Hochul puts her stamp on state infrastructure with a practical, outer-borough rail project (NY)

[brooklynite]

Politico

Since Gov. Kathy Hochul took office, much of her transportation agenda has focused on how she will handle the multi-billion-dollar projects crafted by her predecessor — from the proposed LaGuardia AirTrain to the rehabilitation of Penn Station.

Now as she shapes her first state agenda, Hochul is turning her attention to her own, pragmatic infrastructure project, she told POLITICO in her first interview on the subject.

Called the Interborough Express, Hochul plans to make use of old freight lines to build a new rapid bus or rail connection between Brooklyn and Queens. Eventually, she wants to extend the rail line further — building a brand new tunnel under New York Harbor to Jersey City, New Jersey to allow for more freight deliveries than are currently possible on the dilapidated tracks.

It’s a unique plan to reuse existing infrastructure that reflects the practical and understated approach Hochul has become known for in Albany.

I was the project manager for the feasibility study; my last project before retirement.

[IbogaProject]

1. This project is decent but the Penn Station project isn't

This project is decent but the Penn Station project isn't. She took over Mr Cuomo's project to seize over a dozen buildings, including the entire block between 31st St, 30th St, from 8th to 7th avenues.

The problem is this scheme won't help the existing problems with transit flow.

Here is an alternative plan based on successful redesigns in both Paris and London. https://www.rethinknyc.org/rethinkpenn/ It also includes a comprehensive plan to create hubs in NJ, Queens and The Bronx.

[brooklynite]

2. Commuter rail was never my specialty

[Klaralven]

4. Looks like it is at the 'begin environmental review" step?

Governor Hochul Announces Plans to Move Forward with Major New Expansion of Transit Service in Brooklyn and Queens: The Interborough Express

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced plans to move forward with the Interborough Express as part of her 2022 State of the State. Governor Hochul is directing the MTA to immediately begin the environmental review process for this transformative project, the first step in building this major infrastructure investment that would connect communities in Brooklyn and Queens to as many as 17 subway lines and the Long Island Rail Road.

https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-plans-move-forward-major-new-expansion-transit-service-brooklyn-and

Looks like the potentially connecting Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel has been hung up in environmental reviews since before 2014. Will this one take as long?

Would the new tracks handle standard double stack well cars or would freight arriving from west through NJ have to be unloaded and reloaded onto different cars to go to Long Island which has limited bridge clearances and third rails?

Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-Harbor_Rail_Tunnel