Mayor Bloomberg's Red Hook Streetcar Project August 2009

Larger versions BHRA maps and studies (like these shown) can be viewed on the BHRA maps page Mayor Bloomberg recently released his transportation plan.  This plan is part of his re-election campaign for his third term in office. This consists of several ideas for transit improvements.  One of the highlights of this plan is having City DOT perform a study on a pilot streetcar program for Red Hook. Recent Media Coverage The Plan & Related Transportation Studies Federal Funding to Build The Project Recent Media Coverage (new articles at bottom) Trolleys Could Make A Comeback In Red Hook. (Article+Video) (NY1, Bobby Cuza, 08-05-2009 11:20 AM) Could Streetcars Be Returning to Brooklyn?  (Brooklyn Eagle, 08-04-2009) Mayor Supports Trolley Comeback!  (Gothamist, 08-05-2009) Bring Back Trolleys: Candidate Bloomberg (Williamsburg Courier) Red Hook Trolley Idea Picks Up Support: Velázquez Requests $10 Million  (Brooklyn Eagle, 08-25-2009) The Plan (in PDF format) Mike Bloomberg's Transportation Plan (Streetcar plan is on page 3. section 5) Details Regarding The Plan & Related Transportation Studies We recently learned that back in 2003, a million dollars went into the Federal budget for a downtown Brooklyn Light Rail/Streetcar Loop study. Apparently, this money is still available. The new Brooklyn Streetcar loop line, AKA "Downtown Brooklyn Intermodal Transit District Transportation Improvement Project", is cited in the Federal Transportation Administration budget under "FY 2003 Table 9 FTA Section 5309 Bus Funding", and also appears in Congressional Records archived in the Library of Congress and also in the current final (March 19, 2009) NYMTC Unified Planning Work Program 2009-2010. Downtown Brooklyn Intermodal Transit District Improvement Plan. A Streetcar study for Downtown Brooklyn, this one for over $600,000.  See page 346 A Congressional Funding Authorization for $1,000,000 (from 2003) The "Downtown Brooklyn Intermodal Transit District Transportation Improvement Project"as also listed for funding by the Federal Transportation Administration for a sum of $491,839. Brooklyn Community Board 6 (CB6) "Proposed CB6 FY 2006 Budget Requests" (see #08: Regional study of Trolley/Light Rail Transit options) Details Regarding Federal Funding to Build The Project: We also recently learned that congress Member Nydia Valazquez (D- Brooklyn, 12th CD) has made a federal budget request of $10 million in FY 2010, to design and build a streetcar/light rail line from Red Hook to downtown Brooklyn. The extracts of the press release follow, and the original document can be viewed here:  "Surface Transportation Project Requests On behalf of New York’s 12th Congressional District, Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez has submitted requests for funding in the Fiscal Year 2010 surface transportation authorization bill. This important legislation will support projects that improve and maintain the transportation infrastructure in New York and across the United States . . .  Design and Construction of a Light Rail System along Brooklyn Waterfront from Red Hook to Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY.  Request Amount: $10,000,000".

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