L Train Gas Aroma Hospitalizes Workers

Fans installed above the Graham Avenue L train station. (courtesy of instagram.com/pugetive)

Just in time to raise fresh doubts on the Cuomo L train plan to keep the Canarsie tunnel in operation while crews fix the damage caused by Superstorm Sandy, many L train riders and MTA workers are reportedly getting sick from inhaling the mysterious and noxious gas odors floating around the Graham Avenue and Lorimer Street stations.

A foul odor is still lingering at L train stations in Brooklyn days after the smell forced service on the line to be suspended for hours. @LydiaHuNews is live at Graham Avenue: The odor “is definitely still here.” pic.twitter.com/XWosNPSDkP

— Spectrum News NY1 (@NY1) February 7, 2019

Fans are now installed above the Graham Avenue L train station to help suck out the gas smell that has made at least three MTA workers sick, which the MTA says is non-toxic, according to NY1.

NYC Councilmember called for the MTA to cease L train operation Wednesday night while the source of the smell is inspected.

Drastic as it sounds, I think the @MTA needs to close service on the #Ltrain & set up a robust bus service to address tomorrow’s commutes while they figure out what’s going on here. Even w ⁦@FDNY⁩ go ahead-people are getting sick. Safety first. https://t.co/E8xKq6tI5e

— (((Stephen Levin))) (@StephenLevin33) February 7, 2019

The state DEC claims to have discovered water seepage in the subway with “sheens” giving off “aged petroleum odors” in a nod to the oil spill history of the region, the NY Daily News reports.

.@NYCTSubway the L train has smelled like gas the past few days, and someone just passed out due to the smell and lack of air circulation. The passenger is fine, but this issue needs to be addressed ASAP #NYC #help

— Josh Fidanque (@joshfidanque) February 5, 2019