MTA Hands Over Valuable Land in Queens

MTA Hands Over Valuable Real Estate To Spur Jamaica Redevelopment

More stores are on the way for commuters and Jamaica residents, as the MTA announced today that it is leasing some valuable real estate, as part of a plan to spur development in southeast Queens.

The Greater Jamaica Development Corporation is spear-heading a $12 million project, aimed at bringing more retail and private investment to the neighborhood.

To help the effort, the Long Island Rail Road is relocating its print shop, currently located under the rail road tracks on Sutphin Boulevard, to another Queens location.

The new plans would call for a better-lit underpass and more than 5,000 square feet of retail space.

Currently, the railroad underpass, pictured above, is a dark tunnel across the street from the entrance to the railroad and air train stations.

"Sometimes if you walk underneath here, you can't see the person's face that's coming towards you," said a local.

Supporters say they are especially interested in promoting businesses that cater to both the neighborhood and to LIRR customers.

"We are hoping to do convenience stores that will be helpful to people riding the Long Island Railroad and those in the neighborhood," said Andrew Manshel of the Greater Jamaica Development Corp.

"We service 280,000 customers daily, and many of them come through Jamaica, so additional retail might make this a good stopping off point for them," said Susan McGowan of LIRR.

Construction on the project is set to begin later this year.

This will be beneficial to both the community and to commuters and I give kudos. However I am still skeptical that someone is getting rich on this transaction.

Queens: LIRR Trains Play Tag

LIRR Trains Collide in Queens

LIRR Train Derails at Jamaica Station

NEW YORK (AP) -- Two Long Island Rail Road trains bumped each other at Jamaica Station causing one train to derail and tying up eastbound service for nearly one hour.

None of the 300 passengers on the two trains was injured, said railroad spokeswoman Susan McGowan.

Villarroel said passengers were checked at the platform as they got off the train.

Thankfully no one was killed or injured. I'm sure there will be a few Personal Injury lawsuits coming shortly.

What A Way to Screw up Communers!

Delay on LIRR and No. 7 subway

Per Newsday

Over the course of the past week, the railroad has had more than a half-dozen cancellations due to equipment-related problems, though a spokesperson could not confirm an exact number on Monday.

The latest cancellation was the 7:47 a.m. train from Sayville, scheduled to arrive at Hunterspoint at 9:11 a.m.

The equipment-trouble was described only as being "brake-related." No other details were available.

Rail riders could expect delays as well Monday on the Times Square-bound No. 7 subway train, Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials said those delays were caused by "someone requiring medical assistance" at the 33rd Street-Rawson Street Station.

Those Manhattan-bound No. 7 trains are running on the local track between the 74th Street-Broadway Station and the Queensboro Plaza Station, while Flushing-bound trains are running on the express track between the Queensboro Plaza Station and the 74th Street-Broadway Station.

I know if I was depending on these trains to get to work on time I certainly would not be happy, nor would my boss. I guess it is better to have delays then running trains with brake problem. Well thats the MTA for you.

Go Take a Hike MetroCards!

The basic transit fare may still be $2 on Sunday, but for the majority of New York City's straphanging multitudes that's when it will once again cost more to ride buses and subways.

Only 14 percent of bus and subway riders pay the basic fare.

As of March 1, tickets on the Long Island Rail Road will increase. The following day most fares for subway and bus trips will rise, while higher bridge and tunnel tolls will kick in March 16.

The new round of hikes was ratified just before Christmas when the Metropolitan Transportation board voted overwhelming to charge more.

Read the Whole Story Here: MetroCard, LIRR hike takes effect this weekend

Well once again the MTA is crying poverty, but we all know the truth is that they funnel out millions and millions of tax payer dollars hence the budget "crisis".

The Long Island Railroad apparently felt that they weren't expensive enough as is. I thought $12.00 round trip was expensive, I guess not.

With the tunnel and bridge tolls rising as well, this is like a triple whammy.

When the Recession finally hits when there is no more points of interest left to cut, things will get bad. This is especially true since inflation is still on the rise. Now with the government nickel and diming us the economy is really going to fall flat.

Apparently this was a battle NYPIRG could not win.

But hey now with these toll increases, maybe they can fix the Throgs Neck Bridge before it falls into the water. While they are at it they should build that RFK bridge that was proposed awhile back.

Parking Problems and Possible Solutions

Parking has been an ongoing problem that is increasingly getting worse. When will the congestion of an increasing population affect the ability to park? The question is, how do we fix the problem before it gets out of hand?

1. Make it a requirement for all new buildings with residential housing ( at least 4 stories). Must provide a parking garage or parking lot for its residents. The ratio of provided parking spots to residents must be at least 1.5 to 1. Assuming that there is at east one car per household.

a. However this will create a new problem. Where do we put these parking garages? Preferably
underground. In a worst case scenario a municipal lot could be erected.

b. This will curb the rate of which Queens one family hosing is turned into "McMansions", as it will become more expensive to do so.

2. Instead of creating more spots, possibly taxing the landlord for the amount of spots that its residents take up. To even the balance and make parking more available, some parking meters in the area should be removed. The tax would be the equivalent to the income the city would have received if there were meters at those spots. If you were to calculate the actual income from a metered spot, it works out to $1,560 per spot. Perhaps that is a little high. A $300 to $600, tax per year per spot could make a world of difference. In turn to benefit the residents, they will receive permits to park in a designated area, close to their homes.

Where do we need additional parking? The Long Island Rail Road stops usually have " Park and Ride" commuters taking up many spots. This is evident in Northern Flushing at the Broadway station as well as the Murray Hill Station and the Bayside Station. Of course in most cases there is no room to build such a structure, certainly not in an area that the community boards would approve. The under utilized properties should be selected.

Where could a proposed All Day Muni-Parking complex go?

An example off the top of my head would be the currently vacant property in Flushing on Northern Boulevard not far from 162nd Street where there once was a Movie Theater and then a CVS if my memory serves me correctly. There is an existing good sized lot and if the entire property is utilized it would benefit not only the surrounding residents but also the businesses on and around Northern Boulevard. On Sundays, parishioners of St. Andrew Avelino would benefit from such a lot (free on Sundays).

The DOT have been cracking down on extended driveway openings. The question is, who does this help? Now we must considering that the car which was parked in the removed spot would be moved onto the street, therefore negating and chance that available parking would increase. This does give the neighborhood "parker" for lack of a better word, a slight chance that they could find a spot.

Everyone has a few cars on the block that take up 2 spots or is horrifically crooked or perhaps a "Long Island Park". Then maybe you would like this bumper sticker: I Park Like an Idiot.
But please do not actually go on a sticking rampage, but maybe leaving it under the windshield whipper would be comical. On a side note they really need to make bilingual ones as well.