Testimony given by Queens Public Transit Committee member Carl Perrera at Thursdays MTA hearing: Dear Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions and other interested parties at this hearing, My name is Carl Perrera and I am a member of several transit advocacy groups including the Regional Rail Working Group and Queens Public Transit Committee. I come to you today to recommend some projects that should be included within the MTAs 2015-2019 capital program 1.) A new feasibility study including a cost benefit analysis to determine the true cost and benefits of reactivating the Long Island Rail Road Rockaway Beach Line for either subway, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) or Light rail service. The cost and benefits of each option should be broken down separately for comparison as to not draw conclusions from the most expensive options. For example, past studies have included the costs of an additional trestle over Jamaica Bay which would be required for LIRR service out to the Rockaway Peninsula but these additional costs were incorporated into the final results drawing unfavorable conclusions on reactivation of the Rockaway Beach Line rather than having each individual options true cost segregated. For example, some less costly LIRR options would be to have the LIRR travel only between Penn Station and the Aqueduct Racetrack Station or the Aqueduct-North Conduit Avenue Station or the Howard Beach Station where a transfer to the A subway line can be made at either one of these points. 2.) Reopening and renovating the LIRR Lower Level of the Woodhaven Junction Station. This would provide easier access for passengers from Richmond Hill, Woodhaven and Ozone Park to the access the LIRR and provide speedier access to Jamaica and the Barclays Center in Downtown, Brooklyn. 3.) A new bus terminal is needed in Downtown Jamaica within proximity to Sutphin Blvd./Archer Avenue close to the J/Z, E Subway & LIRR/AIRTRAIN Sutphin Blvd. Station. This would provide more central transfer point then the existing bus terminal at 165th Street Terminal allowing many NYCT, MTA Bus & NICE routes from the east (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q36, Q17, Q17 Ltd. Q76, Q77, Q83, Q110, Q111, Q112, Q113, N1, N6, N6X, N24, N22, N22A, N22X & N26) to be extended further west to this new terminal. 4.) Study and/or implementation of the Regional Plan Associations proposed Triboro RX Line connecting Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. Although its been said that New York City Transit (NYCT) subway cars cannot operate along side of or on the same tracks as freight trains due to federal safety rules since regular NYCT subway cars are not strong as freight trains another solution does exist. The MTA should have the Long Island Rail Road operate this subway service under a lease agreement with New York City Transit since LIRR cars do meet these same federal safety rules as freight trains plus the LIRR is also utilizing the same LIRR signal system as the freight line. Please see attached addendum for more information on this subject. Also operating a new ferry line between the Brooklyn Army Terminal and the St. George Ferry Terminal or adding a stop to the current Staten Island Ferry at the Brooklyn Army Terminal would then give Staten Island access to and from this new subway line. In closing, I hope that some or all of these recommendations can be to the 2015-2019 MTA Capital Program. Sincerely, Carl Perrera 08/07/2014
Posted on: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 14:59:58 +0000
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