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Old LIRR Rockaway Beach Branch |
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Posted by andy on Tue Oct 8 08:44:34 2013 From today's Daily News, below is an article by a transit advocacy group recommending reactivation of the old line, either with LIRR or subway trains. The subway option involves running either R or M trains onto the old r.o.w. at 63rd Drive using the bellmouth built in 1936 as part of the original IND subway on Queens Blvd. I've suggested that option in earlier posts on this board."For many years, the residents of the outer boroughs have been shortchanged in mass transit. While billions are being spent for subway expansion in Manhattan, Queens has been neglected. South Queens, in particular, has suffered from inefficient mass transit to Midtown. Both the A and J subway lines have long circuitous routes through Brooklyn and lower Manhattan. Thanks to the proposed convention center at Aqueduct, this picture can be improved dramatically. Some have suggested the revival of the JFK-Super Express service. Since there are more A trains running today than in the 1980s, a service conflict would be created and the needs of the convention center would not be met. Fortunately, there is a better alternative: the revival of the northern section of the old Long Island Rail Road Rockaway branch. The Regional Rail Working Group Rockaway Subcommittee and other transit advocates have studied this line and offer the following options: The Railroad Option would have the LIRR resume operations between Penn Station and Aqueduct. Two stations would be built — at Rego Park and at Aqueduct. The latter would allow transfers to the A train and to the Air Train (if it were extended from Howard Beach). If rail cars are developed with the ability to operate on both lines, a one-seat ride from Midtown to JFK would be created. The Subway Option would divert the M or R subway line east of 63rd Drive (via an already built connection) to the northern section of the Rockaway line. The subway would converge with the A train north of the Aqueduct Station and continue into the Rockaways. At Rego Park, two stations would be built, one for the subway and one for the LIRR mainline to permit transfers between the two services. This would allow Rockaway riders a quick trip to Midtown or to eastern points in Long Island. Under both options, additional stations can be added after consultation with the affected communities. Partially adopting a suggestion from COMMUTE (Communities United for Transportation Equity), Select Bus Services could be established at the Rego Park stations to take riders to LaGuardia Airport, Citi Field and Flushing. Thus, Rego Park would become a transportation hub improving intra-Queens connectivity and allowing riders to travel to many different points with only one transfer. With Genting, the developer behind the project, willing to put up some money and with Governor Cuomo’s strong backing of the convention center, discussing these options is realistic. Since New York City owns the right-of-way, it can build the line itself — as with the #7 extension — if the MTA is not interested. Claims from Queensway proponents that this train line would pollute local neighborhoods and lead to overdevelopment are false. An electric rail line would reduce pollution by attracting people to mass transit, and there is very little vacant space available for development along the right-of-way. In addition, speedier service to Manhattan’s central business district would cause property values to soar. In the summer of 2011, Queens Community Board 9 proposed that the northern section of the Rockaway line be turned into a greenway called “Queensway.” At that time, there was no hope for reactivating the Rockaway line and a bicycle path was better than an abandoned railway overgrown with weeds. With the proposed convention center, CB9 may want to reconsider its position. The choice is very clear: Does CB9 want to be the spoiler conducive to the inundation of Ozone Park with traffic, thus continuing transit misery for Rockaway riders and to block a chance to link Queens in an effective crosstown service? Or does CB9 prefer to be a good neighbor and support a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve mass transit for everyone’s benefit? There are already sufficient hiking/biking paths within Forest Park and there are many potential bicycle routes along parallel streets adjacent to the Rockaway line. Additionally, a greenway would only serve a small percentage of Queens’ residents, in comparison to the rail line. This is an historic opportunity to reduce traffic, to create an effective Queens crosstown service, to enhance the commute to Manhattan and to improve access to both airports while meeting the demands of the convention center. Queens Borough President Helen Marshall should appoint a Rockaway Line Reactivation Task Force to assess the north Rockaway line options, and the people of Queens should unite behind this effort to decisively promote the borough’s future." Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/long-island-raid-road-reactivate-northern-section-old-rockaway-branch-advocates-article-1.1014761#ixzz2h8MdGcFm |
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