15 replies to this topic

[Sloan]

 

 

Could light rail connect neighborhoods between Long Island City and Jamaica, Queens?

 

The project is still in the beginning stages but neighbors and city leaders are getting together to talk about a possible light-rail service along tracks owned by Long Island Rail Road in Queens.

Text and video are here:

 

http://pix11.com/201...jamaica-queens/

[Sloan]

 

 

LIC/Jamaica Light Rail Study Has Residents Concerned

 

The city Department of Transportation and engineering firm AECOM presented preliminary findings on a potential 8.5-mile light rail from Jamaica to Long Island City, which could be in service by 2025.

http://queenstribune...ents-concerned/

[Sloan]

 

A Rail Solution for Queens' Growing Economy

 

Queens is growing fast—really fast. The World's Borough has seen significant gains in population and in employment. To accommodate this continuing growth and alleviate the burdens it imposes on businesses and residents, our transportation options must improve, and quickly.

http://www.crainsnew...eens-light-rail

 

Queens appears to be an up and coming hotbed for light rail/streetcar development with three projects "percolating." In addition to the western Queens initiative mentioned above, there's the De Blasio Brooklyn—Queens connector, and the Catsimadtidis development.   Sloan

[KevinKorell]

Reader opinion in Queens, NY Times-Ledger, 12/22/17:

 

 

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Is the Queens Montauk Light Rail Project dead?

 

 

The defeat of Queens NYC Council member Elizabeth Crowley may also signal the end of the line for her proposed Long Island Rail Road Lower Montauk branch Light Rail Project.

 

Entire opinion here.

[KevinKorell]

QNS, 2/7/18:

 

 

 

Study determines light rail service on western Queens freight line is possible, but at a hefty price tag

 

 

The results of a yearlong study to determine if passenger train service could be restored to a former commuter railroad line that runs through Ridgewood, Glendale and Maspeth have been released, but the price tag could derail the plan.

 

 

Update

[KevinKorell]

Opinion in Queens Daily Eagle, 4/14/21:

 

 

 

    The Lower Montauk light rail plan will never leave the station   

 

 

One transportation dream of former NYC Councilmember and Queens Borough President wanna-be Elizabeth Crowley will never happen in her lifetime. Here's why.  

 

The $500,000 feasibility study sponsored by former NYC Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley for introduction of light rail on the Lower Montauk LIRR branch completed four years ago was the last stop for this project.

 

Opinion

 

They're still talking about this?  It's not a bad idea IMO in that it would bring some semblance of regular transit service to a corridor that used to have only 1 or 2 trains per day.  It would provide connections to the LIRR at Jamaica and Long Island City.  It would meet subway lines in Jamaica, LIC, and the end of the (M) line in Middle Village.

 

 

 

New Jersey Transit’s Hudson Bergen Light Rail cost $1.2 billion and Newark Elizabeth Light Rail cost $694 million 17 years ago.

 

Fine comparisons.   And that was meant sarcastically.   Hudson-Bergen Light Rail never got to Bergen, and Newark-Elizabeth Light Rail never got to Elizabeth.