Brooklyn Queens Light Rail

[rr503]

I guess this goes here...
From the Times just now: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/04/nyreg ... v=top-news" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Fair use quote:

In a major reimagining of the New York City waterfront, Mayor Bill de Blasio is set to propose a streetcar line that would snake along the East River in Brooklyn and Queens, linking the industrial centers of Sunset Park to the upper reaches of Astoria...The system is expected to cost the city about $2.5 billion, significantly less than a new underground subway line, according to several people who described the plan; city officials confirmed it on Wednesday.

[Crabman1130]

No mention of how the streetcar would be powered.

[philipmartin]

The mayor says it's going to create amazing prosperity, for only $2.5B. Who needs buses? Sixteen miles. Read in 2024.
http://secondavenuesagas.com/2016/02/04 ... rail-plan/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[bdawe]

Various urbanist commentators seem to be unsold

[Ryand-Smith]

While this would make NY have all 5 major forms of public transit, a streetcar would be slow and subject to the whims of existing street transit, no?

Also, for say something like Triborough RX, could you use the Nippon Sharyo FRA compatable DMUs as the units, since we still have freights run, and run it ala a LIRR style commuter rail service to say the Airtrain LaGuardia?

[Crabman1130]

I don't see this working. It will be too slow and for NYers and if something blocks the tracks the line stops.

A buss route makes much more sense and would be cheaper.

[SouthernRailway]

Numerous articles that I've seen all mention the 45,000 public housing residents along the line, a key constituency for NYC Mayor deBlasio.

Hopefully the principal reason for this line isn't politics. I'm not really a fan of streetcars; they're far too slow and crowded NYC streets seem like the wrong place for them.

[scratchy]

So, Am I the only one who remembers Bob Diamond's plan for a streetcar route that ended in the city and he on bad terms?

[DogBert]

Hopefully the principal reason for this line isn't politics. I'm not really a fan of streetcars; they're far too slow and crowded NYC streets seem like the wrong place for them.

Unfortunately it is just that. I read somewhere that a few large real estate developers with holdings along the route are putting in money for the initial study.


Many are asking what ever happened to the Utica ave subway the mayor mentioned once he was elected?

For that pricetag, we really could create a few desperately needed transit routes through Queens (using DMUs).
http://ltvsquad.com/2015/10/28/a-better ... sit-needs/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There are also several bus routes that could use more robust solutions.

[krispy]

More silliness in the media today: Seen here http://www.qgazette.com/news/2016-09-14 ... _Line.html and the brief fair use quote: "City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley continued her push for light rail commuter service along the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) Lower Montauk branch, and toured the rail line with members of the Department of Transportation (DOT), transit leaders and property owners in the community..."

Did anyone talk to her about why the LIRR shed the line in the first place (PTC requirement and expense)? Or the ridership figures prior to the LIRR shutting down local passenger service? How about how the locals have been hammering the NYA in Pond for having the nerve to continue to run freight in their neighborhood, despite the fact the railroad has been there for over 150 years? Just what does she hope to gain with this nonsense??!

[DogBert]

This would be laughable if it wasn't being so seriously pushed.

There's been a few epic take downs written about her...
http://ltvsquad.com/2015/10/22/disassem ... mall-plan/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://ltvsquad.com/2016/08/22/disassem ... anch-idea/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Backshophoss]

This "light rail" is DOA from the get-go,this is Industrial area, NOT residental!
It will never reach Jamaica station! What is this city councilperson drinking? /taking?
Believe the Sanitation Dept would not happy about moving the transfer stations to get garbage out of the city!
Again,DOA from the get-go!!!!!

[krispy]

Excellent links Dogbert!! Thanks for posting!

[DogBert]

It all boils down to politics. Liz Crowley is buddies with the owners of 'the knockdown center' (which is next to the bushwick branch) and atlas mall (along the lower montauk). They 'contributed' to her campaign. The original proposal for light rail went from the mall to somewhere around thomson ave/court square, presumably via the montauk cutoff.

[GojiMet86]

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/02/nyreg ... ueens.html

As Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration moves forward on plans for a new streetcar line from Queens to Brooklyn, city officials on Tuesday unveiled the different routes they are considering for the project.
The $2.5 billion waterfront streetcar would run on streets in some of New York City’s most popular and crowded neighborhoods along the East River, including Williamsburg and Downtown Brooklyn. City officials plan to discuss the routes at community meetings over the next two months before selecting a path early next year.
Mr. de Blasio proposed the streetcar, known as the Brooklyn Queens Connector, in February, and now New Yorkers can see where exactly it might run and the potential impact on their neighborhoods. The streetcar line, which would travel about 16 miles from Astoria in Queens to Sunset Park in Brooklyn, is the mayor’s most high-profile transportation priority and could open by 2024.

BQX PDF:
https://www.nycedc.com/sites/default/fi ... h_Deck.pdf