BY BROOKE SMITH
Hundreds of exhibitors, businesses, government and community leaders were in attendance at the Long Island City Partnership’s annual Trade Show and Luncheon.
Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney took the stage as the keynote speaker to discuss new developments taking place in Queens in both infrastructure and transportation, such as modernizing the aging transit system to accommodate a growing population and ridership.
One of Maloney’s first projects in office was the 63rd Street subway tunnel that rerouted the F train. The $600 million project provides services to Queensbridge, Roosevelt Island and Manhattan.
“Nothing generates economic activity more than having a place that people can go to get to all the wonderful things that are happening in Queens,” Maloney said.
Maloney made it clear that infrastructure upgrades will not stop with the subway system. Upgrades to three critical bridges in the tri-state area are already underway. The Tappan Zee Bridge, Kosciuszko Bridge and Goethals Bridge will all be replaced with new cable-stayed bridges. Construction of the new Kosciuszko Bridge, which carries the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway over the Newtown Creek, is expected to be the first of those completed and will happen in 2017. A topping out ceremony was suggested upon completion to show appreciation for the new bridge.
Maloney concluded her speech with a nod to Queens.“Congress can learn a lot from the Queens community. You work together to bring the businesses and diversity together. You have turned Queens into one of the greatest places to do business,” she said.
The Queens community showed their appreciation for Maloney with the presentation of an award by Gary Kesner, president of Silvercup Studios, “for bringing the dollars back to New York.”
