There’s a new train in town… A direct LIRR line from Queens to Midtown

tral Madison Station for at least three-four weeks before phasing in other stops.

Trains will operate between 6:15 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends. The first train pulled out on Wednesday, January 24, 2023 where Governor Kathy Hochul rode the rails into the new station. “Infrastructure is all about connections, and this project is an extraordinary step forward to better connect millions of New Yorkers with their homes, their families and their jobs,” stated Governor Hochul.

She called the project “a game changer”.

Upon arrival, commuters step into a new modern and upscale concourse housing 25 retail storefronts, WiFi and cell service accessibility, art installations, and digital signage with realtime train information. A trip into the City is now easier than ever, and don’t forget to purchase your City Ticket to get there. City Tickets are now available every day during off-peak hours. The $5 tickets are good for one-way travel that begins and ends within New York City.

By Cynthia Bernadine

An MTA construction project over 15 years in the making is finally completed, giving new meaning to “it’s better late than never”.

“In the past, when challenges were encountered, the answer was to push back the project completion date. We put an end to that and committed this project would be completed in 2022 as had been promised.”

Janno Lieber, President of MTA Construction & Development, previously explained.

With a billion-dollar price tag, the largest new train terminal to be built in the US since the 1950s and the first expansion of the LIRR in more than 100 years; offers a direct link from Queens to Midtown Manhattan. A new train service being called ‘Grand Central Direct’.

Although you will not be able to utilize the service from the Rochdale Village Locust Manor station just yet, Cooperators wanting to go into the City, particularly the Midtown area, can catch it from the nearby Jamaica station. This first phase will offer direct shuttle service from Jamaica to the Grand Cen-

What can you do for your Queens

By Olayemi Okeniyi

One of the mandates of Queens Borough President Donovan Richards when he came to office was to attract new members and correct long-standing demographic inequities across Queens’ community boards.

According to Richards, “Government is at its most effective and impactful when people who come from and understand the needs of the communities it is sworn to serve are in positions of leadership. That’s what we’re actively working to create here in Queens with our 14 community boards.”

In the past two years the applicants pool has exceed the numbers of previous years and boasts a more diverse group, skewing younger, more female, and with a greater percentage of people who identify as Latinx/ Hispanic, African American, immigrant,

South Asian, East Asian/Pacific Islander, among other niche groups.

There are 59 citywide community boards, populated by up to fifty (50) volunteers each -- people who live, work, and share a passion for the communities they represent at the monthly meetings. Each member is appointed for two years by the Borough President; half on nomination by the City Council members who represent the area.

In the upcoming round of appointments, the two-year term of service will begin on Saturday, April 1, 2023. For ease and speed in the application process, applicants can access and complete the form online at www.queensbp.org/communityboards, and the deadline for both new applicants and existing community board members to submit their form is Thursday, February 16, 2023.

Those interested in joining com-