De Blasio Administration Greenlights BQX Streetcar
Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration announced yesterday that it will move forward with the proposed Brooklyn Queens Connector (BQX) streetcar following the completion of a two-year feasibility study.
According to a de Blasio release, despite two decades of rapid growth in population and jobs on the Brooklyn-Queens waterfront, public transit has not kept pace. At full implementation, the state-of-the-art streetcar will increase public transit options for neighborhoods with over half a million New Yorkers living and working along the growing Brooklyn-Queens waterfront corridor, including 40,000 New York City Public Housing Authority residents.
The revised route will connect Astoria, Long Island City, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Downtown Brooklyn, and Red Hook. The full report is available here.
“The Brooklyn-Queens waterfront has experienced incredible growth. Now it’s time for our transit system to catch up,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “The BQX is one of the biggest, most ambitious projects in a generation. It will be a challenge, but New York City is taking it on.”
Construction and implementation of the streetcar is estimated to cost $2.73 billion and generate $30 billion in economic impact and approximately $1.4 billion in value capture to finance its construction. The City announced it will seek federal funding, among other sources, to deliver the project. First-year ridership is expected to be 50,000 per day. The BQX represents an opportunity to proactively invest in a modern, resilient mode of public transportation that will:
- Connect mixed-income neighborhoods to jobs and transit hubs
- Provide affordable, reliable, and accessible service
- Support transit-oriented development and safer streets
Adams Calls For Full-Scale Investigation Of EMT Worker With Extensive Arrest Record
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams (D) today will call for a full-scale investigation to determine the extent of criminal activity, as well as the depth of government inaction, surrounding the employment of New York City Fire Department (FDNY) emergency medical technician (EMT) Robert Gala.
Gala, 25, the son of FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Michael Gala, remains on the city’s EMS payroll despite a history of arrests for impersonating a cop that dates to 2013, and accusations of falsifying records and blowing off priority medical calls that were substantiated by a Department of Investigation probe in 2017.
Standing outside FDNY headquarters in Downtown Brooklyn, Adams will also reiterate his call for Gala to resign from his position.
Adams will stress his beliefs on the issue at 1 p.m. today Aug. 31 infront of the FDNY headquarters, 9 MetroTech Center in Downtown Brooklyn.
Treyger Hosts DSNY Commish Along 86th Street
City Council Member Mark Treyger (D-Bensonhurst, Coney Island, Gravesend), who recently secured 7-day-a-week overnight trash pickup at major commercial corridors throughout the 47th Council District, joined Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Commissioner Kathryn Garcia and Community Board 11 District Manager Marnee Elias-Pavia to tour the busy commercial corridor of 86th Street, between Bay Parkway and 23rd Avenue,.
The officials did so to develop measures that will reduce litter, congestion and conditions that are hazardous to pedestrians, particularly seniors and persons with disabilities, who pass through the area as part of their daily routine.
Some of the concerns regarding this section of 86th Street that Treyger is working to address are an excess of waste originating from the delivery of goods, unsafe placement and movement of goods during delivery unloading, timing of truck deliveries and their effect on local traffic congestion and parking, illegal use of sidewalk space beyond permitted boundaries by vendors, and the pouring of cooking grease into storm water catch basins by local restaurants.
Treyger is working with Garcia and other officials from relevant city agencies to educate local business owners about compliance with existing regulations and to ensure increased enforcement to address these concerns. Treyger has also asked for investigation and enforcement relating to reports of private sanitation haulers who carelessly collect trash along busy commercial corridors during overnight pickups, with an overabundance of waste left on the street and sidewalks.
“Our busiest commercial corridors are the central hubs of our community, and when they are clean and safe, businesses and consumers benefit,” said Treyger. “For too many years, this stretch of 86th Street has not met the standard of cleanliness and safety that residents in our community deserve. I’m working to change that, and I appreciate the partnership of Commissioner Garcia and other agency officials for their responsiveness and commitment to activating positive change in our community.”
Cumbo Asks Constituents To Submit Ideas For Participatory Budgeting
City Council Member Laurie Cumbo (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights) recently put out the call that Participatory Budgeting (PB) Cycle 8 is up and running in Council District 35.
“You can submit your ideas here on how to improve and dedicate up to $1 million in parks, schools, libraries, streets, and more,” said Cumbo.
Examples of eligible project ideas are resurfacing a basketball court, repairing a school bathroom, new computers for libraries, and lighting along public housing common grounds.
For constituents who want to stay in the loop and receive PB updates, text PBNYC to (212) 676-8384 or sign up here. Cumbo is also looking for volunteers – learn more and sign up here or contact Jason Hur at jhur@council.nyc.gov or 212-788-7081 for any questions about Participatory Budgeting Cycle 8 in District 35.
