Bowery Bay Junction
Starting at 32nd Avenue many of the two-lane streets are crossed with concrete arch bridges. Some of the arches are in pretty dire shape.
The NYCCRR splits into two branches at Bowery Bay Junction around 28th Street in Astoria. The western branch heads into Sunnyside Yards and Penn station. The eastern branch is the one we've been following that heads south to connect with the Bay Ridge Line at the Fresh Pond Yards.
Boulevard Gardens is a 963-unit complex designed by T.H. Engelhardt in 1933 in concert with landscape architect C.N. Lowrie. The complex was built as part of Roosevelt's New Deal initiative and opened in 1935. When I visited in 2008 it was run as a Co-Op.
28th Avenue might be a good place for a station before the line has to deal with additional Amtrak traffic coming from Penn Station. There is plenty of surrounding right-of-way for platforms. It is, however, a bit close to the IND Queens Boulevard (G/R/V trains) and if the objective is adding access to underserved areas, placement of a station a bit further north might be preferable.
37th Avenue bridge over the tracks and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Tracks from the south headed under 73rd Street
Tracks exiting from under 73rd Street Bridge
Tracks headed north from 73rd Street Bridge - great spot for a station
Sitting area on 73rd Street Bridge
73rd Street Bridge over the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
IND Queens Boulevard (G/R/V trains) 65th Street Station
Rail line and BQE crossing over 34th Avenue
Rail line south of 34th Avenue
Rail bridge over Northern Boulevard
Rail bridge over Northern Boulevard
Northern approach to Northern Boulevard bridge
32nd Avenue bridge
Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church
Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church
31st Avenue bridge (western branch to Fresh Ponds Yards)
31st Avenue bridge
BIN 7705010
31st Avenue Bridge (eastern branch to Sunnyside Yards)
31st Avenue Bridge
Boulevard Gardens
Boulevard Gardens
28th Avenue terminating at the right-of-way
Low-rise row houses on 56th Place
Apartments on 50th Street
Apartments on 50th Street
Catenary wires south of 50th Street
50th Street Bridge
Row houses on Hobart Street
Triangular lot between 50th street and Hobart Street west of 28th Avenue