Could plans to reactivate the Old Rockaway Beach Rail Line be gaining Momentum? One Queens Assemblywoman thinks so, and some straphangers share her vision. NY1's Gene Apodaca filed the following report.

Jamie Motta admits he spends a lot of time on the train.

“On average an hour and a half,” said Motta.

Living in the Rockaways, he says getting to work in Midtown Manhattan isn’t easy. That’s why, when he hears there’s a possible chance the old Rockaway Beach Line could be reactivated, he’s all for it.

“It definitely would be a good thing, and definitely a lot of people would be using it,” he said.

This month, the MTA was supposed to complete a feasibility study on the proposal, however, that evaluation has been pushed back. The MTA, Long Island Rail Road and New York City Transit want to expand the study by securing an outside contractor.  Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato believes that’s a sign the project is gaining momentum. 

“Regardless of what the outcome is, they’re all going to agree on the same page instead of going to one agency fighting another so that makes me feel  they’re identifying this to be a very  realistic request from us," said Amato.

The project would create a north-south corridor from Ozone Park to Rego Park, essentially giving people in the Rockaways a straight shot to the E Line, and avoiding a longer trip on the A Line through Brooklyn.

Even though this is just a proposal, some in the community wonder why the line was decommissioned in the first place.

“They should have left it like that, that’s the problem, that was always  the problem,“ said one commuter.

The project does face hurdles. A competing proposal, Queensway, would create a park over the rails, similar to the high line. Those pushing for the rail, say they’re willing to work on a compromise, possibly running a section of the rail underground allowing for both projects.

“It will be more expensive it will take a little longer to build  but in the end  we’ll have two great assets, ”said Rick Horan, with QueensRail Organization.

The result would be a link to Midtown Manhattan from Southeast Queens and a park, too.