As city and state leaders continue budget negotiations surrounding transportation and infrastructure priorities, students, transit advocates, and community members gathered at Queens College for a town hall hosted by NYPIRG. The event focused on transit connectivity in Queens and the potential future of the Rockaway Beach Branch corridor.

Representatives from QueensLink were invited to present findings from their recently released report and discuss updates surrounding the proposed QueensLink project, which would restore rail service along the former Rockaway Beach Branch, while also creating new public green space. The project would bring expanded transit connections for Queens communities.

The event comes as Queens residents continue to raise concerns about lengthy and crowded commutes, unreliable service, and insufficient transit access in many parts of Queens. Attendees discussed the importance of ensuring transportation investments prioritize mobility and connectivity for working-class communities, students, and daily riders.

“As students, we know firsthand how difficult it can be to navigate long and unreliable commutes in Queens,” said Joshua Boyce, NYPIRG Board member and student at Queens College. “Better transit connectivity would make a real difference for students trying to get to class, work, internships, and opportunities across the city. It’s important that students and local residents have a voice in conversations about the future of transportation infrastructure in our communities.”

Students at Queens College, especially those who live in Southern Queens, face some of the longest commutes in the city to get to their classes” said Matthew Paolucci, an organizer with QueensLink and a Queens College Alum. “Engaging with the next generation of riders reminds us why the QueenLink proposal matters: young New Yorkers deserve a transit system that works for them, and building the borough’s first north-south subway along with 33 acres of new park space is how we get there. We are thankful to NYPIRG for their steadfast advocacy on the future of the Rockaway Beach Branch and for inviting us to provide updates on the status of the proposal”

 

 

As city and state leaders continue budget negotiations surrounding transportation and infrastructure priorities, students, transit advocates, and community members gathered at Queens College for a town hall hosted by NYPIRG.