4 TIMES • DECEMBER 17, 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com BY ANTHONY GIUDICE agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com @A_GiudiceReport They’re on board with light rail in western Queens. Members of Community Board 5 overwhelmingly backed a resolution at its Wednesday meeting supporting a local lawmaker’s plan to bring a light rail system between Glendale and Long Island City along the Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) Montauk branch. The 34-6 vote backed the idea previously pitched by Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, though there were some concerns over negative impacts this plan could bring to the communities. “Light rail is quiet, energy effi cient, it’s a mode of transportation that I believe is just the right type of mode for these tracks,” Crowley told the board prior to Wednesday’s vote. “It is nothing like the current freight that runs on the tracks. It’s more like a bus, but traveling without the delays we have on our congested roads. Light rail cars are clean and would greatly improve the quality of life for the residents in Community Board 5.” Currently the rail line is used to transport freight, creating a burden for the communities. Crowley warned that if something is not done with these tracks that would benefi t the communities, the LIRR plans to increase the amount of freight traveling along the Montauk Line. During a meeting with LIRR vice president, Crowley noted, the agency indicated it had “no intention of stopping the freight that is operating on the lower Montauk Line, but every intention of increasing that freight.” The next step to bring the light rail plan to fruition would be to secure the funds to conduct a full engineering study, which would cost nearly $300,000, Crowley said. The lawmaker expects the full project to cost around $50 million. Making Atlas Park the terminus of the proposed route raised concerns with some of the board members, contending that an Atlas Park hub would bring more cars into Glendale as potential users of the light rail would park in the shopping center’s parking lot. Crowley, however, suggested Atlas Park would be the ideal place for a new commuter rail station in Glendale. “The idea here is to get cars off the road so you would want to encourage people to use the three different buses that come into Atlas Park and right in the area, whether it’s the Q54, the Q47 or the Q29 buses, which come from all different directions,” Crowley said. “A quick bus ride or a short walk to the light rail makes more sense than having to drive and pay for parking which can be very expensive.” CB5 supports western Queens light rail concept RIDGEWOOD TIMES/Photo by Anthony Giudice Community Board 5 backed Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley’s light rail plan during their meeting on Dec. 9. (Inset) A light rail train used in New Jersey. FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS 24 HOURS/ 7 DAYS A WEEK. Log on to qns.com Senator calls on MTA to repair crumbling overpasses on abandoned rail line RIDGEWOOD TIMES/Photos by Anthony Giudice State Senator Joseph Addabbo called on the MTA to repair these deteriorating stanchions. BY ANTHONY GIUDICE agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com @A_GiudiceReport With the fate of the abandoned Rockaway Beach branch of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) between Rego Park and Ozone Park still in doubt, one local lawmaker wants to see repairs made to the deteriorating stanchions that support the rail line. State Senator Joseph Addabbo called on the MTA at a Dec. 15 press conference to make much-needed repairs to the rusting structure located just east of the intersection of Yellowstone Boulevard and Alderton Street on the Forest Hills/Rego Park border. The overpass is part of the Rockaway Beach line, which last saw train service in 1962 and has become naturally overgrown. Many advocates are proposing different uses for it, from reactivating it for train service, transforming it into a “busway” or creating the “QueensWay,” a public park. “Before we can talk about turning this rail line into anything at all, it needs to be safe to the public,” Addabbo said. “That should be our fi rst concern on behalf of the children and families who pass underneath it, day after day, in such a hazardous state. Aside from the structural integrity of these stanchions possibly being compromised, the rusty support beams create a public health issue and need to be addressed immediately.” Addabbo pointed out a gaping hole at the base of one of the structure’s rusting stanchion. He also noted that other locations along the rail line, including 93rd Avenue, 103rd Avenue and 101st Avenue, are in disrepair as well. “Regardless of what project, if any, might eventually come to fruition at this site, this unused rail and its stanchions still sit in this community right now in an extremely poor condition that could potentially cause serious harm to countless people,” he said. “Those stanchions are in disrepair,” Addabbo added. “So for the safety of our current pedestrians, and going forward, I reached out to the MTA because whether we do something or nothing, these stanchions have to be protected. So we notifi ed the MTA of these locations. The MTA has assured me that they will look into this, and look to repair this.”
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