Sunnyside Yard, New York City

[Andrew]

Major talks are currently underway to build over Sunnyside Yards, which is located in Queens, NYC.

I wonder how much money Amtrak could get to fund urgently needed NEC improvements, such as new hudson tunnels.

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20150208/REAL_ESTATE/150209854/sunnyside-on-track-for-major-land-grab

 

[PRR 60]

Interesting thought. Amtrak owns a large portion of Sunnyside Yards. Any plan to overbuild the yard would require obtaining air rights from Amtrak, either by purchase or lease. Since Amtrak is considered a federal entity, a local or state agency cannot use eminent domain to acquire the rights. They must come to an amicable agreement. That could be some serious money. Compared to tunnel costs, it would likely be a drop in the bucket, but it could fund some other needs. Whether Amtrak would want the yards in a huge basement is another story. It would sure make servicing trains in heavy snow easier.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Would they rename Sunnyside Yards Darkside Basement? :lol: