Things Do not look Bright for the BQX

Hi Folks:

  I came across an interesting article in "Railway Age" titled:  The Federal Transit Man:  Brooklyn's Streetcar Named Desire.   This article was authored by Larry Penner and appeared in the May 18th 2020 edition of "Railway Age".  Sorry but I cannot add a link.

Basically,  in our post virus environment,  which hopefully will come soon, the State and Federal Governments will not be in a position to fund many transit projects that are not essential.   The Brooklyn Queens Connector is such a project.  The planning process pre virus is already behind schedule and with a new Mayor coming in,  a new mayor could not be on board.  {Remember after years of planning,  a new mayor in NYC with a strike of the pen,  killed off the 42nd Street light rail project?}.  There were so many "ifs" pre-March 2020 about the project about planning, funding, efficiency and so on.   We really do not know what rapid transit usage will be after things get back to normal in New York City.  Will millions of New Yorkers  flee New York State and there will be no need for BQX or an extention to the 2nd Avenue subway?    Are we entering a post rapid transit era where car and taxi transportation is coming back?

Some of thoughts above was not found in the article. It seems to me the water shed moment was when the 42nd Street streetcar project was destroyed.  The planning process just takes too long with two many ifs.  If a project gets through the planning process and there are funds available,  it takes one stroke of a pen to destroy it.   What happens when the economy and people are in trouble?  In my opinion, the BQX was too complicated and the more complicated a system, the more something could go wrong.   Why build a BQX when there will be no people around anymore?  I believe in the KISS principal,  keep it simple, stupid.   Identify a street that leads to a subway terminal with heavy bus traffic and little community opposition.   Build something very simple, using good second hand equipment in good condition from overseas, and you will see the public use light rail transit in New York City.   Yes LaGuardia, your curse on streetcars is still in effect.