Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, State Senator Martin J. Golden and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chairman Peter S. Kalikow today announced the continuation of weekend express bus service for Bay Ridge, Sea Gate, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach and Bensonhurst residents for an additional year.  The X27 and X28 run express from Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach, Sea Gate and Bensonhurst to Lower Manhattan, Soho, Chelsea and into Midtown and back to Brooklyn via Gramercy Park, Greenwich Village and the Financial District.

"I am pleased that we are able to again save this bus service which is so critically important to Brooklyn residents, particularly senior citizens," said Mayor Bloomberg.  "As I said last year, cutting this service would have been an unacceptable mistake.  I want to thank Senator Golden and Chairman Kalikow for doing their part to ensure these buses keep running on weekends."

"I applaud Mayor Michael Bloomberg and MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow for partnering with me, and for making a commitment, to continue weekend express bus service on both the X27 and X28 routes," said Senator Golden.  "This is a victory for the community's seniors, disabled, and all riders, who either are part of the six or seven day work week, or who wish to go into Manhattan to shop, dine or for entertainment. This service remains necessary and I am proud that with a cancellation date looming, we have been able to reach an agreement that will keep these buses rolling."

"After hearing the Mayor's and Senator Golden's concerns about cutting this service and the impact it would have on our customers, I am happy to be able to contribute positively to a solution," said Chairman Kalikow.  "I urge all the residents of Brooklyn to continue to ride the bus and encourage more weekend travelers to get aboard."

The X27 and X28 bus routes, which provide service between Brooklyn and Manhattan, were scheduled to stop running on weekends as of June 26th when State funding expired.  The MTA had planned to cut this service last year once the rehabilitation of the Manhattan Bridge was complete and subway service was fully restored. The more than $1 million needed to restore these buses will be provided through a combination of State and City funding.