Department of Subways - Proposals/Ideas

[MysteriousBtrain]

So would it be possible to use those bellmouths to go under Woodhaven Boulevard while stopping at said platforms?

[Union Tpke]

So would it be possible to use those bellmouths to go under Woodhaven Boulevard while stopping at said platforms?

Those bellmouths are to make it an express station. Nothing more, nothing less.

[N6 Limited]

Are there actual trackways behind the walls at Woodhaven Blvd?

[CenSin]

Are there actual trackways behind the walls at Woodhaven Blvd?

Well, the platform would be the trackway. The current trackway would be converted into a platform.

[bobtehpanda]

It should really be converted, because Roosevelt cannot handle the loads it is required to take as the only express station between Queens Plaza/Queensbridge and Forest Hills.

[CenSin]

It should really be converted, because Roosevelt cannot handle the loads it is required to take as the only express station between Queens Plaza/Queensbridge and Forest Hills.

While it’s easier to convert Woodhaven Boulevard, the real missed opportunity is turning 36 Street into an express station. Trains in both direction already slow down there due to switches in the vicinity. It would also provide a transfer at a waypoint—something very much IND-like. Euclid Avenue, for example, would have been a local station if not for the planned split east of that point.

[bobtehpanda]

While it’s easier to convert Woodhaven Boulevard, the real missed opportunity is turning 36 Street into an express station. Trains in both direction already slow down there due to switches in the vicinity. It would also provide a transfer at a waypoint—something very much IND-like. Euclid Avenue, for example, would have been a local station if not for the planned split east of that point.

 

I think Woodhaven is superior, for the following reasons:

 

It's in the middle of a long express stretch, whereas 36 St is right after Queens Plaza - sure you could transfer to the , but you could also just take the from 36 St. Woodhaven is also a major bus hub, whereas 36 St is not.

 

As far as the waypoint goes, keep in mind that some of the original plans had the Rockaway Beach Branch diverging after Woodhaven. The original plan for 36 St was not to connect to the Queens Blvd Line in the west at all.

[CenSin]

As far as the waypoint goes, keep in mind that some of the original plans had the Rockaway Beach Branch diverging after Woodhaven. The original plan for 36 St was not to connect to the Queens Blvd Line in the west at all.

I know about the original plans and the whole history of the IND. But the diverging point is at 36 Street, hence the statement about it being a missed opportunity. Woodhaven Boulevard can get converted when the Rockaways gets connected there. With service changes being so common, 36 Street would be a more convenient transfer station than Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Avenue.

[bobtehpanda]

I know about the original plans and the whole history of the IND. But the diverging point is at 36 Street, hence the statement about it being a missed opportunity. Woodhaven Boulevard can get converted when the Rockaways gets connected there. With service changes being so common, 36 Street would be a more convenient transfer station than Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Avenue.

 

I think the need is more immediate at Woodhaven because of the rush-hour loads at Roosevelt; 36 St wouldn't do much to relieve rush overcrowding there, since anyone who needs to transfer at 36 St already has 6th Av and Broadway service, and those who need 8th Av service can just change at Queens Plaza one stop away on the . On the other hand, Woodhaven is a major bus hub, and anyone transferring from a bus at Woodhaven or Grand Av has to join the crush crowds from the at Roosevelt.

[R32 3838]

I posted this in an old thread but should have put here instead:

 

The tail tracks in back of Jamaica center ends under a parking lot next to 158th st between the projects and a church, but

Having the go via atlantic branch (original plan) would be unrealistic at this point.

 

Me i would have the go under 157th st making stops at south rd, 110th ave and would make a left on linden blvd making a stop at guy brewer and the final stop would be merrick blvd and linden blvd, it would make sense if it ran under 157th st since the tunnel currently ends right next to 157th st

 

I think the needs an exstension badly especially if they want to utilize cbtc, Jamaica center can only handle 12 tph, even if they cancan't extend it that far, atleast make a terminal station at south rd or 109th ave and 157th st underground or outside next to the LIRR ROW

Edited May 8, 2016 by R32 3838

[paulrivera]

I got a new one (I may have posted this before but I don't directly recall): We should extend the train (weekdays)/make a new variant (weekends) to Yonkers Raceway. Deep bore a two track tunnel from Grand Concourse from where the yard lead is north to Mosholu Parkway then follow Mosholu Parkway to the Major Deegan/NY Thruway. Only make one stop at Mosholu Parkway to link up with the along the way. Bee-Line bus service is sufficient enough in all the other areas with the exception of the Raceway/Casino area.

 

Weekdays: All rush hour trains run to/from Yonkers except some put-ins/lay-ups in the AM (not all trains would be needed in the morning). Midday/Evening service would be 20 minute headways to Yonkers and 10 minute headways between 145th and Brighton Beach.

 

Late nights: OPTO Shuttle between Yonkers and Bedford Park, 20 minute headways.

 

Weekends (except late night): Full length shuttle between Yonkers and Bedford Park, 10 minute headways for most of the day.

[bobtehpanda]

I posted this in an old thread but should have put here instead:

 

The tail tracks in back of Jamaica center ends under a parking lot next to 158th st between the projects and a church, but

Having the go via atlantic branch (original plan) would be unrealistic at this point.

 

Me i would have the go under 157th st making stops at south rd, 110th ave and would make a left on linden blvd making a stop at guy brewer and the final stop would be merrick blvd and linden blvd, it would make sense if it ran under 157th st since the tunnel currently ends right next to 157th st

 

I think the needs an exstension badly especially if they want to utilize cbtc, Jamaica center can only handle 12 tph, even if they cancan't extend it that far, atleast make a terminal station at south rd or 109th ave and 157th st underground or outside next to the LIRR ROW

 

157 St is a bad place to put it, though: it's too far away from the major bus corridors in SE Queens (Guy R Brewer and Merrick), and it would be more expensive than using the Atlantic Branch. On top of that, the major issue is that 157 St is a small, residential street. You'd run into a lot of community opposition and would need a lot of eminent domain takings.

 

The original plan is fine, but it requires putting a third track on the West Hempstead Branch tracks; there would also be commnity opposition, but if you added a LIRR stop at Merrick Blvd I'm sure it'd be fine.

[R32 3838]

157 St is a bad place to put it, though: it's too far away from the major bus corridors in SE Queens (Guy R Brewer and Merrick), and it would be more expensive than using the Atlantic Branch. On top of that, the major issue is that 157 St is a small, residential street. You'd run into a lot of community opposition and would need a lot of eminent domain takings.

 

The original plan is fine, but it requires putting a third track on the West Hempstead Branch tracks; there would also be commnity opposition, but if you added a LIRR stop at Merrick Blvd I'm sure it'd be fine.

The area is mostly dense, i walked through the area and its not as bad, the tail tracks end right next to that street, placing a tunnel elsewhere would cost even more. But atleast make a terminal there on south rd or a relay track

[RollOver]

@Around the Horn (if you're reading this thread): I have to admit, I finally agree with what you said about the automated NTT announcements a couple months back. I can't remember the exact name of the thread (or the exact date) though. But anyway, yeah I agree with you that any line that makes all stops without an express service throughout its run shouldn't need to say "local" in it. Just "train" and that's it.

[Wallyhorse]

I got a new one (I may have posted this before but I don't directly recall): We should extend the train (weekdays)/make a new variant (weekends) to Yonkers Raceway. Deep bore a two track tunnel from Grand Concourse from where the yard lead is north to Mosholu Parkway then follow Mosholu Parkway to the Major Deegan/NY Thruway. Only make one stop at Mosholu Parkway to link up with the along the way. Bee-Line bus service is sufficient enough in all the other areas with the exception of the Raceway/Casino area.

 

Weekdays: All rush hour trains run to/from Yonkers except some put-ins/lay-ups in the AM (not all trains would be needed in the morning). Midday/Evening service would be 20 minute headways to Yonkers and 10 minute headways between 145th and Brighton Beach.

 

Late nights: OPTO Shuttle between Yonkers and Bedford Park, 20 minute headways.

 

Weekends (except late night): Full length shuttle between Yonkers and Bedford Park, 10 minute headways for most of the day.

Something similar from what I've thought of in the past for either the or / .  

 

Might be easier to do on the if it can continue along the route of the Westchester #20 bus to the Raceway complex.

[bobtehpanda]

The area is mostly dense, i walked through the area and its not as bad, the tail tracks end right next to that street, placing a tunnel elsewhere would cost even more. But atleast make a terminal there on south rd or a relay track

 

It's not about what is immediately around it, it's about the potential for connections as well.

 

The Atlantic Branch basically parallels the Q85, and intersects the Q111/113/114, the Q3, the Q77 and the Q5, so all of those routes can feed the new line. No bus routes currently intersect 157 St. Only the Q6, the Q7, and the Q111/113/114 come close to it, and rerouting buses that far east won't be any faster than taking the bus into Jamaica.

 

On top of that, as far as major destinations go, 157 St is sorely lacking. 157 St has the Baisley Park Houses, and that's about it. In fact, 157 St dead-ends at Baisley Blvd. In fact, on a good part of route, half the walkshed is taken up by Baisley Pond Park. The Atlantic Branch passes by the Baisley Park Houses and Rochdale Village, and if you want to go even further south the line is a stone's throw away from Green Acres Mall and Valley Stream.

 

CBTC will not be a problem; all those extra trains can terminate at 179 St, like the used to do before 1989.

[R32 3838]

The terminal would have merrick blvd and linden, from 157th street the line would have turned left on linden blvd making two stops, and if no political backlash, i would build a new yard next to the LIRR ROW west of st.albans station near murdock ave where the lirr work equipment is at.

[bobtehpanda]

The terminal would have merrick blvd and linden, from 157th street the line would have turned left on linden blvd making two stops, and if no political backlash, i would build a new yard next to the LIRR ROW west of st.albans station near murdock ave where the lirr work equipment is at.

 

But who does that help? Most people will still have to take a bus north; you're just changing the transfer location from Archer Av to Linden Blvd. Sure, it'll be faster, but most people will have to transfer anyways. It's not even like there are major destinations on Linden that could serve as a reasonable terminal anchor, whereas the Atlantic Branch has three; Rochdale Village,Green Acres, andValley Stream.

Edited May 9, 2016 by bobtehpanda

[JFK Depot]

I posted this in an old thread but should have put here instead:

 

The tail tracks in back of Jamaica center ends under a parking lot next to 158th st between the projects and a church, but

Having the go via atlantic branch (original plan) would be unrealistic at this point.

 

Me i would have the go under 157th st making stops at south rd, 110th ave and would make a left on linden blvd making a stop at guy brewer and the final stop would be merrick blvd and linden blvd, it would make sense if it ran under 157th st since the tunnel currently ends right next to 157th st

 

I think the needs an exstension badly especially if they want to utilize cbtc, Jamaica center can only handle 12 tph, even if they cancan't extend it that far, atleast make a terminal station at south rd or 109th ave and 157th st underground or outside next to the LIRR ROW

Agreed the E badly needs to be extended... However the original plan would work just fine... The LIRR ROW is perfect... It can run on that ROW up until the current LIRR Laurelton...

Renaming Locust Manor into Farmers Blvd/Rochdale Village

And Laurelton renamed to 225th St

 

New stops at Springfield Blvd

And right before it comes off the ROW before Linden Blvd... Have a stop on Guy Brewer Blvd

It goes underground after that.. Stopping on 109th Ave... And then on to Parsons Archer resuming normal route

[bobtehpanda]

 

This is my proposal. Black is a triple-tracked West Hempstead Branch for the LIRR; Blue is an extension as far south as Laurelton, dashed-blue a potential extension as far south as Valley Stream.

[GojiMet86]

Had that idea on my fantasy map, lol. And it can work too, because the West Hempstead branch row has enough space to accommodate even two more tracks.

[Around the Horn]

 

This is my proposal. Black is a triple-tracked West Hempstead Branch for the LIRR; Blue is an extension as far south as Laurelton, dashed-blue a potential extension as far south as Valley Stream.

If you were to follow the MTA's precedent of adding a neighborhood name to the last stop (e.g. Bay Ridge-95 Street), what neighborhood would you add for Springfield Blvd?

[bobtehpanda]

If you were to follow the MTA's precedent of adding a neighborhood name to the last stop (e.g. Bay Ridge-95 Street), what neighborhood would you add for Springfield Blvd?

 

Laurelton is probably the most logical choice.

[JFK Depot]

If you were to follow the MTA's precedent of adding a neighborhood name to the last stop (e.g. Bay Ridge-95 Street), what neighborhood would you add for Springfield Blvd?

Springfield Gardens/Springfield Blvd

[Amtrak41]

Little nitpick: the black-colored "West Hempstead Branch" is technically the "Montauk Branch". The West Hempstead Branch ends back at Valley interlocking, where the Atlantic Branch continues east as the Long Beach Branch. Don't be confused by LIRR's silly timetable formatting. With the E train at Laurelton, I do not think there will be any need for a re-established Springfield Gardens station. The station had nil usage when abandoned back in 1979. 

 

On the Atlantic Branch, your Guy Brewer station approximates the old LIRR Cedar Manor station, though it was closer to Linden Blvd, abandoned with grade crossing elimination in 1959. Locust Manor station was moved further east in 1959 when Higbie Av station was also eliminated. Locust Manor is of course a 20 minute Q3 bus ride on the Q3 to JFK Terminal 5.