16 THE COURIER SUN • NOVEMBER 21, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com Board derails QueensWay funding BY MAGGIE HAYES [email protected] Community Board 9 has taken QueensWay funding out of its budget. At its November meeting, the board voted 30-13 and concluded that its capital budget should not prioritize the proposal, which would convert a 3.5-mile former Rockaway Beach LIRR line into a public greenway. Late last year, Governor Andrew Cuomo awarded $467,000 to study the project’s potential, and an additional $600,000 was raised through private donations. The nonprofi t Trust for Public Land has put together a team that will conduct the study. “If the feasibility of a project can’t be fi gured out when it already has nearly a half million dollars to fi gure it out, then there’s a problem,” said Alexander Blenkinsopp, CB 9 and Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association (WRBA) member. The QueensWay, if built, would connect Rego Park, Forest Hills, Richmond Hill and Ozone Park to Forest Park, provide pedestrian and bike paths, as well as public green space and serve as an art and culture forum. Marc Matsil, the New York State Director for Trust for Public Land, said CB 9 was right to have taken the QueensWay out of its priorities because “the funds were raised.” The proposal, however, has met a varying amount of both opposition and support. Many area residents believe instead of a new park, the rail line should be reactivated to provide more public transportation. Others say the safety of current parks, such as nearby Forest Park, should be assured before a new greenspace is created. The WRBA decided not to support either the QueensWay or a train reactivation because there were “some important questions that couldn’t be answered adequately,” Blenkinsopp said, mentioning safety. CB 9 has not yet replaced QueensWay with any other item on its budget priorities. “We know there will be critics,” Matsil said. “Our goal is to work with everyone.” Matsil said, however, there is an “immense amount of enthusiasm in the community” for the potential new park and that though the safety concerns are “fairly clear,” he is confi dent residents feel there is a “need for a project like QueensWay.” MTA PLAN LOWERS FARE HIKES BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA [email protected] MTA customers received some cost-saving news last week. The transit agency said that it expects increased cost cutting, lower expenses and higher operating revenues will allow it to reduce previously announced 2015 and 2017 fare and toll hikes from 7.5 to 4 percent. The reduction was outlined in the MTA’s Final Proposed 2014 Budget and Four-Year Financial Plan, which was released November 13. The MTA Board will vote on whether to adopt the plan in December. The same week, the transit agency also announced that customer satisfaction remains steady, despite fare and toll increases, infrastructure damage and large service disruptions caused by Sandy. The results, which were based on surveys conducted in June 2013, found that 76 percent of subway customers said that they were “satisfi ed” or “very satisfi ed” with service, an increase of one percentage point from the previous year. Customer satisfaction with city buses, the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) and MTA bridges and tunnels also remained steady. Local bus customer satisfaction increased to an alltime high of 74 percent, said the MTA. Eight-four percent of LIRR riders reported they were satisfi ed with the railroad, and the transit agency said it expected satisfaction to increase in the coming months because of service enhancements on several key branches, including Port Washington and Ronkonkoma. The majority of MTA bridge and tunnel motorists, 84 percent, said they were satisfi ed or very satisfi ed. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WOODHAVEN RESIDENTS BLOCK ASSOCIATION The QueensWay park, if approved, will be built along the abandoned Rockaway Beach rail line. BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL FREE ADOPTIONS North Shore Animal League America Has The Largest Selection of Mix-Breed & Purebred Dogs, Cats, Puppies And Kittens Available! Friday Nov 29 9 AM – 12 NOON 25 Davis Ave. • Port Washington, NY (Port Washington location only) Special Holiday Hours: Thanksgiving Day: 10am – 6pm Friday: 9am – 10pm AnimalLeague.org Like us on Home of the Mutt-i-gree® 516.883.7575 facebook.com/TheAnimalLeague HEATING SUPER DISCOUNT OIL Premium #2 Fuel • Full Service • PROMPT DELIVERY • TUNE UP & EFFICIENCY TESTS C.O.D. $10 OFF with this ad 718 647-1271 WE WILL BEAT ANY CURRENTLY ADVERTISED PRICE Absolute Lowest Prices EMAIL: GOTOILNYC.COM
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