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Groups have been lobbying for a trolley comeback for years, and Monday night Mayor Bloomberg noted his interest in bringing them back to growing waterfront areas, according to NY1.
Bloomberg addressed those at the meeting, saying, "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." A trolley can hold twice the amount of people a bus can, and has zero emissions. The Brooklyn Historic Railway Association's president Bob Diamond noted other perks of bringing such a service back, saying "A light rail or a streetcar line usually costs about one-twentieth of what a subway line would cost. And they're outside, and they use existing streets, so there's no right-of-way acquisition and the track can be built very quickly."
Later this year the Department of Transportation will conduct a study looking at the feasibility of such a project in Red Hook. For now, take a look at an old trolley zooming through Brooklyn in 1938!
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To claim a trolley produces no emissions is disingenuous. While a trolley car itself does not emit pollutants, the energy powering that car via electric transmission lines is very likely to come from a coal- or oil-burning power plant.
Well...the technology still does not exist for the trolleys to be powered by farts. So coal or oil-burning power plants will have to do. I still like the idea and if it comes to fruition it will be a welcome addition to NYC's already crammed public transportation infrastructure.
Much of NYC's power is hydro juice wheeled in from Quebec. But nuclear's always on the table :)
i think our mayor is a bit of a d-bag, but if trolleys were on the table, along with other transportation infrastructure improvements, he's got my vote.
Oh Hell Yes!! If you get this done, I will vote for you, Mayor Bloomberg! I just signed a commercial lease in Red Hook yesterday, this is just what we need down there... Oh, Happy Day!
Maybe they'll bring back the Dodgers next.
This ought to make Dead Himmler flip his wig.
will they serve Rice-A-Roni the "San Francisco Treat?"
trolleys always make me think of that stuff, regardless of their location.
I think Mr. Diamond doesn't seem to realize that typical streetcars (i.e. the non-articulated type) hold basically the same amount of people as buses not twice as many. Also it is sort of true they have "zero emissions" since they don't have a tailpipe, but the power has to come from somewhere. Plus, streetcars can makes some wicked screeching noises.
This is all because of that guy who found the Atlantic Ave Tunnel. Too bad this won't go anywhere useful...
I love the idea of bringing streetcars back to Brooklyn, but this is obviously just one of Bloomberg's many empty transit promises, made for the sole purpose of boosting his poll numbers. Bloomberg was in office when DOT turned its back on BHRA in 2003. Why the change of heart now?
This just reeks of dishonesty.
Light Rail wasn't trendy back then, and no greenwashing movement. HBLR only stopped being a white elephant in the 2004-2005 period. Plus HBLR was mostly greenfield/brownfield development. Newark Subway Light Rail system was an aged decayed Gangbanger Express. NJ River Line opened 2004.
Plus all the NJ Light Rail runs on the street only in suburban master planned communities, or usually dedicated lanes/tunnels/space. In NYC Light Rail is insane on gridlocked, jammed streets. If your going to tear down buildings to make a dedicated lane, you might should build a subway line that will be 10x faster and more 20x more people per train.
A Red Hook Light Rail would just be a real estate amenity to show off to condo buyers or attract tourists. Light Rail would also make sense in Master Planned LIC/Gantry Park or Co-op City (but that deserves a 6 train extension, not a slow backwards light rail line).
They've been talking about the possibility of lightrail/trolleys in Red Hook for years. Until we see some actual action, it still remains a very distant possibility.
Great idea, and one that's been around for a long time. It doesn't totally jibe with some of the other things the City has supported in Red Hook, so I'm suspicious. But a touristy public transit system like trolleys would be a great way to connect Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Cruise Ship Terminal, Fairway, IKEA, and the views at the end of Van Brunt. Probably, though, makes too much sense.
"touristy public transit system"
that would be perfect, actually. it might lure them off the regular subways that the rest of us need to use.
But seriously, this will be a great idea if it happens!
These are all great ideas, but there is simply no money to pay for the billions of dollars Bloomberg's plans would require. Building the infrastructure just for a few blocks of trolleys—trolley cars, wiring, signals, safety improvements—would cost tens of millions of dollars. It would be far, far cheaper to run a few hybrid buses.
I'm all for the trolleys, but find it ironic that our trolley views will be those of luxury high-rises and bulldozed lots (that once held historic buildings) created by speculators enabled by our mayor. I smell PR at work ...just in time for that third term.
Judge Doom will put a stop to this.
Buy your lots in Red Hook now if this idea takes off. All the talk of Red Hook being the next big thing would finally become reality if the transportation issue is addressed. I love the idea of trolley's but also like Red Hook quiet like it is now!
Hi All, just as a point of reference, most of the electrical energy used in New York City comes from hydro-electric power and nuclear, not from carbon.
For more information on the Red Hook trolley project, see our website at www.brooklynrail.net
Bob D
Hi Again, streetcars with resilient wheels dont make "screeching noises". A typical PCC type streetcar such as the ones sitting in Red Hook, are rated at 150 passengers- twice as many riders as a standard City bus.
As to pollution, the Red Hook trolley would be 100% pollution free- the power would come from the New York State Power Authority- clean, renewable hydro electric power- read http://www.nypa.gov/services/esp.htm
Bob D
thanks for the information bob d. finally someone who isn't just bloviating
Later this year the Department of Transportation will conduct a study looking at the feasibility of such a project in Red Hook.
If the DOT actually goes ahead with this, then get ready for four years worth of Environmental Impact Statements, public hearings, and studies.
I'm not saying it's fruitless. We might live long enough to see the ground breaking ceremony. Just don't hold your breath and meanwhile, make do with what we have.
bloomturd is dangling carrots, he's getting scared.
where was this when RH was the next big area to bust out? why didn't Ikea or any of the other planers consider this when it was on the drawing board.
would it be cool? sure to have a light rail system that goes from RH up to Astoria hugging the shore.
I really don't think we'll ever see a light rail system in NYC. even the JFK monorail is a mess.
Just watch: after Bloomberg wins he'll unveil a fleet of those retarded rubber wheeled "trolleys".
The Red Hook trolley should be exempt from doing an Environmental Impact Study. Back in the 1990's, we were able to get the trolley project exempted by the responsible Agencies (CEQR). In Urban Planning speak, this is called a "Negative Declaration".
We were also approved by the City Planning Commission Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP).
Bob D