Jamaica El Slated For Facelift

NYC Council Member Elizabeth Crowley
NYC Council Member Elizabeth Crowley pointing out a sample of how the Jamaica El is falling apart. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Crowley’s official website.

If you have ever taken a ride on the J while running along the Jamaica el, you will notice how horrible of a shape it is in. One local official, New York City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley has been pleading with the MTA for a long time to do something about the el. This past Wednesday, she received welcome news from the MTA as they told her part of the span will be repaired & repainted as part of a $20-30M rehabilitation project. Lisa L. Colangelo of the New York Daily News has more:

The long-neglected J train el, which casts a gloomy shadow over Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven and Richmond Hill, is slated to get a facelift next year.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials told City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley on Wednesday that part of the span will be repaired and painted forest green, Crowley said.

The underside of the tracks is currently marred by chipped paint as well as dirt and grease that have accumulated over decades. Residents and merchants alike have griped that the elevated tracks are an eyesore that hurts the lively shopping strip.

The 30-month project, tentatively scheduled to start next year, would rehabilitate steel girders and paint almost 3 miles of the line between the Cypress Hills station and 130th St.

The work is expected to cost between $20 million and $30 million.

Click here for the complete report.

As someone who has rode through this section many times over the years, I am glad to see it is finally schedule for a rehabilitation. This el has been begging for repairs for years & I applaud the continued efforts of Elizabeth Crowley & other leaders in pounding on the MTA’s doors until something was arranged. If only more officials took this approach & seriously fought for their riding constituents. I am curious as to the full list of the repairs that will be done for this project as the price tag seems a bit high at first glance.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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