Bushwick businesses push for faster MTA repairs of hazardous lead paint structures
Crews have started sandblasting sections of the elevated tracks in recent weeks.
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For years, Bushwick residents and business owners have been calling on the MTA to fix peeling paint from the elevated subway tracks, a health hazard after lab tests revealed high levels of lead.
Now, work is finally underway — but many say it's not moving fast enough and isn't being done in the areas that need it most.
Crews have started sandblasting sections of the elevated tracks in recent weeks, but many of the areas identified by local residents and business owners as the most problematic have yet to see any action.
While some community members express hope that the repairs are finally happening, the disruption to local businesses is taking a toll.
The MTA originally promised action back in 2021, but it wasn’t until recently that work began.
The MTA also said it is using a new construction approach to complete the work faster and more cost effectively.
The agency expects to finish repainting the J line by spring 2026, with the M line slated for completion by summer 2026.
