Red Hook Trolley May Actually Happen
After more than a decade of talking about it, the Department of Transportation is taking an important step towards the creation of a light-rail trolley line connecting Red Hook to the start of Brooklyn Bridge Park at Atlantic Avenue; the news would be particularly welcome in light of recent cuts to bus to and from…
After more than a decade of talking about it, the Department of Transportation is taking an important step towards the creation of a light-rail trolley line connecting Red Hook to the start of Brooklyn Bridge Park at Atlantic Avenue; the news would be particularly welcome in light of recent cuts to bus to and from the isolated former industrial neighborhood. Rep. Nydia Velazquez secured $300,000 in funding for a study of the project back in 2005, but the transportation department is only just now drawing down on the funds. Velazquez has a request pending for $10 million to build the project, a number that falls at the low end of estimates by Bob Diamond, who’s been lobbying for the project through his group Brooklyn Historic Railway Association since 1989. You can see a map of BHRA’s proposed route here.
Trolley Good News for Red Hook Rail Plan [NY Post]
Red Hook’s Streetcar Plan Garners Support [Brownstoner]
Resurrecting Red Hook’s Trolley Tracks [Brownstoner]
Could Streetcars Return to Brooklyn? [Brownstoner]
Photo by fldelundell
By tina24hour on May 19, 2010 5:05 PM
Wait, you don’t want too densely populated; that would make a trolley incompatible. It’s the long stretches of post-industrial development that makes RH and a trolley compatible.
How about a loop, or “U”: from Atlantic/4th to 9th/4th right turn on 9th to RH, and then North to Downtown.
The notion that Red Hook is (according to tybur6) “an area that is generally not densely populated (sans the RHH)” is absurd. You can’t subtract the Red Hook Houses from the population. The 2000 census puts Red Hook’s population at 10,408, and Park Slope’s at 65,047. Park Slope is served by twelve subway lines. If Red Hook’s population is a sixth of Park Slope’s, I’d gladly settle for a sixth of the train lines. Or even half that. One measly light rail. Seems not that much to ask, really.
By qualmly on May 19, 2010 10:31 AM
As I plainly wrote, a trolley would only be about 1/2 for transportation–a bus works for that. A trolley (and we’re talking about redesigning the vehicle-concept: it would need to be partially open; maybe double-decker). The other half is for urban ambiance; to connect neighborhoods for tourism; connect Park Slope to the Harbor.
Explore it, study it, cost it out, but wait for better times for to do it. We need to first get rid of the disgusting socialist regimes in Albany and Washington so that there’s actually some money available for urban investment.
this would be amazing!
“By BrooklynCouch on May 18, 2010 5:38 PM
And yes to the east-west spur up the Slope. ”
You mean like the B77 bus, which is scheduled to be eliminated? That line has been heavily patronized for decades by Red Hook residents who come up to 5th Avenue to do their shopping.
The $10-$15mm cost estimate cited in the article seems implausibly low.
The only transit project that really would change Red Hook forever would be extending the 2nd Avenue ‘T’ line to RH. Build a new underwater tunnel between the South St. Seaport station and the Brooklyn Bridge Park (pier 6) station, keep going under Columbia St. until you build the next station at Union/Carroll and finally end the line near Fairway/IKEA. RH would never feel desolate again. That would be the only way if you wanted to do it right, anything else would be a waste.
What I like is the idea of spending a small amount on a study, and then seeking funds to actually do it later on, but not right now, when we should be freezing and cutting government (and getting as many liberals and leftists out of office as possible).
And yes to the east-west spur up the Slope. It could give critical mass to Red Hook.
And yes, tying its feasibility into IKEA, Fairway makes sense.
I’ll take it. Build me a way to get to those dumplings at the Good Fork from Downtown Brooklyn!