park on the East River a year-round route. Even if the MTA votes to cut bus and subway lines, the changes won’t go into effect until roughly the spring of 2009, said Donovan, offering some hope that another solution might be found before the summer-only service is set to return.