It's been awhile since the proposed BQX Streetcar project had any forward momentum in New York City.
Mayor Bill de Blasio recently announced a budget proposal that included funding for 350 passenger vessels in the NYC Ferry fleet, but conspicuously lacked any funding for another of his signature legacy initiatives: the Brooklyn Queens Connector, also known as the BQX.
"A 16-mile streetcar service proposed for the Brooklyn-Queens waterfront is unfunded in the Economic Development Corp.'s proposed budget, suggesting that preliminary planning might not begin for at least a year—should the city ever move forward with the project," reports Joe Anuta.
According to Anuta, the city is nearing the conclusion of a feasibility study. That study has already revealed details that could add $2.5 billion to the estimated cost of the project.
Planetizen last checked in with the de Blasio Administration's commitment to the BQX project in April, with a story about the project's DOA or MIA funding status. It doesn't seem like there's been any positive development since then either.
Read the full story: Mayor's BQX streetcar left out of city budget
Brooklyn-Queens Streetcar Will Live or Die in the Next Administration
Construction on the Brooklyn-Queens Streetcar, a potential legacy project for New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, was supposed to begin in 2019. The fate of the heavily debated project will rest with the next mayor.
Brooklyn-Queens Connector Streetcar Plans Released
Plans for the Brooklyn-Queens Connector, otherwise known as the BQX, are still on the table, despite reports of the project's demise.
More Details of Brooklyn-to-Queens Streetcar Proposal Emerge
One interesting detail to note: the BQX streetcar proposal, as its currently known, originated not from the de Blasio Administration but from a Brooklyn-based real estate company.
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