2 MAY 2017 Queens Business THE QUEENS COURIER THE CITY’S ROLE IN MAKING BQX A REALITY The project was fi rst introduced by Mayor Bill de Blasio’s during his 2016 “State of the City.” The city is currently undergoing a feasibility analysis on the project and will put out a report over the course of the next few months. The city, which is taking the lead on the project, has engaged the community through various recent events. The NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) have worked with residents, including community boards and local organizations, to gauge concerns and hear their ideas on how to improve the project. They also hosted a series of community visioning sessions for residents of Astoria, Long Island City, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Red Hook, Sunset Park, where they presented the plans for the project and gathered ideas from local residents. STREETCARS OFFER THE PRACTICAL APPROACH The Friends group has also engaged in a number of initiatives to gauge community input, Liu said. The group has reached out to local stakeholders, organized public information events and taken a door-to-door approach. According to Liu, an aboveground streetcar is a cost-effective and high-capacity way of expanding the transportation system. A streetcar, as opposed a bus, can hold more passengers. A streetcar is also more accessible to those New Yorkers who have trouble getting around. Seniors, to those in wheelchairs, to parents with strollers, and others who might not be able to walk long distances to subway or bus stops can easily board and exit the lower streetcar. And unlike a bus, a streetcar can be done by New York City alone, without going through the MTA. Additionally, subway expansion is “incredibly cost prohibitive,” Liu continued, and construction would take a longer time. The waterfront topography also makes building an underground system a challenge, Liu said. “In terms of this corridor being one of the fastest growing corridors in New York City, in terms of just the existing population and population projections, the streetcar as a mode is better able to handle the ridership projection along this corridor,” Liu said. An EDC study found that daily ridership on the Brooklyn Queens Connector would be 48,900 by 2035. The streetcar would run 24 hours a day, seven days a week and, during peak rush hours, would have every fi ve-minute service. The city plans currently plans to break ground on the project in 2019 and launch service in 2024. GETTING CREATIVE TO MAKE IT WORK According to Liu, the number one concern that arises from residents is how much it will cost them. The executive director said locals are relieved to hear that a ride on the streetcar would cost the same as a ride on an MTA bus or subway. “And, as a Friends group, we are absolutely committed, and will advocate for, free transfer as well,” she continued. To address traffi c concerns, Liu said the city is currently committed to a dedicated right of way for the streetcar. The streetcar driver would travel primarily in dedicated lanes have traffi c-signal priorities, using technology to communicate with traffi c lights and systems. A rendering of the BQX crossing the Pulaski Bridge, looking north at the Long Island City streetscape The BQX passes the Jay Street-MetroTech station in Downtown Brooklyn in this rendering
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