Die-Nacht t1_ixwfmzh wrote on November 26, 2022 at 10:25 PM

I want more rail in queens. But I won't fight a new park, specially a park with a bike lane that will allow a direct connection between Rego Park and the Forest Park through the Trader Joe's area.

I want rail, but we have a government that just doesn't prioritize it. So even if they were to start it, it would likely take decades.

Why not turn the Woodhaven bus lane into a proper, grade-separated BRT? Disallow some turns, prioritize the buses, and you can likely solve the same issue. And as a positive, this is something NYC DOT can do on its own, it would require no state help or politics. Ths is the issue with the link, it requires the state to act.

Luke90210 t1_ixwhw7i wrote on November 26, 2022 at 10:43 PM

> I want rail, but we have a government that just doesn't prioritize it. So even if they were to start it, it would likely take decades.

Thats the beauty of this project. The land is already public and shovel ready. NIMBY means nothing as rails were already there. The costs would be minimal compared to building tunnels.

Die-Nacht t1_ixwk8z1 wrote on November 26, 2022 at 11:01 PM

I know that. Which is why I prefer the link, especially since you can use cut and cover, which is much cheaper than boring (what we normally do, specially in Manhattan)..

But that's not really the issue, the issue is that the State isn't gonna prioritize this. I wish they did, but we just don't have that kind of government (due to it being ran by mostly suburbanites whose priorities tend to be things like highways, not public transit).

For this reason, I have little faith in such a project happening any time soon. This is likely why the mayor went with the Way: it doesn't require any state help or coordinating. The city can do it on its own, it's an easy win for a mayor. The BRT proposal would be similar.

Tbh, if I was mayor, that's what I would do. I would make sure no bus in the city can ever get stuck in traffic, no matter what. It would end transit deserts and unlock an insane amount of housing and economic opportunities. All without ever having to deal with Albany.

Luke90210 t1_ixwt4d4 wrote on November 27, 2022 at 12:12 AM

Is cut and cover a viable legal option anymore? It doesn't seem to meet modern safety standards.

Die-Nacht t1_ixx09zq wrote on November 27, 2022 at 1:10 AM

It's still used all around the world. The main reason the US moved away from it is because of nimbyism: boring removes the "it'll be loud and block access" excuse.

It's also part of the reason construction of underground stuff tends to be so expensive in the US.

mikeymiggz OP t1_ixx8deh wrote on November 27, 2022 at 2:16 AM

>All without ever having to deal with Albany.

This is why I wish NYC would secede from NYS. The taxes paid to the state could be used for infrastructure improvements in the city.