City moves forward with BQX project launching wide-ranging community engagement process (New York: live, shops)

[Aeran]

https://qns.com/story/2020/01/09/cit...ement-process/

When it was first announced in 2016, the BQX project was seen as an expensive boondoggle of waterfront developers along the East River. But according to the NYCEDC, the streetcar service would provide a crucial north-south transit route that would connect 400,000 New Yorkers who live along the route, and 300,000 people who work along the fastest-growing business corridors in city while linking to 13 subway lines, more than 30 bus routes, nine NYC Ferry landings and more than a hundred Citi Bike stations.

The de Blasio administration is moving forward with its Brooklyn Queens Connector project, the controversial proposal for a state-of-the-art, zero-emission streetcar system along an 11-mile corridor from Astoria to Gowanus, Brooklyn. The city launched an official BQX website – which you can visit here – that provides information on the proposal, important dates and opportunities to provide feedback throughout the public engagement process.

The plan will include briefings with elected officials, community board presentations in both Queens and Brooklyn, email blasts, webinars, on-the-ground outreach, public workshops and environmental review scoping hearings.

“With the BQX heading towards its public review process, 2020 promises to be a big year for the project,” a Friends of the BQX spokesperson said. “Engaging with those who live and work along the route is critical to the BQX’s success, and we applaud the city for putting together a robust outreach plan for the coming months.”