2 TIMES • JUNE 9, 2016 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com BY ANTHONY GIUDICE [email protected] @A_GiudiceReport Not everyone’s in favor of adding tolls to all the East River crossings, but according to transit advocates, it could help make it much easier to get around the city. The MoveNY plan, created by leading transportation engineer “Gridlock” Sam Schwartz, is an overarching transportation plan that aims to create more than $1.3 billion per year to make transit improvements across New York City, which will have a major impact on Queens. “It is a wide-sweeping plan for creating funding to help preserve our bridges, tunnels, improve our mass transit, and improve the roads in the local area,” said John Maier, co-chair of the Community Board 5 (CB 5) Public Transit Services Committee and member of the Riders Alliance. Maier and Masha Burina, organizer with Riders Alliance, introduced the MoveNY plan to the members of the Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association (RPOCA) during their monthly meeting on Thursday, June 2, to explain how this plan would benefi t those traveling in, around and through Queens. MoveNY seeks to fairly toll the bridges and roads across the city by instituting tolls and fees to travel on the free East River bridges and below 60th Street in Manhattan. It would also reduce tolls on certain bridges and tunnels operated by the MTA. This means fi ve out of the six bridges in Queens would see a reduction of tolls by up to 48 percent, with only the Queensboro Bridge, which is currently free, seeing a toll installed. “MoveNY offers us the much needed chance to reorganize the incentive systems on our roadways,” said Macartney Morris, Riders Alliance member and Astoria resident, in a statement. “I look forward to the day when motorists do not unnecessarily divert their routes through Astoria and Long Island City — bringing congestion, pollution and often unsafe speeding — on their way to the ‘free bridge.’” Under MoveNY, Queens could see $15-20 million in discretionary funds which could be used to enhance transportation stations with elevators, and creating bike lanes and bus shelters. There would be an investment in G train capital improvements, including an extension of the line to Queensboro Plaza. There would also be potential for a brand-new rail line, the “Triboro RX,” which would connect Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx; new ferries between Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan; new Select Bus Service and express bus routes; new Newtown Creek bike and pedestrian lanes; and a Long Island Rail Road conversion between Jamaica and Barclays Center. This plan is more than just a pipe dream. MoveNY has legislation introduced in the Assembly and currently has 28 sponsors, including Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi, who has cosponsored the bill. “Assembly Bill A.9633, the new Move NY plan, represents an essential step in revamping public transportation in New York City,” Hevesi said in a statement to Riders Alliance. “This bill will provide a much-needed consistent revenue stream for our mass transit system, which is in decline despite the continued fare increases of the past few years. Through statutorily dedicated funds for Queens County, this bill goes beyond the vague promises that came with the last congestion pricing plan from a few years ago, offering a tangible path to change for this system.” To learn more about MoveNY check out their website, and the MoveNY legislation. How the MoveNY plan would affect your commute The MoveNY plan hopes to generate billions in funds for improving transportation outlets throughout New York City. Help name a beautiful Ridgewood garden that resident created George Negoescu is turning to the community to help name the corner garden he created. BY ANTHONY GIUDICE [email protected] @A_GiudiceReport The Ridgewood resident who created the beautiful garden on the corner of Shaler Avenue and Cypress Hills Street is turning to the community to help give his garden a name. Since starting the garden in November 2015, George Negoescu has poured his time, energy and money into transforming the former barren land on the Ridgewood/Glendale border into a place where residents can take a respite from their day and take a moment to relax. “I did not expect people to be so pleased with the work I’ve done to serve the community’s need for comfort and relaxation,” said Negoescu, a native of Romania. “They were more responsive than I expected. I am happy to see that they’re happy.” Although the garden area is nearly complete, Negoescu still has some more plans for the space. He plans to make additional cosmetic improvements to the area including fi xing up the sidewalk around the garden, leveling off the plaza to prevent any accidents, refreshing the fl owers as needed and adjusting the structure of the fl ower display. Negoescu is also working with the owners of the garage/warehouse directly across the street from the garden to paint their building so it will fi t in better with the more beautifi ed area and make it a more unifi ed area. “I just love it. I probably pass RIDGEWOOD TIMES/Photo by Anthony Giudice this garden as much as anybody,” said Gail Grabowski, a Glendale resident. “I always wished someone would take the initiative and fi x it up. I was so happy that George made it into such a lovely garden.” Now that his project is almost fi nished, Negoescu wants the community to have a hand in giving the space a name. Some of the possible names for the garden include Bridge Garden, Corner Plaza and Cypress Garden. “We will choose a name together,” he said. “It will be better to be a little more organized.” Visit qns.com before Monday, June 13, to vote for your favorite potential name in a poll. The results will be given to Negoescu, who will make the fi nal decision on the garden’s name.
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