Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Last month, Representative Hakeem Jeffries came out in favor of re-activating a part of the Long Island Rail Road, which has been defunct since 1962, and has requested federal funding in order to go forward with the project.
The former Rockaway Beach Branch of the LIRR, which stretches from Rego Park to the Rockaways and includes the Ozone Park part of Rep. Jeffries’ district, has remained unused since it was shut down in the 1960s due to low ridership and the high cost of maintenance.
State Assemblyman Philip Goldfeder, who has lead the charge to restore service to the Rockaway Beach Branch, was recently joined in this crusade by Representative Gregory Meeks and our dear Rep. Jeffries. And of course, like Assemblyman Goldfeder who represents the Rockaways and parts of southern Queens, Rep. Meeks and Rep. Jeffries both have a political stake in this; both of their districts meet at the Ozone Park part of this branch.
The politicians, along with many supporters of reactivating the line, argue that reactivating the line could drastically cut down the commute between Manhattan and the more isolated, outer parts of Queens as well as attract more residents and economic development to these communities.
According to the press release:
“Although Superstorm Sandy destroyed our coastlines and paralyzed our communities, we have an opportunity to rebuild the City in a smart and sustainable way that proactively addresses our future needs,” said Rep. Jeffries. “Residents of Southern Brooklyn and Queens currently face the longest commute averages in the City because of the lack of reliable transportation. Restoring the Rockaway Beach Rail Line would not only ease the commute for hundreds of thousands New York City residents, it would also spur job growth and revive local businesses that have been struggling since the Great Recession hit in 2008.”
If Jeffries could get this project underway, it would be a great talking point for his re-election campaign.
I can hear it now:
“I helped to bring back the Rockaway Beach Branch! I helped bring jobs and development to my district! I helped connect my constituents with the rest of the city! I care for you!”
But unfortunately for Rep. Jeffries, there are some problems.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority conducted a study in 2001 on how feasible it would be to restore the line. They concluded that reactivating the line would cost about $875 million, would be of little benefit to Rockaway commuters and would negatively affect the environment.
There are also people who think that, rather than reactivating the line, the abandoned Rockaway Beach Branch should be turned into a 3.5 mile greenway akin to the Highline in Chelsea, Manhattan.
This project is called “The Queensway,” and its supporters would like to see this abandoned line turned into gardens, bike paths and green space that could be used for festivals, fitness group classes and other outdoor activities.
The Friends of the Queensway, an organization composed of “thousands of individuals and organizations all of whom have the goal of converting the long-abandoned property into a public park that can be enjoyed by bikers, walkers, joggers, visitors, tourists, workers and residents in Queens and the rest of the world,” along with the Trust for Public Land, a non-profit organization that pushes for the development of park space for public use, both claim that a greenway would be more realistic and feasible than reactivating the line.
According to Jordan Sandke, chairman of The Friends of the QueensWay, the Queensway “can happen a lot more easily than reactivation of a train line and a lot more quickly.”
And most importantly, she added that the greenway could be done “a lot more cheaply.”
That remains to be seen though.
Governor Andrew Cuomo gave the Trust for Public Land a $467,000 grant in December 2012 for a feasibility study which was scheduled to be finished within a year. Until then, the exact cost of building the Queensway will not be known for sure.
There are also a number of Rep. Jeffries’ constituents who do not want to see either project go forward and would prefer to maintain the status quo.
These include people who currently live right next to the abandoned line and do not want to be bothered with all the construction and noise involved with either project.
To quote an article I did on this issue a few months back:
“I work nights and sleep during the day, so I really wouldn’t want trains or construction waking me up,” said Loraine Flohr, who recently moved to Ozone Park with her daughter from the Rockaways.
Flohr said her new building, located on a dead-end street with the abandoned line serving as the end, would be directly exposed to any noise emanating from construction done in the area, whether it’s for the QueensWay or for reactivating the branch.
So while Rep. Jeffries may think he has every reason to support the reactivation of the Rockaway Beach Branch, he would be wise to look a little bit more into two very important questions.
Is this what his constituents in the areas affected really want?
Is bringing back the line financially feasible?