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As New York City plans
the redevelopment of lower Manhattan following
September 11, federal, state, local and private groups
have acknowledged the vital role that mass
transit must play. The NYC metropolitan area has
long had the largest transit base in the nation. Many
improvements are coming on line now to continue
this important role.
The destruction of the World
Trade Center resulted in the suspension of PATH
service to lower Manhattan. The Port Authority of NY
and NJ, operator of PATH, responded by designing
and constructing a new temporary PATH WTC
station on the site of the former loop station.
This is planned to be completed by the end of 2003.
This
project also included complete rehabilitation of
track, power and signals for the twin tunnels
from New Jersey. In a first step, a new crossover
will allow the Exchange Place Jersey City
station to reopen for shuttle service. The
inbound platform to NYC is being extended to
allow for ten car trains. A final WTC station
will be built once plans for the entire WTC
redevelopment are complete. The end result will
be a complete upgrading of the PATH tunnels and
stations on the lower Manhattan route.
On New York City Transit, there has been a quick
reconstruction and reopening of the subway
facilities at the WTC. The 1-9 line to South
Ferry reopened on September 15 allowing restoration of
normal West Side Express service. On September
18, I inspected the station's at South Ferry and
Rector Street. NYCT has completed a major
restoration in kind of both stations. At South
Ferry, a new stairway and pre-fab head house has
been built at the south end of the loop platform
closer to the Staten Island ferry terminal. The
former Cortlandt Street station adjacent to the
WTC remains closed pending final WTC development. Also
on September 15, the Cortlandt Street N-R line
station was reopened
following rehabilitation.
The next step is the development of a major
underground mass transit terminal at Cortlandt
street. This will connect the Fulton Street 4-5, A-C,
J-M-Z stations with the N-R, 1-9 and WTC
stations. Funding has been secured for this
facility. This will provide a solid mass transit base
for the future of lower Manhattan.
On the surface, the NYDOT has taken a major step
in restricting Trinity Place to buses only
during the peak hours. This will expedite the movement
and loading of Express buses between the
Brooklyn-Manhattan tunnel and the Holland
tunnel. Restrictions on truck traffic and rush hour
single occupancy vehicles remain at the Holland
tunnel. These moves have reduced over all
traffic congestion in this crowded area.
In Brooklyn, the LIRR-Atlantic Ave and NYCT
Pacific Street stations are in the middle of a
major reconstruction which will expedite
connections to lower Manhattan. In Queens, the
Port Authority is completing its Airtrain
connections from the A train at Howard Beach and
the LIRR at Jamaica. The Howard Beach and
terminal loop will open later this winter.
In the future, MTA is proceeding with the
planning for the Second Ave subway and possible
Metro North and/or LIRR extensions to lower
Manhattan. The combination of all these
improvements will maximize the impact of mass
transit on this vital area. |
