By Gabriel Rom
Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village) went to New Jersey in late July to visit the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Line in an effort to gather more information about her own proposal to bring a light rail line to Glendale and Middle Village.
“A light rail service through Queens will not only serve our growing population but also has the potential to provide residents with intraborough transit and further strengthen the local economy,” she said in a statement. “We’ve seen just that happen across the East River in Hudson County, N.J.”
The Hudson-Bergen line was funded through a mixture of public and private investments, a funding scheme that Crowley would also like to see for her proposed line.
The Hudson-Bergen line runs through Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City and North Bergen. The line began operation in 2000 and expanded over the next 10 years. It currently serves over 50,000 daily passengers across 24 passenger stations in addition to moving freight in some areas, according to New Jersey Transit. The line was part of the state’s “smart growth” plan, which has reduced auto-ridership and was designed to revitalize urban and suburban areas through transit-oriented development.
“Since its inception less than 15 years ago, the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail has grown to be the second-most utilized New Jersey Transit line and has also contributed to the revitalization of cities like Hoboken and Jersey City,” Crowley said.
“I believe the same could happen here in Queens. With two of the most expensive aspects already in place – the track and the right-of-way – it would be that much easier and more cost-efficient to implement,” Crowley said.
Crowley’s proposed rail line would run from Glendale near Woodhaven Boulevard into Long Island City, with passenger stops at the Metro Mall in Middle Village and in Long Island City.
“I’m astonished and delighted that someone has put this idea on the table,” said Alex Garvin an urban planner and professor of Architecture at Yale University. “There is no really good east-west communication that goes into Ridgewood, Glendale and Middle Village. Having a street car which effectively would go east-west through those communities is something that I believe is absolutely necessary and a great idea,” he added. Garvin has himself proposed a light-rail line connecting Brooklyn with Queens.
Moving forward, Crowley plans to meet with representatives from various city agencies, including the MTA and the Department of City Planning.
Reach reporter Gabriel Rom by e-mail at grom@
