Q&A
Council member inquires about transportation challenges in Rockaway Peninsula
2:32:32
·
3 min
Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers engages in a discussion with Jack Epter about the transportation challenges in the Rockaway Peninsula, particularly focusing on the upcoming 16-week subway shutdown and the current limited options for residents in Edgemere.
- They discuss the need for expanded ferry service during the subway shutdown
- Epter highlights the lack of feasible docking locations east of 86th Street
- They explore potential solutions, including extending bus routes to better serve the Edgemere community
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:32:32
Thank you.
2:32:32
And I just had a follow-up question for you, Mister Eptar.
2:32:37
So in the part of the peninsula that you reside is quickly growing, right, with housing developments, right, in the eastern part of the peninsula.
2:32:50
What is the transportation?
2:32:52
Like, I know you alluded to the a train that's gonna be shut down for 18 weeks for the entire almost the entire peninsula.
2:32:59
So how do you get around to get off of the peninsula?
Jack Epter
2:33:03
Well, unfortunately, we're gonna find out in January, which most people don't even realize.
2:33:09
It's gonna be 16 solid weeks.
2:33:12
We need expanded ferry service.
2:33:15
It's gonna involve buses taking people either to it hasn't been decided definitively at this point, either taking people from the ends of the peninsula to either Howard Beach or Rockaway Boulevard.
2:33:32
We're pushing for Rockaway Boulevard, but the parallel MTA is leaning more towards bus service to Howard Beach.
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:33:41
And outside of the 18 week period that we won't have the access to the aid train, just even right now, what modes of transportation is available for residents and Edgemir, for example.
2:33:58
I think it
Jack Epter
2:34:00
Thank you for asking the question.
2:34:02
Because the subsidy that is given to the people on the average I learned today are earning over a $100,000 to who primarily reside on the western end of the peninsula.
2:34:23
Is nothing short of outrageous, so we definitely need additional services on edge mirror.
2:34:31
As an aside, Well, I have the map of the bay.
2:34:38
It's only one place that a that any kind of boat could dock that would that would assist the edge community, and that's 59th Street.
2:34:50
But unfortunately, there's a marina there.
2:34:54
But anywhere else, we come combination of dredging and and shallow water, no no bulkhead, nowhere else east of 86th Street is in any way feasible.
2:35:15
So I had proposed and extended extending the 52 bus by 5 blocks.
2:35:26
It's a very small step, but in terms of feasibility, it exists.
2:35:31
So I think that that's a very small step to assist specifically people in Edgemere.
2:35:40
Instead of having to walk 10 Blocks or 20 Blocks, knocked 5 Blocks off of it.
2:35:48
Wouldn't cost transit authority anything.
2:35:50
So that's my answer.
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:35:52
No.
2:35:52
Thank you for that.
2:35:53
I know you and I have had couple of spirited conversations around it, and it's my hope that the study will let us know what all is possible in terms of building and what that potential could be thinking innovatively.
2:36:06
But thank you for coming all the way from Rockaway to to be able to testify today.
2:36:11
I appreciate it.
2:36:12
I I
Jack Epter
2:36:12
I would hope that, you know, that the panel gets a copy of a
Alex Stein
2:36:17
Oh, yeah.
2:36:17
It's only back.
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:36:18
We will get it.
2:36:19
Yeah.
Jack Epter
2:36:19
If you wanna make a copy of this one, you're more than, you know, welcome to.
Selvena Brooks-Powers
2:36:23
Okay.
2:36:23
We'll check it out.
2:36:24
Thank you.
Jack Epter
2:36:24
Thank you.