Trolleys coming to Red Hook?
Incase you haven’t heard, Michael Bloomberg expressed an interest in trolleys at a campaign event last week, where he unveiled new transportation proposals. The already-laid tracks in Red Hook could be where the proposed trolleys get their start. What do you think about the possibility of trolleys in Red Hook?
NY1: “We’ll look into the feasibility of using the city’s old trolley tracks to create new streetcar service in growing waterfront neighborhoods in Queens and Brooklyn, starting in Red Hook,” said Bloomberg.
Red Hook is a prime candidate because development along the waterfront is growing, and because the area is underserved by mass transit. What’s more, Diamond says, is the fact that trolleys can hold about two busloads of passengers, and have zero emissions.
Posted
: August 13th, 2009 at 7:29 am by Diana Rosenthal under Government, Red Hook, Transportation.
Tags:Michael Bloomberg, trolleys in red hook
Comments: 5
Comments
Comment from Rob
Time: August 14, 2009, 2:04 pm
I thought this was dead . When did this rumor start again
Comment from AA
Time: August 19, 2009, 12:15 am
Not a rumor - Bloomberg announced a feasibility study a week or more ago.
From the NY 1 story - “The next step is a Department of Transportation study that will look at the feasibility of a light rail or trolley system in Red Hook. The study is being paid for with about $300,000 in federal funding, and is expected to begin later this year.”
And from the mayor -
“We’ll look into the feasibility of using the city’s old trolley tracks to create new streetcar service in growing waterfront neighborhoods in Queens and Brooklyn, starting in Red Hook.”
Comment from Just Me
Time: August 21, 2009, 10:02 am
This is from the same list of transit initiatives that gets dusted off every couple of years…just prior to election seasons, I think. The mayor thinks most people don’t realize that he doesn’t run the MTA.
Comment from Joe Nardiello
Time: August 21, 2009, 10:34 am
There’s no keeping a good idea, down.
Supported this back in the early/mid-90s and with the father of the gentlemen taking the baton in Red Hook (I don’t ever use private-names, unless they approve it). A system SHOULD have been in place by now — and it could run from Red Hook right along the waterfront and Van Brunt/Columbia St. to Furman (backwards, and it’s WIDE enough, right?) — right to the Brooklyn Bridge. This alone would be an AMAZING tourism dynamic and would spark interest along the waterfront aside from residential development, etc. and of course, be USED by the residents of planned mega-projects along Furman St. now.
We’d pushed for this and I’m SURE past/present Borough Presidents would get on board (in fact, I’d imagine the BP could LEAD this in tandem with our Mayor). Remember this idea, very well. Worked in economic development with the Dinkins & Giuliani administrations — and it’s true that sometimes old ideas are ‘dusted off’. Nothing wrong with that, is there?… But generally, files & achievements and great ideas are long forgotten with changes of Mayors. It takes reminding — and at times everything old becomes new again.
Comment from brooklynbee
Time: August 14, 2009, 9:55 am
I think this rumor has been revived, declared dead, revived, etc. for so many years now it’s practically an urban legend.