$1.7B streetcar route desired for Brooklyn-Queens waterfront

[mousquet]

^ Line T3, I think. This might be around Porte d'Orléans. Minato will correct me if I'm mistaking.

Many locals (mostly some conservatives, but not exclusively) complain cause the neighborhood is actually somewhat dirty and poorly maintained, which it is for real, I can tell. Some also say it would be unsafe, but those never saw any real unsafe neighborhood.

Our dear socialist leaders say nothing wrong about it. They just don't live there, so they don't care as long as it votes for them.

[Minato Ku]

Porte d'Orléans, dirty and run down ?
Not more than other areas in the City of Paris.

[mousquet]

^ Not wrong. I just meant, it wouldn't hurt if the streets, sidewalks and everything were cleaner, cause it feels shameful when people from other regions show up and say - ugh, it's quite a bit messy around here! Doesn't it? This is not just about porte d'Orléans, but a bunch of districts to the east side of the city, including some very central like the 3rd arrondissement.

As for the tram line itself, it's ok. I for one only always disliked grass lanes. Some mineral materials like some paving stone would look much better, but it's got to be more expensive, while T3 doesn't cross any major establishment central district.

[mrsmartman]

I agree with vanshnookenraggen on this issue.

[mrnyc]

waterfront developers jockey for the bqx trolley:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/poli...icle-1.2906024

[mrnyc]

joe lhota is on board as in favor of the streetcar:

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/s...icle-1.2912299

[jmecklenborg]

Allow me to comment as someone who advocated since 2007 and now live within walking distance (and earshot!) of the new Cincinnati streetcar.

The streetcar here, and I suspect in New York City, is a neighborhood circulator that sees relatively few commuters but surprising ridership surges during non-peak special events. The busiest ridership day here is Saturday.

I have read elsewhere that they are planning dedicated lanes and signal priority for nearly all of this 17-mile line, and I would hope that they buy larger streetcars than the CAF Urbos-3's that Cincinnati and Kansas City just got (which are similar in size but much nicer complete low-floor designs as compared to the Skoda streetcars in Portland, Seattle, and DC). A 150-passenger streetcar fills up quickly when an event lets out and in New York they will want more seats since more people will be riding longer distances.

[C.]

Originally Posted by jmecklenborg

Allow me to comment as someone who advocated since 2007 and now live within walking distance (and earshot!) of the new Cincinnati streetcar.

The streetcar here, and I suspect in New York City, is a neighborhood circulator that sees relatively few commuters but surprising ridership surges during non-peak special events. The busiest ridership day here is Saturday.

I have read elsewhere that they are planning dedicated lanes and signal priority for nearly all of this 17-mile line, and I would hope that they buy larger streetcars than the CAF Urbos-3's that Cincinnati and Kansas City just got (which are similar in size but much nicer complete low-floor designs as compared to the Skoda streetcars in Portland, Seattle, and DC). A 150-passenger streetcar fills up quickly when an event lets out and in New York they will want more seats since more people will be riding longer distances.

The real purpose of this BQX streetcar proposal is to increase the land values and development potential for real estate by the waterfront. Developers will now have an easier case to argue for rezoning since the streetcar, in theory, adds to the transportation capacity. Ridership is an afterthought.

The streetcar will probably do well in terms of ridership. The problem is a good chunk of the riders will feed onto the L line, which is already at capacity during peak periods.