The Coney Island Monorail!

Now that plans for Coney Island’s rejuvenation seem to be moving forward, the streetcar wing of the Lionel-Industrial Complex is trying to get its filthy paws on Coney Island, too:

The Brooklyn City Streetcar Company imagines trolleys rumbling through the seaside streets once more, hearkening to the heyday of an amusement district now set to undergo an over $1 billion redevelopment.

The not-for-profit group has been discussing its proposal with city officials, including the Coney Island Development Corporation, a quasi-public agency working on the area’s rezoning plan.

The group proposes the trolley line to run from Dreier-Offerman Park to the West 8th Street subway station, then to Surf Avenue to Keyspan Park, with an eventual extension to the edge of Sea Gate.

Another route could run from Dreier-Offerman to Cropsey Avenue, then to Neptune Avenue, then south to Stillwell Avenue.

Then they take a page from Mayor Nasonex (since he always sounds so congested) by arguing that it will reduce traffic (and asthma rates?) in the busy corridor between Dreier-Offerman Park and the projects across the street from the baseball field where the Cyclones play:

Aside from adding to the ambiance of the amusement area, trolleys would help reduce area traffic, [Brooklyn City Streetcar Company founder and president Arthur] Melnick said.

Trolleys, which run on electricity, are also environmentally friendly. “They are the greenest form of motorized transportation,” he said.

Chuck Reichenthal, a member of the Coney Island Development Corporation (CIDC) and the district manager of Community Board 13, said the plan merits further study, particularly as a way to “get cars off the street.”

“You could have them park farther away and then trolley people over to Coney Island,” Reichenthal said. “That would be an interesting concept.”

. . .

City Councilmember Domenic Recchia, who represents Coney Island, said he has spoken to Melnick and the plan sounds like “a great idea.”

“I think Coney Island will need some type of trolley service, whether it is his or another proposal,” the city lawmaker said.

“Everyone likes it. The question is, how can we make it happen?” Recchia said.

(Remember this: white elephant transportation projects are a sign of a sick city; maybe by the time it’s up and running Coney Island will be ready for its decline again.)