From the Queens Gazette:Congressmember Joe Crowley and Councilmember Daniel Dromm called on the MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to reopen the Elmhurst Station, a move that will help to further revitalize Elmhurst and the surrounding area. The station, which was closed in 1985, is located on Broadway between Cornish and Whitney Avenues.
“Reopening the Elmhurst Station will go a long way toward revitalizing the Elmhurst community and growing Queens’ economy,” said Crowley. “This is more than an investment in improving residents’ commutes; it’s about making Elmhurst a destination for all New Yorkers and visitors. Councilman Dromm and I are joining forces in calling on the LIRR to join us in making this idea a reality. The truth is Elmhurst residents already endure the noise and inconvenience of a train running through their neighborhood, why shouldn’t they enjoy the benefits of it becoming an integral part of the neighborhood?”
The Elmhurst Station, which sits on the Port Washington Branch commuter rail line, helped the communities of Elmhurst and East Elmhurst grow and thrive by opening up access to Midtown Manhattan. The station was closed due to a reported decrease in ridership following significant changes to train schedules that made the station unattractive to commuters. Since the station’s closure, Elmhurst’s growing population has suffered from a lack of efficient public transit into Manhattan. Reopening the Elmhurst Station will increase residents’ access to Midtown, help create jobs in the community, and provide an economic boost to the many small businesses in the area.
21 comments:
Who exactly is going to use this station?
1. It's two blocks from a subway station
2. The subway goes to the same place
3. The subway is 1/3 the price of LIRR during rush hour.
4. The subway runs every few minutes vs. twice or three times an hour on LIRR, once an hour on weekends.
This likely won't happen, but if by some bizarre circumstance they found the millions needed to reopen the station, maybe they could use it improve the nearby subway instead.
The populatin in that area cannot afford an LIRR ticket.
Only a handful would use it.
Use the bus or subway!
Joe is mining for votes. Let him come up with the $$ for it from Obama. We will take the station Joe, but not you - as always always late but always before election time!
Another example of the out of touch politicians that run our borough.
But, what do you expect from someone who lives in Virginia?
It's a good idea, but let's be clear-- the station would have to be rebuilt. They removed all of it in the 80s and 90s. So, millions and millions would be needed.
"1. It's two blocks from a subway station
2. The subway goes to the same place"
I'm not for this, but you can say the same thing about Forest Hills.
So is Flushing.
The justification for closing it was lack of usage. If the millions were spent to re-open it, there would still be low usage of the station. Flushing, Forest Hills, and Kew Gardens have the usage that justifies those stations being kept open.
Gentrification arriving on the next track? Someone smells real estate $$$$$ in Newtown?
An extension of the first comment....
You are right - There are not enough rich bastards there who will shell out for the LIRR. Also the rich bastard would have to work within walking distance of Penn Station because even a rich bastard who works downtown would stick out the subway for the entire ride if he would have to get on the subway at Penn Station.
One big thing is missing here....
Let's say you have a Long Island rich bastard with a zone 9 ticket to, say, Huntington and that rich bastard works nearby, or is visiting a whorehouse, or wants to experience some of Queens' best shit, or is an absentee landlord he can ride there for free!! I will bet that most of those people who use that station will pay nothing more than they already do to use that train because they hold those unlimited monthly tickets. That would be the same rich bastard from Huntington who wants to see the miserable Mets. Why should he shell out for the subway to get from Woodside to Shea when the LIRR would be free?
No, "Honest Joe" needs to show that he brings home X millions of federal bucks to his district, so, being a bit clueless on what to do with an area that is a development backwater, can do things like this.
1. I've asked Joe on his Facebook page why a neighborhood with thorough bus service and nine subway stops all about 20 minutes from Manhattan really needs a LIRR station.
I wrote this about it, also:
http://www.insignificantthoughts.com/2012/01/31/congressman-crowley-wants-to-add-lirr-stop-to-neighborhood-with-9-subway-stops/
No, "Honest Joe" needs to show that he brings home X millions of federal bucks to his district, so, being a bit clueless on what to do with an area that is a development backwater, can do things like this.
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Yea, a bit like Phony Maloney bragging about all the money she brings to Queens - and almost all of it is earmarked for transportation of people THROUGH Queens, not helping the people here.
But, from observing the local civic 'leaders' and press you would think she actually helps local residents with her largesse.
Why even think of such an idiotic idea with our economy going down the tubes????
Our electeds are SOOOO out of touch with us.
I live in Woodside and worked for about 10 years in Two Penn Plaza above Penn Station (but not at WABC Radio) and commuted on the LIRR - this was before the monthly Metro-Card.
Most daily commuters from Queens to Manhattan I know use the monthly Metro-Card.
Make Elmhurst a "Destination"...for what?
Despite Crowley pandering for votes - having the station back - does not hurt us, rather gives us alternatives for those who don't drive and want to head east. If anything having the station is a good thing because the train is going to go through anyway so have it stop for those from our area who want it. Let Crowley pay for it so that his construction buddies are working! (Unions)
It was closed
because of a lack of patronage.
Maybe Latinos use the subways and buses more.
This isn't exactly a "Plandome" nabe.
LOL!
If it reopens the LIRR had better install metal detectors.
Port Washington and Great Neck riders don't want this station reopened for sure!
Arriba, arriba!
De train , de train eez cumming.
The "picturesque" Main Street LIRR Why not re-open Elmhurst?
It cant be worse than Flushing.
The Flushing station currently affords the "most scenic" of all views along the whole Port Washington line.
I recommend the westbound platform because it offers the best "prospect".
Don't forget to pack your camera.
You can overlook a length of back-alley rooftops cluttered with an array of dirty or rusty cooling units, ducts, pipes, filth, discarded stuff and, of course, graffiti!
It gives a very nice impression to visitors.
Take a deep breath now and inhale the various ambient "aromas".
Imagine a weary commuter returning home wondering if living his life here is worth it.
But the Flushing Business Improvement District boasts,
"Welcome to Flushing, a world of choices".
The BID makes a good impression if you only read their street banners.
But where is the degree of improvement that's commensurate with the amount of taxes that they collect from all the merchants?
Ah, but the downtown center is "bustling" and "vibrant".
Translation:
A failed, low class, Asian ghetto!
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