Rail advocates stage rally

PHOTO BY MARCIN ZURAWICZ

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Supporters of restoring rail service along the old Rockaway Beach LIRR line held a “drive-by rally” Sunday along Woodhaven Boulevard, which parallels the right of way.

Stopping at Queens Boulevard, above, Metropolitan Avenue, Jamaica Avenue and Liberty Avenue, the advocates, including Rockaway resident Phil McManus, who created a group called the Queens Public Transit Committee, called not only for the reactivation of the former rail line, which connected Rego Park to the Rockaways, but also for more bus service in the borough, especially in southern Queens and the Rockaways.

The Rockaway Beach line stopped running in 1962, and the abandoned right of way, which abuts homes in Woodhaven, Rego Park and Forest Hills, is also being studied for a potential park similar to Manhattan’s High Line called the QueensWay.

Another study, looking at the feasibility of both rail and park, is being undertaken by Queens College.