FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com MARCH 28, 2013 • THE COURIER SUN 3 ‘RAIL’ying support for LIRR line BY TERENCE M. CULLEN [email protected] Proposed revival of the Rockaway Beach LIRR Line has gotten some federal backing. Congressmembers Hakeem Jeffries and Gregory Meeks are all-aboard for restoring the 50-year-defunct line in a new form, which would effectively link Rego Park to Ozone Park via mass transit. Together with Assemblymember Phillip Goldfeder, they have sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, asking for federal money from Sandy for restoring the line. “What this rail line would do, if completely restored, would intersect on five or six different points, giving people options,” said Goldfeder, who’s pushed rail restoration since coming into office a year-and-ahalf ago. “If you try and drive on Woodhaven Boulevard or Cross Bay Boulevard in the morning or afternoon, our streets are jammed.” Meeks, who began representing the Rockaways in January, said this was needed now more than ever as the peninsula and its residents try to rebuild. Jeffries, representing Ozone Park and Howard Beach, said south Queens commuters have one of the longest trips to Manhattan, and LIRR service would reduce the hour-plus commute to Midtown. It is, he noted, one of the longest commutes within NYC, “perhaps rivaled only by some in the southern part of Staten Island.” Because neighborhoods such as Woodhaven have expanded closer to the tracks since train service ended in June 1962, many are concerned about a rail line right next to their home. But officials say they’ve explored new ways of silent transportation, such as a monorail, to reduce noise. Trains could stop at the Howard Beach-JFK A train station in Coleman Square if the line is revived. Commuters going to Rockaway would transfer to the A train, which is expected to be up and running later this summer. A rail line, however, is not the only plan on the table for the three-mile strip. The Queensway, a nature walk, has been the counterpart proposal to the plan and would be similar to the Highline in Manhattan. Andrea Crawford, a founding member of “Friends of Queensway,” said she didn’t believe the LIRR would be a practical way of transit – suggesting instead implementing rapid bus transit or improving A train service. Members of the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association are for better north-south transportation in Queens and reducing traffic on Woodhaven Boulevard, said communications director Alex Blenkinsopp. Because the rail line would run so close to homes, however, they are against this type of development. WRBA hosted a town hall meeting on the LIRR line and the Queensway last September, but ultimately decided to urge the city to clean up the abandoned, overgrown strip of land. “They’re not even trying to convince Woodhaven at this point,” Blenkinsopp said. “They seem to have decided that they need to railroad us, rather than attempting to address our THE COURIER/Photo by Terence M. Cullen concerns.” Rail advocates John Cori and John Rozankowski with a map of the proposed line. Forest Park Carousel opens . . . TAKE A SPIN BY ANTHONY O’REILLY History is spinning again at Forest Park. NY Carousel, the ride’s operator, flipped the switch for the 40-year-old Forest Park Carousel on March 23. The attraction closed in 2008, but reopened last Memorial Day weekend after undergoing extreme renovations, according to Ami Abramson, one of the directors of NY Carousel. “This year we’re excited to start it earlier,” Abramson said. “We updated everything and it was a lot of hard work.” Abramson said in addition to cleaning up the hand-carved animals, the mechanics of the carousel were also worked on in preparation for this year’s riders. “We intend this thing to work for many, many years,” he said. The current carousel originally opened in 1973, after the original was destroyed in a 1966 fire. Unseasonably cold weather didn’t stop local parents from bringing their children to be one of the first riders of 2013. Jennifer Lambert of Woodhaven said she brought her daughter, Esmeralda, to the carousel many times last summer. “The community here is really nice,” she said. “Abramson is learning everyone’s name from around here. He remembered Esmeralda.” “We will be here all summer,” she added. Adults riding for the first time this season felt nostalgic while on the ride with their children. Jennifer Dunbar, a resident of Kew Gardens, said the carousel brings back memories of her own childhood. “For my childhood we either went to the beach or carousel,” she said. “It’s also a chance to experience a part of New York history.” Dunbar said she plans to host her son Nico’s first birthday party at the carousel. The carousel will be open through October 27, according to forestparkcarousel.com. For information on hours of operation, visit the website or call 718-788-2676. THE COURIER/Photo by Anthony O’Reilly Esmeralda Lambert takes a spin on opening day of the Forest Park Carousel.
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