CB8 Xn Committee Meeting, CNR, January 24, 2017, 7:10-8:40pm

[V1.3.2(1/25-26)(1/26)]
Dr. Fred Monderson, Chair, R. Witherwax Co-Chair.

PRESENT:
Xn Ctee: F Monderson, X Jordan, Holly Fuchs, Meredith Staton, Regina Kinsay, Julia Boyd, Elijah Gray, Tom Boast, Adam
Sachs, Jacqueline Wells, Robert LaPointe, Robt Witherwax, E. Haines, Constance Lesold, Alan Gerber (15).
NP: W. Bailey, D. Christini, A. Saunders, G. Veconi, C. McNally, Greg Todd, E. Monderson (school).
Community: Deborah Young, Eric Payne, Denes Kane, Rachel Smith, Prash Akkapedd, Desmond Atkins, Brooklyn Light Rail
BHRA: Bob Diamond, Sharon Rozsay, Luis Casado.
Guests: Adam Giambrone (BQX Project Manager), Zeph Parente (16 Court Street/DOT, Levy Branch (16 Court St/DOT). Nigel
Blu (News 12).
(Note: CB8 Light Rail Subcommittee: Luis Casado, Elijah Gray, Erik Monderson, with Bob Diamond as Team Leader).

AGENDA:
(1) Meeting handout and welcome: The 1/24/17 meeting handout was distributed. This consisted of the 1-page
report of the October 25th meeting (without the approx. 40 topics raised concerning congestion of St. Johns Place and
Sterling Place) and the 1-pg report of the September 27th meeting (without the 9 MTA topics Q&A raised with Mr.
Inglesby). All attendees from June to October with legible emails had received an email attachment with the October
25th bullet list of over 40 topics raised, including light rail solutions for the future. All were welcomed by Dr. Fred
Monderson and asked to identify themselves; Connie Lesold was recognized for her efforts on behalf of this committee
over the years, and her husband, the deceased Helmuth Lesold, was recognized for his work re the handicapped, the
FAS and the FAS Garden.
(2) Reference was made to the September 27th meeting with Mr. Andrew Inglesby, our MTA Liaison. Several topics at
that meeting related to the Franklin Avenue Shuttle, one subject being the status of extending the FAS to the G with
one stop on Gates, with Mr. Inglesby interested in seeing MTA plans in the possession of Mr. Staten. At our 1/24/2017
meeting Mr. Staten submitted a color map from an MTA planning session several years ago that shows how the FAS
shuttle could merge (will merge) into the existing IND Crosstown Line using an existing but unused third track.
ACTION: The Chair will see that Mr. Inglesby gets his copy.
(3) Presentation of BQX straight line original proposal (Astoria Queens to Red Hook Brooklyn along a waterfront
route) and possible future designs as the citys population grows to 15 million and above. Dr. Monderson greeted Mr.
Adam Giambrone who is the Mayors BQX Project Manager (Brooklyn Queens Connector light rail proposal currently in
definition mode). Mr. Giambrone showed a possible route of the straight line proposal, outlined possible extensions to
utilize parallel wide streets or to get the service to the Red Hook houses, and addressed potential use of light rail in
Queens and Brooklyn that are projected to be adding several million more people in the next ten years or so.
(4) Mr. Giambrone was invited to return to the committee with an update of the most practical route. Tuesday April
25th was suggested. The meetings for 2017 are all 4th Tuesdays; January 24, February 28, February 28, April 25, May 23,
June 27.
(5) Mr. Giambrone was informed about the appeal of the original straight line BQX service, which prompted the
committee to empower a high-school youth driven project to develop a theoretical spur to the committees district
(Crown Heights). The youth learned engineering concepts, street widths and usages, route design, descriptive methods
and presentation skills. Mr. Giambrone was asked to consider asking high school students in the communities to, with
assistance, design their own community light rail or streetcar spurs, so as to help them make decisions for their futures
and perhaps inspire a new generation of light rail engineers.
(6) Dr. Monderson followed up with local street contention issues with Ms. Deborah Young, Ms. Regina Kinsey, and
residents of Sterling and St. Johns Places.
(7) ACTION: It was agreed that Ms. Young will request a meeting space for the 7pm March 28 CB8 Transportation
Committee meeting at St. Gregory the Great (Brooklyn Av and St. Johns Place), which might be in the sanctuary. It was
suggested that the Crown Heights North Association (CHNA) co-sponsor this meeting.
(8) The next Transportation Ctee meeting will be Tuesday February 28, 2017. One of the subjects will be how CHNA,
CB8, Ms. Brown and others can let the community know about the 3/28 meeting.

Respectfully submitted,
Dr. Fred Monderson, Chair 718.564.5634 (secy 516.314.8651 cell).
Brooklyn Community Board 8; 1291 St. Marks Av, Brooklyn NY 11213 (P) 718.567.5574/5610.