|
|
| Re: De Blasio Want To Expand The Subway (1348945) | |||
 |
|||
| Home > SubChat | |||
|
[ Read Responses | Post a New Response | Return to the Index ] |
|
||
|
Re: De Blasio Want To Expand The Subway |
|
|
Posted by Stephen Bauman on Wed Apr 22 12:50:08 2015, in response to De Blasio Want To Expand The Subway, posted by Kriston Lewis on Wed Apr 22 09:35:14 2015. I have not seen the actual report nor examined the details. The devil is in the details.I applaud the idea that subway expansion should be focused on residential areas that are beyond 1/2 mile from an existing subway entrance. The meager subway "expansions" of the last 30-40 years have emphasized extensions to areas already served by existing subways. This includes station monuments like South Ferry, Fulton Street, as well as the Second Ave Subway. It includes the Bronx stations on the proposed Metro North expansion into Penn Station. A line down Utica Ave conforms with expanding the subway system to where it ain't. It cannot go too far because a subway will be limited by the flood plain. The area along Utica not within 1/2 mile of an existing subway and not within the flood plain extends from Empire Blv to Kings Highway. If an IRT extension is coupled with re-designing and building the Rogers Ave junction, then Brooklyn IRT capacity will also be increased. Most of the area that will be within 1/2 mile of the new extension is already within 1 mile of the Nostrand Ave Line. The most cost effective effective way to provide quick subway access to these people would be for better bicycle facilities. Citibike expansion along both Nostrand and Utica Aves would provide a viable east-west route for subway access for people living along this stretch of Utica. The 1/2 to 1 mile distance to the subway is the bicycle's sweet spot. Walking is the quickest means for distances under 1/2 mile. Rental biking a la Citibike is the quickest means for distances between 1/2 and 1.5 miles. One should look towards enhanced surface transit for distances beyond 1.5 miles. Recapturing the LIRR's Atlantic Avenue tracks should be a top NYC priority. It will serve a couple of priorities but very few for the Brooklyn residents along its ROW. First, it will continue a rail link to the area of Downtown Brooklyn that is experiencing a commercial rebirth. LIRR plans are to virtually abandon the line for what they consider to be Grand Central's more lucrative trade. Flatbush Ave will the odd man out, when ESA becomes operational. They are planning for a separate terminal tracks at Jamaica that will eliminate the cross platform transfer. With time, service levels will be decreased. This will make prevent Downtown Brooklyn's emergence as a major commercial hub. Second, subway expansion should be skewed towards people who no live more than 2 miles from an existing line. Most live in eastern Queens. The problem is the long ride, if the Queens Blvd line were simply extended. What's needed is a super express between Jamaica Center/179th St and City destination. Sutphin Blvd is close enough to to qualify on the Jamaica side. Initially, tracks would be extended eastward from Sutphin to avoid the Jamaica Station bottleneck. The LIRR would be the initial operator for this through service to Flatbush. At some point, the tracks leading to Flatbush would be connected to the underused Montague St tunnel, eastward extensions would be built and it would become a subway operation. The only stops between Sutphin and Flatbush would be Woodhaven Jct, ENY and Nostrand. This will occur over a period of a few decades. |
|
|
|