LIRR Branch would be easier and faster , you could buy or retrofit existing trains into high capacity ones with space for luggage... The Current plan is a boondoogle and would overload the already at capacity 7 line...

When you think about it, it's better than nothing.

Which is even more ridiculous, considering that the Port Authority will now build an elevated structure over the actual scenic part of the road overlooking Flushing Bay. They are pushing that scheme despite neighborhood opposition (which they should do) but if they're gonna ignore the locals anyway, why not build something that's actually useful? The part through Astoria is a pretty typical sunken freeway, not exactly a beauty spot even though I am receptive to the idea that parkways can be valuable scenic amenities in certain cases.

Plus a subway extension would actually serve neighborhood residents esp. low-income ones, so you'd think lefty pols like the newly elected Rep. Ocasio-Cortez would be in favor of that plan versus a dedicated Midtown shuttle, or a shuttle to a shuttle, that only helps business travelers. Of course, for Gov. Cuomo it's a good thing that airport travelers wouldn't have to mix with the smelly plebs on the subway.

The N should have been extended decades ago. Full stop. No need to debate it. The fact it wasn't, and for the reasons, is an embarrassment.

Cuomo really loves cutting the ribbon on shiny transportation baubles of excessive cost and low utility. An extension of the N from Astoria would certainly be less to his liking and would create a, probably small but vocal, number of angry opposers. With transportation planning in NY and NYC as crippled as it is why go though the aggravation when you can just spend more public money for something less useful to the citizenry?

If he cared at all De Blasio could push for such an extension but I'm not sure there is another human alive in NYC elected office that gives less of a shit about the subway than he does.

I'm not sure how a crowded subway car packed like sardines and buskers rapping, etc would be a good idea for harried airport travelers with baggage. It wouldn't leave a very good impression on business travellers compared to other city's dedicated trian service. The best solution would have been a tunnel spur off the LIRR like the Heathrow Express in London and a dedicated train with special baggage storage compartments. If it doesn't get done in LGA, I propose that for JFK. Maybe they will get it done there. After seeing how these other globa cities do things, why should I expect less for NYC? If that's not feasable, maybe check out Musk's technology that he is implementing in Chicago. If it works, NYC could use it.

Will be it 24/7?

There is no new technology. Musk's Chicago thing is a publicity stunt that will likely never break ground.

why do new yorkers put up with this? if NYC just screamed ENOUGH and ground the city to a halt the entire U.S. economy would lurch to a stop and the powers that be would suddenly find solutions to these transit problems.

The N is already overburdened as it is. Astoria is in the midst of a full tilt building boom and the last thing anyone in this area wants is a family of tourists getting on with 3 Samsonite roll-ons each during rush hour.

That said, I don't support Cuomo's plan either. The smart play would be to have the Air Train run to Woodside-61st via the BQE

Or the corporate powers that be simply shift operations to London, Tokyo, Dallas, or any other number of global corporate centers thereby diminishing NY's influence and QOL. Protests don't work for a reason.

The situation will change once it becomes an political/existential crisis the same way the city's finances were in the mid 1970s or the street crime situation in the early 1990s. Both are examples of an issue reaching critical mass then resulting in radical change. DeBlasio isn't motivated to care because it's not on his political bases' radar and besides he's got his second term. Cuomo is worried about getting through this governers race. We'll see if anyone is really focused on this come next year.

Ok, I'll remember this post and we'll see what happens. Maybe you'll be right, maybe you won't.

I don't know, the guy has rocket boosters, ROCKET BOOSTERS detaching and landing themselves beside the Mother Ship. Even the 50's Sci-Fi movies never saw that coming.

If this is going to come to a head at any point I think it's next year when they shut down the L between Brooklyn and Manhattan. If a major chunk of the remaining services that parallel it have any hiccup whatsoever (an ironclad guarantee) there will be total and massive chaos. Even if everything goes perfectly for an entire year I don't think the mitigation plans are going to cut it as is...

Musk actually had to use an old scifi b-movie with rockets landing on a barge as prior art to defend against a patent troll.

The city needs, one seat rides to its airports. I would wait until this Musk thing pans out to see if there is potential with it for NYC. If it works at O'hare, it could work at JFK and LaGuardia. That's probably the only hope left for NY. There is no way that a one-seat-ride train is going to happen with conventional rail, there is just nowhere to put it and a regular tunnel would cost far too much for the likes of NYC, a city where transit funding does not flow like cheap wine. Nothing has happened with that Roackaway Branch line project in years and it looks like its nowhere near to happening.

The JFK airtrain to LIRR is not used enough, and most people still take cars jamming up the highways and bridges/tunnels. Why repeat these solutions when they are not good enough? Why repeat the same half assed mistakes of the past?

New York's Economic Future Rides on Its Subways PDF: https://www.manhattan-institute.org/...IB-NG-0718.pdf

We've already witnessed some pretty spectacular meltdowns and the dithering continues. The problem is the subway is just such a given in NYC life that most people will just continue to accept an ever worsening situation as long is there is no large scale "event" (heaven forbid) like a mass-casualty derailment. Politically it's simply not on the radar. Here in the city you have your various assortment of usually left and lefter interest groups, single issue voters and ethnic/identity politicians who drive local governance here and as far as NYS is concerned everyone above Dutchess County could care less (heck, even LI to a degree isn't really vested in MTA issues)

due to demand six bigger nyc ferries are on the way.

they will hold 350.

current nyc ferries hold 150:

https://www.amny.com/transit/nyc-ferry-boats-1.19791311

nice tile tho


https://nypost.com/2018/07/22/cuomo-...anity-project/