127-451: The Evergreen Branch was a branch of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) that ran in Brooklyn and part of Queens in New York City . The line, at its fullest extent, ran between Greenpoint, Brooklyn and Ridgewood, Queens . The line consisted of two leased portions. The first portion, between Greenpoint and Jefferson Street, was leased from the Glendale and East River Railroad. The second portion, from Jefferson Street to Ridgewood,
254-602: A contactless fare payment system. Fare payment would be made using Apple Pay , Google Pay , debit/credit cards with near-field communication enabled, or radio-frequency identification cards. As part of the implementation of OMNY, the MTA also plans to use the system in the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad. In December 2022, the MTA announced the launch of an additional fare for use on journeys that utilize both of its railroad systems via Grand Central. The fare
381-437: A proof of concept report in 2015. At the time of the report, express bus riders from Southeast Queens had some of the longest commutes in the city, with their commutes being 96 minutes long, yet they paid a premium fare of $ 6.50. Riders who take the dollar van to the subway paid $ 4.75 to get to Manhattan in 65 minutes; riders who only took the bus and subway paid $ 2.75 to get to Manhattan in 86 minutes; and riders who took
508-555: A 28-acre (110,000 m ) waterfront park. Included in its requirements are provisions for a promenade along the East River , built piecemeal by the developers of existing waterfront lots. An inclusionary housing plan was included in the resolution and provides height bonuses along the waterfront and in Northside Williamsburg for developers providing apartments at rates considered affordable for low-income households (below 80% of
635-425: A LIRR spur to Grand Central Terminal that will run in part via the lower level of the existing 63rd Street Tunnel . The East Side Access project added a new eight-track terminal called Grand Central Madison underneath the existing Grand Central Terminal. The project was first proposed in the 1968 Program for Action , but due to various funding shortfalls, construction did not start until 2007. As of April 2018 ,
762-624: A Norwegian immigrant who in 1645 built a 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 -story farmhouse there with the help of two Dutch carpenters. It was built in the contemporary Dutch style just west of what is now the intersection of Calyer Street and Franklin Street. There he planted orchards and raised crops, sheep and cattle. He was called Dirck de Noorman by the Dutch colonists of the region, Noorman being the Dutch word for "Norseman" or "Northman". The creek that ran by his farmhouse became known as Norman Kill (Creek); it ran into
889-527: A family ticket for children who are accompanied by an 18-year-old for $ 0.75 if bought from the station agent or TVM, $ 1.00 on the train. Senior citizen/disabled passengers traveling during the morning peak hours are required to pay the AM peak senior citizen/disabled rate. This rate is not charged during PM peak hours. Commuters can also buy a peak or off-peak ten trip ride, a weekly unlimited or an unlimited monthly pass. Monthly passes are good on any train regardless of
1016-425: A farm in 1663; his farmhouse at what is now 723 Manhattan Avenue stood until 1919 and last served as a Young Women's Hebrew Association. The Hay property and other holdings came into the possession of Pieter Praa, a captain in the local militia, who established a farm near present-day Freeman Street and McGuinness Boulevard , and went on to own most of Greenpoint. Volckertsen died in about 1678 and his grandsons sold
1143-457: A large salt marsh and was later filled in. Volckertsen received title to the land after prevailing in court one year earlier over a Jan De Pree, who had a rival claim. He initially commuted to his farm by boat and may not have moved into the house full time until after 1655, when the small nearby settlement of Boswyck was established, on the charter of which Volckertsen was listed along with 22 other families. Volckertsen's wife, Christine Vigne,
1270-615: A lawsuit against ExxonMobil , BP and Chevron Corporation in Brooklyn State Supreme Court, alleging they have suffered adverse health consequences. ExxonMobil, which has been slowly removing oil from its former facilities in the area, have denied liability for the oil leaking into Newtown Creek and suggested fault lies instead with Chevron. The Environmental Protection Agency 's (EPA) "Newtown Creek/Greenpoint Oil Spill Study Brooklyn, New York" states that vapor concentrations in "some commercial establishments" were found "above
1397-731: A non-fatal assault rate of 34 per 100,000 people, Greenpoint and Williamsburg's rate of violent crimes per capita is less than that of the city as a whole. The incarceration rate of 305 per 100,000 people is lower than that of the city as a whole. The 94th Precinct has a lower crime rate than in the 1990s, with crimes across all categories having decreased by 72.9% between 1990 and 2018. The precinct reported one murder, six rapes, 63 robberies, 115 felony assaults, 141 burglaries, 535 grand larcenies, and 62 grand larcenies auto in 2018. The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) operates two fire stations in Greenpoint. Engine Company 238/Ladder Company 106
SECTION 10
#17328455801531524-633: A portion of the Newtown Creek with a small bridge. After that, the line crossed over the South Side Railroad's Bushwick Branch and Varick Avenue, before continuing across Johnson Avenue. For a majority of the rest of the line, it ran east between Wyckoff Avenue and Irving Avenue. Up to Himrod Streets, diamond railroad crossing signs indicating the line's presence. The line's grade crossings between Himrod Street and Palmetto Avenue had an unusual arrangement: instead of having crossing gates being across
1651-482: A result, service on 2.33 miles (3.75 km) of the line, from Greenpoint to South Side Crossing ended on September 28, 1885, with the end of the 1885 season. In 1886, a Bushwick shuttle was instituted–running through the 1894 season. In 1891 and 1892 the Humboldt Street and Grand Street depots were sold, as well as some of the old rails. Between 1896 and 1897 the right of way between Greenpoint and South Side Crossing
1778-466: A rezoning of 175 blocks in Greenpoint and Williamsburg . According to the project's Environmental Impact Statement , the rezoning was expected to bring approximately 16,700 new residents to the neighborhood by 2013 in 7,300 new units of housing. 250,000 square feet (23,000 m ) of new retail space are projected, along with a corresponding loss of just over 1,000,000 square feet (93,000 m ) of existing industrial capacity. The rezoning also includes
1905-400: A significant number of South Asian and North African residents. Based on data from the 2010 United States census , the population of Greenpoint was 34,719, a decrease of 3,102 (8.2%) from the 37,821 counted in 2000 . Covering an area of 809.13 acres (327.44 ha), the neighborhood had a population density of 42.9 inhabitants per acre (27,500/sq mi; 10,600/km ). The racial makeup of
2032-595: A triangular lot at Flushing Avenue and Stewart Avenue, are still owned by the MTA. By 1972, the line was cut back to Grove Street. By the late 1970s, the Cooper Junction end of the line only had one remaining customer: Tulnoy Lumber, located at Putnam Avenue. After this location was closed, Conrail filed to abandon the line on September 15, 1983. However, the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) postponed authorization for abandonment to review offers from
2159-696: Is 11222. It is patrolled by the 94th Precinct of the New York City Police Department . At the time of European settlement in New York , Greenpoint was inhabited by the Keskachauge (Keshaechqueren) Indians, a sub-tribe of the Lenape . Contemporary accounts describe the area as remarkably verdant and beautiful, with Jack pine and oak forest, meadows, fresh water creeks and briny marshes. Water fowl and fish were abundant. European settlers originally used
2286-688: Is about the same as the median life expectancy of 81.2 for all New York City neighborhoods. Most inhabitants are middle-aged adults and youth: 23% are between the ages of 0 and 17, 41% between 25 and 44, and 17% between 45 and 64. The ratio of college-aged and elderly residents was lower, at 10% and 9% respectively. As of 2016, the median household income in Community Board 1 was $ 76,608. In 2018, an estimated 17% of Greenpoint and Williamsburg residents lived in poverty, compared to 21% in all of Brooklyn and 20% in all of New York City. Less than one in fifteen residents (6%) were unemployed, compared to 9% in
2413-697: Is also not valid for travel to the Elmont station or the special event only Belmont Park station, which are just barely east of the Queens-Nassau border and thus are within Zone 4. In late 2017, the MTA was slated to launch a pilot that will allow LIRR, bus and subway service to use one ticket. The proposal for the ticket, called the "Freedom Ticket," was initially put forth by the New York City Transit Riders Council (NYCTRC) in 2007. The NYCTRC wrote
2540-538: Is common to find three generations of family members living in the community. The neighborhood is sometimes referred to as "Little Poland" due to its large population of Polish immigrants and Polish-Americans , reportedly the second largest concentration in the United States after Chicago . Although Polish immigrants and people of Polish descent are present in force, there is a significant Latino population living mostly north of Greenpoint Avenue, and Greenpoint has
2667-429: Is located at 205 Greenpoint Avenue and serves most of the neighborhood. The southern part of Greenpoint is served by Engine Company 229/Ladder Company 146, located at 75 Richardson Street. As of 2018 , preterm births and births to teenage mothers are less common in Greenpoint and Williamsburg than in other places citywide. In Greenpoint and Williamsburg, there were 54 preterm births per 1,000 live births (the lowest in
SECTION 20
#17328455801532794-477: Is not used as drinking water, as all of New York City's drinking water presently comes from upstate reservoirs. However, local activists have been campaigning ever since to clean up the spill. On October 20, 2005, residents near the oil recovery operation, which is located in the predominantly commercial/industrial eastern section of Greenpoint near the East Williamsburg Industrial Park, filed
2921-516: Is often referred to as Little Poland . Originally farmland—many of the farm owners' family names, such as Meserole (Messerole) and Calyer, are current street names—the residential core of Greenpoint was built on parcels divided during the Industrial Revolution and late 19th century, with rope factories and lumber yards lining the East River to the west, while the northeastern section along
3048-435: Is priced as $ 8 more than an adult off-peak ticket from an origin station on one system to Grand Central. It is valid on both peak and off-peak trains. The LIRR is relatively isolated from the rest of the national rail system despite operating out of Penn Station, the nation's busiest rail terminal. It connects with other railroads in just two locations: All LIRR trains have an engineer (driver in non-US English) who operates
3175-796: Is served by the Greenpoint Avenue and Nassau Avenue stations on the IND Crosstown Line ( G train) of the New York City Subway . It is served by the B24 , B32 , B43 , B48 and B62 New York City Bus routes. In June 2011, NY Waterway started service to points along the East River. On May 1, 2017, that route became part of the NYC Ferry 's East River route, which runs between Pier 11/Wall Street in Manhattan's Financial District and
3302-555: Is the busiest commuter railroad in North America. It is also one of the world's few commuter systems that runs 24/7 year-round. It is publicly owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , which refers to it as MTA Long Island Rail Road . In 2023, the system had a ridership of 75,186,900, or about 276,800 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024. The LIRR logo combines the circular MTA logo with
3429-703: Is the case with the Montauk Branch, which is known as the Babylon Branch service in the electrified portion of the line between Jamaica and Babylon, while the diesel service beyond Babylon to Montauk is referred to as Montauk Branch service. All branches except the Port Washington Branch pass through Jamaica ; the trackage west of Jamaica (except the Port Washington Branch ) is known as the City Terminal Zone . The City Terminal Zone includes portions of
3556-654: Is valid for travel within zones 1 and 3 on the Long Island Railroad. CityTickets can only be bought before boarding, except at Willets Point where they can be purchased on board, and they must be used on the day of purchase. CityTicket was originally not valid for travel to Far Rockaway because the station is in Zone 4 (despite being within the city limits) and the Far Rockaway Branch passes through Nassau County . In May 2023, MTA officials announced that they would expand CityTicket to Far Rockaway. CityTicket
3683-634: The American Revolution , which caused considerable hardship for the families; Abraham Meserole's son was imprisoned on suspicion of revolutionary sympathies. Throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries, the farms were quite isolated from the rest of Brooklyn, connected only to one another by farm lanes and to the rest of Bushwick Township by a single road, Wood Point Road (now Bushwick Avenue). The families used long boats to travel to Manhattan to sell their farm produce. Little historical information exists about this period of Greenpoint's history other than
3810-613: The Brooklyn and Rockaway Beach Railroad (part of the present-day BMT Canarsie Line), which gave its right to construct an extension to Hunter's Point to the NY&;MB, allowed for the extension to be completed. The route for the extension, which came to be known as the Evergreen Branch , was approved on February 20, 1877. The line was graded in 1877 and the tracks were mostly laid in early 1878. The line from East New York to Greenpoint opened at
3937-538: The Jamaica station is a major hub station and transfer point in Jamaica, Queens . It has ten tracks and six platforms, plus yard and bypass tracks. Passengers can transfer between trains on all LIRR lines except the Port Washington Branch . The sixth platform opened in February 2020, and exclusively serves Atlantic Branch shuttle trains to Brooklyn. Transfer is also made to separate facilities for three subway services at
Evergreen Branch - Misplaced Pages Continue
4064-626: The Laurelton , Locust Manor , Rosedale , and St. Albans stations in Queens. Riders, under the pilot, would be able to purchase one-way, weekly, or monthly passes that will be valid on the LIRR, on buses, and the subway. The fare will be higher than the price of a ride on the MetroCard , but it will be lower than the combined price of an LIRR ticket and a MetroCard, and it will allow unlimited free transfers between
4191-580: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in 1968 when it incorporated several other New York City-area transit agencies. With MTA subsidies the LIRR modernized further, continuing to be the busiest commuter railroad in the United States. The LIRR is one of the few railroads that has survived as an intact company from its original charter to the present. The LIRR operates out of four western terminals in New York City. These terminals are: In addition,
4318-631: The New York & Manhattan Beach Railway Company (NY&MB) to connect his resorts in Manhattan Beach with New York City via ferry service in Greenpoint. On April 3, 1878, he leased the G&;ER to serve as the northern portion of his line, and to bridge the gap between that line and his line in East New York , the G&ER's southern terminus was extended from Jefferson Street to East New York. The charter of
4445-525: The Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) bought a controlling interest as part of its plan for direct access to Manhattan which began on September 8, 1910. The wealthy PRR subsidized the LIRR during the first half of the new century, allowing expansion and modernization. Electric operation began in 1905. After World War II , the railroad industry's downturn and dwindling profits caused the PRR to stop subsidizing
4572-634: The Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue–JFK Airport station ( E , J , and Z trains), a number of bus routes, and the AirTrain automated people mover to JFK Airport . The railroad's headquarters are next to the station. The Long Island Rail Road system has eleven passenger branches, three of which are main trunk lines: There are eight minor branches. For scheduling and advertising purposes some of these branches are divided into sections; this
4699-595: The U.S. state of New York . It is bordered on the southwest by Williamsburg at Bushwick Inlet Park and McCarren Park ; on the southeast by the Brooklyn–Queens Expressway and East Williamsburg ; on the north by Newtown Creek and the neighborhood of Long Island City in Queens ; and on the west by the East River . The neighborhood has a large Polish immigrant and Polish-American community, containing many Polish restaurants, markets, and businesses, and it
4826-744: The Union Porcelain Works , had their factory located at 300 Eckford Street in Greenpoint. According to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designation report the company was "one of the most famous in the country, both for its innovative approach to the manufacture of porcelain and for the quality of its products which was highly regarded on both sides of the Atlantic" and was "a major force in shaping an American stylistic tradition for ceramics and porcelain". The petroleum industry continued to expand, despite
4953-511: The Upper Explosive Limit "; i.e. there was so much vapor that no explosion could ignite. The same EPA study said, "A review of the data collected by the NYSDEC shows that, in general, chemicals were detected at all locations in each home, but not in a pattern that would typically represent a vapor intrusion phenomenon." On May 11, 2005, New York City's Department of City Planning approved
5080-527: The "Greenpoint" name to refer to a small bluff of land jutting into the East River at what is now the westernmost end of Freeman Street, but eventually it came to describe the whole peninsula. In 1638, the Dutch West India Company negotiated the right to settle Brooklyn from the Lenape. The first recorded European settler of what is now Greenpoint was Dirck Volckertsen (Batavianized from Holgerssøn ),
5207-708: The 14th Street–Eastern Line as a subway line under Wyckoff Avenue; this idea had been considered as far back as 1913. Upon the dissolution of the Manhattan Beach Branch in 1924, the line became a freight spur between the Bushwick and Bay Ridge Branches in Brooklyn. Freight traffic started to significantly decline in 1938, and on February 9, 1939, eight blocks of track, totaling 1,834 feet (559 m), were removed between Starr and Himrod Streets. Further dismantling took place between 1957 and 1962 and throughout much of
Evergreen Branch - Misplaced Pages Continue
5334-582: The 14th Street–Eastern Line. The line was to be constructed as a subway line to White Street, and then as an elevated line to East New York to connect with the Canarsie Line , using the Evergeen Branch's right-of-way. Since the right-of-way would have been used for subway service, freight service on the branch would have had to be discontinued. In 1924, due to community opposition, the BMT ultimately agreed to build
5461-406: The 20th century, the LIRR did not begin using signals with color lights on its above ground sections until 2006. Some portions of the railway lack automatic signals and cab signals completely, instead train and track car movements are governed only by timetable and verbal/written train orders , although these areas are gradually receiving modern signals. Many other signals and switching systems on
5588-795: The Asian and Black populations were each under 5000 residents. Politically, Greenpoint is in New York's 7th congressional district . It is in the New York State Senate 's 18th and 59th districts, the New York State Assembly 's 50th districts, and the New York City Council 's 33rd district. Greenpoint is patrolled by the 94th Precinct of the NYPD , located at 100 Meserole Avenue. The 94th Precinct ranked 50th safest out of 69 patrol areas for per-capita crime in 2010. As of 2018 , with
5715-725: The Continental Ironworks in Greenpoint. Glass-making was also a large industry in Greenpoint, and by the 1880s the neighborhood housed 18 of the 20 glass makers in the city of Brooklyn, as well as all of the porcelain and pottery manufacturers in the city. Charles Pratt 's Astral Oil Works also opened on the Greenpoint waterfront in the 1860s. Pratt sold his interest to John D. Rockefeller 's recently formed Standard Oil Trust in 1874. By 1875 Greenpoint had some 50 refineries. The Astral Apartments were built as housing for workers at Astral Oil in 1886. An American manufacturer of porcelain wares who operated between 1862 and 1922,
5842-616: The Greenpoint area, though no hospitals are located in the neighborhood. The nearest large hospitals are Woodhull Medical Center in Bedford–Stuyvesant and Mount Sinai Queens in Astoria, Queens . Greenpoint is covered by ZIP Code 11222. The United States Postal Service operates the Greenpoint Station post office at 66 Meserole Avenue. Greenpoint and Williamsburg generally has a higher ratio of college-educated residents than
5969-573: The Hamptons and Montauk on the Cannonball can reserve a seat in the all-reserved Parlor Cars. Prior to November 2021, passengers going to Belmont Park had to buy a special ticket to go from Jamaica to Belmont Park (or vice versa). Weekly and monthly passes were not accepted at Belmont Park. With the opening of Elmont station in November 2021, Belmont Park and Elmont were placed into fare zone 4. In 2003,
6096-435: The LIRR and Metro-North started a pilot program in which passengers traveling within New York City were allowed to buy one-way tickets for $ 2.50. The special reduced-fare CityTicket, proposed by the New York City Transit Riders Council, was formally introduced in 2004. The discounted fares were initially only available for travel on Saturdays and Sundays. In March 2022, it was expanded to include all off-peak trains throughout
6223-650: The LIRR are being modernized and upgraded as part of the Main Line's Third Track Project, most notably at Mineola, where the system is being completely redone and modernized. On portions of the railroad equipped with ASC, engineers consult the speed display unit, which is capable of displaying seven speed indications. As a result of a December 1, 2013, train derailment in the Bronx on the Metro-North Railroad, railroads with similar cab signal systems to Metro-North, such as
6350-641: The LIRR are under the control of the Movement Bureau in Jamaica, which gives orders to the towers that control a specific portion of the railroad. Movements in Amtrak territory are controlled by Penn Station Control Center or PSCC, run jointly by the LIRR and Amtrak. The PSCC controls as far east as Harold Interlocking , in Sunnyside, Queens . The PSCC replaced several towers. The Jamaica Control Center, operational since
6477-613: The LIRR dropped out of the bidding. Soon after, it quickly sold every lot from Cooper Avenue to Putnam Avenue. While the Bay Ridge Branch was sold to the LIRR in 1984, the Evergreen Branch was not part of the transaction. The property that was owned by Tulnoy Lumber was sold to be used as the parking lot for Food Bazaar. Portions of the Evergreen Branch near the former location of the Cooper Avenue Junction are still owned by
SECTION 50
#17328455801536604-615: The LIRR paid $ 10 to get to Manhattan in 35 minutes. Unlike the CityTicket, the Freedom Ticket would be valid for off-peak and multidirectional travel; have free transfers to the subway and bus system; and be capped at $ 215 per month. At the time, monthly CityTickets cost $ 330 per month. The Freedom Ticket will initially be available for sale at the Atlantic Terminal , Nostrand Avenue , and East New York stations in Brooklyn and at
6731-553: The LIRR would procure new M9 railcars from Kawasaki . A 2014 MTA forecast indicated that the LIRR would need 416 M9 railcars; 180 to replace the outdated M3 railcars and an additional 236 railcars for the additional passengers expected once the East Side Access project is complete. The first M9s entered revenue service on September 11, 2019. The LIRR also uses 134 C3 bilevel coaches powered by 24 DE30AC diesel-electric locomotives and 20 DM30AC dual-mode locomotives . They are used mostly on non-electrified branches, including
6858-411: The LIRR, and the LIRR went into receivership in 1949. The State of New York , realizing how important the railroad was to Long Island's future, began to subsidize the railroad in the 1950s and 1960s. In June 1965, the state finalized an agreement to buy the LIRR from the PRR for $ 65 million. The LIRR was placed under the control of a new Metropolitan Commuter Transit Authority . The MCTA was rebranded
6985-414: The LIRR, buses, and subway. The former head of the MTA, Thomas Prendergast, announced at the January 2017 board meeting that the plan would be explored in a field study to determine fares and the impact on existing service. The plan is intended to fill approximately 20,000 unused seats of existing trains to Atlantic Terminal and Penn Station (or about 50% to 60% of peak trains in each direction), while at
7112-554: The LIRR, were ordered to modify the systems to enforce certain speed limit changes, which has resulted in lower average speeds and actual speed limits across the LIRR. The LIRR's electrified lines are powered via a third rail at 750 volts DC . The LIRR's electric fleet consists of 836 M7 and 170 M3 electric multiple unit cars in married pairs, meaning each car needs the other one to operate, with each car containing its own engineer's cab. The trainsets typically range from 6 to 12 cars long. In September 2013, MTA announced that
7239-472: The Long Island City & Manhattan Beach Railroad Company was organized to build a standard-gauge line to connect the Brooklyn & Montauk Railroad with the Manhattan Beach Branch. The new line ran between from Cooper Avenue Junction to the Montauk Division at Fresh Pond , opening on June 2, 1883. Starting with the 1883 season, direct service to Manhattan Beach from Greenpoint was ended in favor of direct service from Long Island City as service to Greenpoint
7366-403: The Long Island Rail Road and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT). Conrail filed to abandon the line as it was "earning insufficient revenues over the tracks." NYSDOT offered $ 2 million for the line, while the LIRR offered $ 3 million for the line. However, Conrail valued the line at $ 5,259,988. In 1984, the ICC approved Conrail's application for abandonment after the NYSDOT and
7493-730: The Long Island Rail Road fare system is based on the distance a passenger travels, as opposed to the New York City Subway and the area's bus systems, which charge a flat rate. The railroad is broken up into eight non-consecutively numbered fare zones. Zone 1, the City Terminal Zone , includes Penn Station, Grand Central, all stations in Brooklyn, all stations in Queens west of Jamaica on the Main Line, and Mets–Willets Point. Zone 3 includes Jamaica as well as all other stations in eastern Queens except Far Rockaway. Zones 4 and 7 include all stations in Nassau County, plus Far Rockaway and Belmont Park in Queens. Zones 9, 10, 12 and 14 include all stations in Suffolk County. Each zone contains many stations, and
7620-475: The Long Island Rail Road operated trains over portions of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit (BRT) elevated and subway lines until 1917. In addition to its daily commuter patronage, the LIRR also offers the following services: Penn Station offers connections with Amtrak intercity trains and NJ Transit commuter trains, as well as the PATH , New York City Subway , and New York City Bus systems. Grand Central offers connections with Metro-North Railroad, as well as
7747-405: The Long Island Rail Road. The line was out of service in January 1985. Since the line was abandoned, additional plots of land along the right-of-way have been built upon or used as parking lots. The remainder of the lots are vacant. A private development company bought several parcels of land along the line from Conrail in 1986. Some stretches of abandoned track persisted for several years: in 2000,
SECTION 60
#17328455801537874-409: The Main Line, Atlantic, and Montauk Branches, as well as the Amtrak -owned East River Tunnels to Penn Station. The railroad has dropped a number of branches due to lack of ridership over the years. Part of the Rockaway Beach Branch became part of the IND Rockaway Line of the New York City Subway , while others were downgraded to freight branches, and the rest abandoned entirely. Additionally,
8001-438: The Main Line. On the western end it provides service on the surviving freight-only tracks of the LIRR: the Bay Ridge and Bushwick branches; the "Lower Montauk" between Jamaica and Long Island City; and to an interchange connection at Fresh Pond Junction in Queens with the CSX , Canadian Pacific , and Providence and Worcester railroads. Some non-electrified lines are used only for freight: The East Side Access project built
8128-415: The Newtown Creek through East Williamsburg became an industrial maritime area. Greenpoint has long held a reputation of being a working class and immigrant neighborhood, and it initially attracted families and workers with its abundance of factory jobs, heavy industry and manufacturing , shipbuilding , and longshoreman or dock work. Since the early 2000s, a building boom in the neighborhood has made
8255-404: The Port Jefferson, Oyster Bay, Montauk, Central, and Greenport Branches. There are also 23 MP15AC locomotives in use as work trains and yard switchers. For most of its history LIRR has served commuters, but it had many named trains, some with all-first class seating, parlor cars, and full bar service. Few of them lasted past World War II, but some names were revived during the 1950s and 1960s as
8382-439: The United States still operating under its original name and charter. There are 126 stations and more than 700 miles (1,100 km) of track on its two main lines running the full length of the island and eight major branches, with the passenger railroad system totaling 319 route miles (513 km). As of 2018 , the LIRR's budget for expenditures was $ 1.6 billion plus $ 450 million for debt service, which it supports through
8509-423: The area's median income); on the waterfront, these bonuses could allow for up to seven-story height increases. The rezoning was a dramatic change in scale to a previously low-slung, industrial neighborhood. The proposed changes were the subject of much debate, including a letter written by activist Jane Jacobs to mayor Michael Bloomberg criticizing the proposed development. The community's plan does not cheat
8636-408: The beginning of the season on May 16, 1878. On this date, stations were also opened at Humboldt Street , Grand Street , and South Side Railroad Crossing , which was eliminated from timetables effective May 25, 1881. In spring 1879 the line was double tracked, and it was completed for the opening of the summer season on May 24. After Corbin purchased the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) in December 1880,
8763-454: The city, compared to 87 per 1,000 citywide), and 16.0 births to teenage mothers per 1,000 live births (compared to 19.3 per 1,000 citywide). Greenpoint and Williamsburg has a relatively low population of residents who are uninsured , or who receive healthcare through Medicaid . In 2018, this population of uninsured residents was estimated to be 7%, which is lower than the citywide rate of 12%. The concentration of fine particulate matter ,
8890-430: The citywide average of 75% of students. Greenpoint contains the following public elementary schools which serve grades PK-5: The following public middle school serves grades 6–8: The following public high schools serve grades 9–12: The Brooklyn Public Library (BPL)'s Greenpoint branch is located at 107 Norman Avenue near Leonard Street. The site originally housed a Carnegie library that opened in 1906, but it
9017-505: The citywide averages of 24%, 11%, and 28% respectively. In addition, 23% of children are obese, compared to the citywide average of 20%. Ninety-one percent of residents eat some fruits and vegetables every day, which is greater than the city's average of 87%. In 2018, 79% of residents described their health as "good", "very good", or "excellent", more than the city's average of 78%. For every supermarket in Greenpoint and Williamsburg, there are 25 bodegas . There are medical clinics in
9144-400: The collection of fares (which cover 43% of total expenses) along with dedicated taxes and other MTA revenue. The Long Island Rail Road Company was chartered in 1834 to provide a daily service between New York City and Boston via a ferry connection between its Greenport, New York , terminal on Long Island's North Fork and Stonington, Connecticut . This service was superseded in 1849 by
9271-564: The community. The buildings that formerly manufactured the ropes for the shipbuilding industry are still there. Long a site of shipbuilding, the neighborhood's dockyards were used to build the USS ; Monitor , the Union Army 's first ironclad fighting ship built during the American Civil War . It was launched on Bushwick Creek. The Monitor , together with seven other ironclads, was built at
9398-476: The corresponding passenger branches. The Long Island Rail Road ( reporting mark LI ), or LIRR , is a railroad in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of New York , stretching from Manhattan to the eastern tip of Suffolk County on Long Island . The railroad currently operates a public commuter rail service, with its freight operations contracted to the New York and Atlantic Railway . With an average weekday ridership of 354,800 passengers in 2016, it
9525-478: The deadliest type of air pollutant , in Greenpoint and Williamsburg is 0.0096 milligrams per cubic metre (9.6 × 10 oz/cu ft), higher than the citywide and boroughwide averages. Seventeen percent of Greenpoint and Williamsburg residents are smokers , which is slightly higher than the city average of 14% of residents being smokers. In Greenpoint and Williamsburg, 23% of residents are obese , 11% are diabetic , and 25% have high blood pressure —compared to
9652-481: The expensive ferry service was abandoned, requiring passengers to walk five blocks for the East 10th Street and East 23rd Street Ferries. In 1884, the LIRR contracted out work to rebuild the line as a standard-gauge line, requiring the complete rebuilding of the roadbed between Greenpoint and Cooper Avenue. The line was completely rebuilt the following year between Greenpoint to Cooper Avenue to allow standard gauge trains to use
9779-467: The future by neglecting to provide provisions for schools, daycare, recreational outdoor sports, and pleasant facilities for those things. The community's plan does not promote new housing at the expense of both existing housing and imaginative and economical new shelter that residents can afford. The community's plan does not violate the existing scale of the community, nor does it insult the visual and economic advantages of neighborhoods that are precisely of
9906-527: The kind that demonstrably attract artists and other live-work craftsmen... [but] the proposal put before you by city staff is an ambush containing all those destructive consequences. Other organizations, including the city government and various advocacy groups such as the Manhattan Institute , argued that residential construction in underused manufacturing zones is essential to meet growing housing demand. Rezoning promised double-digit percentage growth in
10033-482: The land route through Connecticut that became part of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad . The LIRR refocused its attentions towards serving Long Island, in competition with other railroads on the island. In the 1870s, railroad president Conrad Poppenhusen and his successor, Austin Corbin acquired all the railroads and consolidated them into the LIRR. The LIRR was unprofitable for much of its history. In 1900,
10160-430: The largest developments to be built after the rezoning was Greenpoint Landing, which includes ten residential towers containing 5,500 units, a public elementary and middle school, and 4 acres (1.6 ha) of parkland. Greenpoint Landing began construction in 2015 and is expected to be completed before 2027. By spring 2017, one building had opened. Greenpoint's population is largely working class and multi-generational; it
10287-486: The late 1980s, after an increasing series of highly odorous releases from the Sewage Treatment Plant which served a good portion of Lower Manhattan, a local group formed calling itself GASP (Greenpointers Against Smell Pollution) that compelled the city to control the outflows and to plan a vastly expanded facility that took 20 years to build. The mid-1980s saw a great increase in the number of trucks driving through
10414-466: The late 20th century. On January 20, 1966, when the New York state government purchased the Long Island Rail Road, the Bay Ridge Branch and the Evergreen Branch (excluding the G&ER portion) remained part of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Subsequently, they became part of Penn Central and Conrail . The Evergreen Branch still served a few customers until the 1970s. Some of this property, such as
10541-459: The line was consolidated within the LIRR. Corbin, after the line's acquisition, was one of the tax directors of the G&ER. On May 1, 1882, the NY&MB was acquired by the New York, Brooklyn and Manhattan Beach Railroad (NYB&MB), transferring the lease of the G&ER's property. On that date, the NYB&;MB leased its property and subleased the G&ER to the LIRR for 99 years. In February 1883,
10668-480: The line. This allowed for freight to serve the line, beginning its transition from a passenger line to a freight line. In April 1886, service to Greenpoint was abandoned due to the expiration of the eight-year lease for the Quay Street station and facilities. The LIRR, with its new terminals at Flatbush Avenue and Long Island City available, did not see any reason to pay $ 6000 a year in rent for an unneeded facility. As
10795-604: The local community renamed itself Evergreen after the nearby Cemetery of the Evergreens . In 1910, the surrounding area was officially named Ridgewood. The Evergreen Branch's original northern terminal was at Quay Street in Greenpoint along the East River , where passengers transferred to and from ferries to Manhattan . The line then ran southwest along North 15th Street to Richardson Street, and east along Richardson Street to Vandervoort Avenue where it turned southeast. From there, it crossed Metropolitan Avenue , Grand Street , and
10922-531: The mid-19th century and large numbers of Poles began arriving before the turn of the century. The homes built for the merchants and the buildings erected for their workers sprang up along streets that lead down to the waterfront. Today, this area is on the National Register of Historic Places as the Greenpoint Historic District . Greenpoint's East River waterfront holds the maritime history of
11049-637: The need for better railroad freight service in New York City and on Long Island . Both areas are primarily served by trucking for freight haulage, an irony in a region with the most extensive rail transit service in the Americas, as well as the worst traffic conditions. Proposals for a Cross-Harbor Rail Tunnel for freight have existed for years to alleviate these issues, and, in recent years, there have been many new pushes for its construction by officials. Financial issues, as well as bureaucracy, remain major hurdles in constructing it. In May 1997, freight service
11176-492: The neighborhood increasingly a center of nightlife and gentrification , and a 2005 rezoning enabled the construction of high density residential buildings on the East River waterfront. There have also been efforts to reclaim the rezoned East River waterfront for recreational use and also to extend a continuous promenade into the Newtown Creek area. Greenpoint is part of Brooklyn Community District 1 , and its primary ZIP Code
11303-506: The neighborhood was 76.9% (26,691) White and 14.7% (5,099) Hispanic or Latino . Other ethnicities include 1.2% (433) African American , 0.1% (48) Native American , 4.9% (1,689) Asian , 0.0% (10) Pacific Islander , 0.5% (161) from other races , and 1.7% (588) from two or more races. The entirety of Community Board 1, which comprises Greenpoint and Williamsburg, had 199,190 inhabitants as of NYC Health 's 2018 Community Health Profile, with an average life expectancy of 81.1 years. This
11430-409: The neighborhood with municipal waste, often toxic waste, to be held at "transfer stations". During the 1950 Greenpoint oil spill , at the time the largest oil spill in United States history, 17 to 30 million U.S. gallons (64 × 10 ^ to 114 × 10 ^ L) of oil spilled into Newtown Creek . Oil is believed to have been seeping into the groundwater since then. Groundwater in this area
11557-443: The number of housing units, leading these groups to claim that it would help to alleviate the city's housing shortage and possibly slow rent increases. Critics argued that the existing community's character would be changed as existing residents were forced to move, and, further, that public transportation and public safety infrastructure would be unable to accommodate the projected 40,000 new residents. A boom in construction followed
11684-455: The occasional catastrophe. On September 13, 1919, the Standard Oil refinery caught fire and soon spread flaming liquids into neighboring oil works and Newtown Creek. In 1933 Greenpoint gained access to the New York City Subway , with the opening of the IND Crosstown Line (currently serving the G train), running under Manhattan Avenue from Nassau Avenue to Queens. In 1937 the line
11811-552: The personal papers and recorded oral history of these five families. Greenpoint first began to change significantly when entrepreneur Neziah Bliss married into the Meserole family in the early 1830s after purchasing land from them. He eventually bought out most of the land in Greenpoint. In 1834 he had the area surveyed, and in 1839 opened a public turnpike along what is now Franklin Street. He established regular ferry service to Manhattan around 1850. All of these initiatives contributed to
11938-536: The pilot program has led the MTA to extend the program up to the summer of 2020 and renewed calls for the program to be implemented within New York City, where the fare for the Freedom Ticket—if approved—would cost US$ 2.75 and include free transfers between the LIRR & Metro-North, bus, and subway. In 2017, it was announced that the MetroCard fare payment system, used on New York City-area rapid transit and bus systems, would be phased out and replaced by OMNY ,
12065-505: The project was expected to cost $ 11.1 billion and was tentatively scheduled to start service in December 2022. It opened on January 25, 2023, with limited shuttle service between Jamaica and Grand Central. Full service to Grand Central began on February 27, 2023. Greenpoint, Brooklyn Greenpoint is the northernmost neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn , in
12192-442: The railroad expanded its east end parlor car service with luxury coaches and Pullman cars from railroads that were discontinuing their passenger trains. The LIRR and other railroads that became part of the system have always had freight service, though this has diminished. The process of shedding freight service accelerated with the acquisition of the railroad by New York State. In the 21st century, there has been some appreciation of
12319-401: The railroad utilizes a variety of wayside railroad signals including position light, color light and dwarf signals. In addition, much of the LIRR is equipped with a bi-directional Pulse code cab signaling called automatic speed control (ASC), though portions of the railway still retain single direction, wayside-only signaling. Unlike other railroads, which began using color-light signals in
12446-533: The rapid and radical transformation of Greenpoint, which was annexed to the City of Brooklyn in 1855. In the years that followed Greenpoint established itself as a manufacturing district. Its largest industries were shipbuilding, porcelain and pottery, and glassworks, but the area had other industrial concerns such as brass and iron foundries; breweries; drug plants; book, furniture, box, and boiler makers; sugar refineries; and machine shops. Germans and Irish arrived in
12573-548: The remainder of the homestead to Pieter Praa when their father died in 1718; the name of Norman Avenue remains as testimony to Volckertsen's legacy. Praa had no male heirs when he died in 1740, but the farming families of his various daughters formed the core of Greenpoint for the next hundred years or so. By the time of the American Revolutionary War , Greenpoint's population was entirely five related families: The British Army had an encampment in Greenpoint during
12700-553: The rest of both Brooklyn and New York City. Rent burden, or the percentage of residents who have difficulty paying their rent, is 48% in Greenpoint and Williamsburg, higher than the citywide and boroughwide rates of 52% and 51% respectively. Based on this calculation, as of 2018 , Greenpoint and Williamsburg are considered to be gentrifying . As according to the 2020 census data from New York City Department of City Planning , there were between 20,000 and 29,999 White residents and between 5,000 and 9,999 Hispanic residents, meanwhile each
12827-553: The rest of the city as of 2018 . Half of the population (50%) has a college education or higher, 17% have less than a high school education and 33% are high school graduates or have some college education. By contrast, 40% of Brooklynites and 38% of city residents have a college education or higher. The percentage of Greenpoint and Williamsburg students excelling in reading and math has been increasing, with reading achievement rising from 35 percent in 2000 to 40 percent in 2011, and math achievement rising from 29 percent to 50 percent within
12954-621: The rezoning, leading to complaints from neighborhood residents and their elected representatives. The zoning plan was modified on March 2, 2006, to include anti-harassment provisions for tenants and add height limits in portions of upland Williamsburg. Neighborhood organizations made differing opinions known: the Greenpoint-Williamsburg Association for Parks and Planning expressed approval of the proposal (with reservations), but many neighborhood residents and members of Community Board 1 continue to voice their objections. One of
13081-493: The same fare applies for travel between any station in the origin zone and any station in the destination zone. Peak fares are charged during the week on trains that arrive at western terminals between 6 AM and 10 AM, and for trains that depart from western terminals between 4 PM and 8 PM. Any passenger holding an off-peak ticket on a peak train is required to pay a step up fee. Passengers can buy tickets from ticket agents or ticket vending machines (TVMs) or on
13208-423: The same time period. Greenpoint and Williamsburg's rate of elementary school student absenteeism is slightly higher than the rest of New York City. In Greenpoint and Williamsburg, 21% of elementary school students missed twenty or more days per school year , compared to the citywide average of 20% of students. Additionally, 77% of high school students in Greenpoint and Williamsburg graduate on time, higher than
13335-633: The same time providing affordable service to people with long commutes. The details were to be announced in spring 2017, and the pilot would last six months. The MTA Board voted to approve a six-month pilot for a similar concept, the Atlantic Ticket, in May 2018. The Atlantic Ticket is similar in that it would allow LIRR riders in southeast Queens to purchase a one-way ticket to or from Atlantic Terminal for $ 5. The Atlantic Ticket would start in June 2018. The success of
13462-607: The streets to protect the tracks, the gates were across the tracks, protecting the streets. The tracks dipped slightly southward at Cornelia Street before going back to the regular alignment. From there, the line proceeded southeast and connected with the Bay Ridge Branch at Cooper Avenue Junction near the Cemetery of the Evergreens . The origin of the Evergreen Branch traces back to the Glendale and East River Railroad (G&ER) , which
13589-525: The subway and bus systems. Additionally, almost all stations in Brooklyn and Queens offer connections with the New York City Bus system, and several stations also have transfers to New York City Subway stations. Transfers to Nassau Inter-County Express and Suffolk County Transit buses are available at many stations in Nassau and Suffolk counties, respectively. Like Metro-North Railroad and NJ Transit,
13716-486: The summer season from May to September. In 1876, it was consolidated into the LIRR, and service to Greenpoint was replaced with service to Long Island City instead, with a shuttle allowing passengers from Greenpoint to get to Manhattan Beach . The line was converted to standard gauge to allow for the transferring of freight along the line. Passenger service ended in May 1886, and freight service ended four years later. The right-of-way between Greenpoint and South Side Crossing
13843-466: The text Long Island Rail Road , and appears on the sides of trains. The LIRR is one of two commuter rail systems owned by the MTA, the other being the Metro-North Railroad in the northern suburbs of the New York area. Established in 1834 (the first section between the Brooklyn waterfront and Jamaica opened on April 18, 1836) and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest railroad in
13970-514: The third quarter of 2010, controls the area around Jamaica terminal by direct control of interlockings. This replaced several towers in Jamaica including Jay and Hall towers at the west and east ends of Jamaica station respectively. At additional locations, line side towers control the various switches and signals in accordance with the timetable and under the direction of the Movement Bureau in Jamaica. Today's LIRR signal system has evolved from its legacy Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)-based system, and
14097-498: The time of day, within the fare zones specified on the pass. The LIRR charged off-peak fares at all times during the COVID-19 pandemic . Peak fares were reinstated on March 1, 2022, and several new discounts and ticket options were introduced at the same time. During the summer the railroad offers special summer package ticket deals to places such as Long Beach, Jones Beach, the Hamptons, Montauk, and Greenport. Passengers traveling to
14224-427: The train from conductors, but will incur an on-board penalty fee for doing so. This fee is waived for customers boarding at a station without a ticket office or ticket machine, senior citizens, people with disabilities or Medicare customers. There are several types of tickets: one way, round trip, peak, off-peak, AM peak or off-peak senior/disabled, peak child, and off-peak child. On off-peak trains, passengers can buy
14351-441: The train, and a conductor who is responsible for the safe movement of the train, fare collection and on-board customer service. In addition, trains may have one or more assistant conductors to assist with fare collection and other duties. The LIRR is one of the last railroads in the United States to use mechanical interlocking control towers to regulate rail traffic. As of 2016 , the LIRR has 8 active control towers. All movements on
14478-414: The website Forgotten NY documented several instances of trackage that remained both on streets and in lots along the right-of-way. On Hancock Street southwest of Wyckoff Avenue, a railroad crossing sign remained through the early 2000s, despite there being no visible trackage on the street. Long Island Rail Road [REDACTED] Gray lines represent freight-only branches, and other colors represent
14605-466: The week for $ 5. The MTA announced plans in December 2022 to allow CityTickets to be used on peak trains as well; governor Kathy Hochul confirmed these plans the next month. The peak CityTickets, as announced in July 2023, would cost $ 7 each. As part of a one-year pilot program starting in July 2024, monthly tickets for LIRR trips entirely within New York City would also receive a 10% discount. CityTicket
14732-479: Was a Walloon . Volckertsen had had periodic conflicts with the Keshaechqueren, who killed two of his sons-in-law and tortured a third in separate incidents throughout the 1650s. Starting in the early 1650s, he began selling and leasing his property to Dutch colonists, among them Jacob Haie (Hay) in 1653, who built a home in northern Greenpoint that was burned down by Indians two years later. Jan Meserole established
14859-427: Was abandoned and sold, leaving the portion between Jefferson Street and South Side Crossing as the only remaining portion of the G&ER. This portion of the G&ER was later considered as part of the Evergreen Branch. While it was thought that there was no trace of the Greenpoint service to the west of South Side Crossing, an odd triangular lot exists at Leonard Street between Bayard Street and Richardson Street that
14986-477: Was abandoned in 1896 and 1897, with few traces of that branch left. With passenger service over, the remainder of the line between South Side Crossing and Cooper Avenue became exclusively used for freight. In 1939, the section of the line between Himrod Street and Starr Street was removed. While the LIRR was sold in 1966 to New York State, the branch was kept as part of the Pennsylvania Railroad , and through corporate changes became part of Conrail . In 1984, Conrail
15113-580: Was extended to Downtown Brooklyn , providing direct access from Greenpoint to points south. The manufacturing industry of Greenpoint declined after World War II . Eberhard Faber 's pencil factory , once the largest manufacturer of lead pencils in the United States, operated on West Street from 1872 until 1956. The company's former buildings were designated a historic district by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2007. The Greenpoint Historic District
15240-591: Was franchised on a 20-year term to the New York and Atlantic Railway (NYAR), a short line railroad owned by the Anacostia and Pacific Company . It has its own equipment and crews, but uses the rail facilities of the LIRR. To the east, freight service operates to the end of the West Hempstead Branch, to Huntington on the Port Jefferson Branch, to Bridgehampton on the Montauk Branch, and to Riverhead on
15367-505: Was granted permission to abandon the branch. While parts of the branch's right-of-way have been built upon in recent years, parking lots, newer buildings, and old rails, show where the line formerly went. The Evergreen Branch is named after the surrounding area known as Evergreen. The area was settled in 1853 and was originally known as South Williamsburgh. South Williamsburgh and other surrounding areas gradually came to be known as Ridgewood. In order to distinguish itself, sometime around 1890,
15494-589: Was incorporated on March 26, 1874, to build a railroad from Quay Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn to Huntington on Long Island, running through Glendale, Queens . It was incorporated to give an additional terminal on the East River to the South Side Railroad . The line was no longer needed once the South Side was bought by Conrad Poppenhusen . The idea for a line to Greenpoint reemerged when Austin Corbin proposed
15621-496: Was leased from the Brooklyn and Rockaway Beach Railroad Company , and was known as the Evergreen Branch, a name later extended to the rest of the line. The Glendale and East River Railroad was incorporated in 1874 to give the South Side Railroad an additional waterfront terminal, but was instead used to connect Austin Corbin's New York and Manhattan Beach Railroad to New York City via ferry service from Greenpoint. The Evergreen Branch opened in 1878, with service only running during
15748-434: Was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Greenpoint community residents and activists have periodically banded together, sometimes with the aid of their local representatives, to fight highly polluting facilities and practices in the neighborhood. Such organization led the city to close the huge Greenpoint incinerator in 1994, which was out of compliance with all city, state and federal regulations. In
15875-498: Was once part of the right-of-way. The two buildings adjacent to the lot are angled against where the tracks would have run, and tax map records show that this is lot is separated from nearby lots, and has never been developed upon–there only is a tree located at this location. In the early 1920s, the Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) planned to construct a new transit line through northern Brooklyn:
16002-475: Was replaced in the 1970s. The library closed in mid-2017 for a two-year renovation, which would necessitate the replacement of the existing building with a new facility called the Greenpoint Library & Environmental Education Center. The renovation of the Greenpoint branch was originally supposed to be completed in late 2018, but was delayed because of safety violations during construction. Greenpoint
16129-543: Was still narrow-gauge. In order to maintain service to Greenpoint, a shuttle was operated to connect with the Manhattan Beach trains at Cooper Avenue Junction in Bushwick . Since it was no longer the main line, the line to Greenpoint became known as the Greenpoint Division . During the 1883 season, Long Island City and Greenpoint each received 25 trains on weekdays. Even with the high level of service to Greenpoint,
#152847