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I didn't say that it would be faster--I said that the original proposal was for a connecting line from Staten Island that would have joined up with the BMT terminal--today's R line--in Bay Ridge. (It was originally at 86 Street, but extended to 95 Street in anticipation of the subway connection that was never built).
And it wouldn't have been so bad anyway; at 59 Street, the line could have crossed over to the express tracks and voila! Only two more stops in Brooklyn (36 and Pacific Streets) then over the bridge into Manhattan.
Wasn't this a discussion of how subway access would benefit SI?
I guess my point was, if subway access does not provide a faster route to the rest of the city, how does it benefit the island? A Bay Ridge connection would make travel faster to Brooklyn, but the rest of the city? Probably not.
Pure physical geography seems to make the SIR/ferry combo the fastest possible connection to the to the rest of the city's public transportation infrastructure. A 6-mile mega-tunnel under the harbor that would be faster, but it will obviously never be built.
It is a shame is that the North shore branch of the SIR was dismantled, however. Fred, do you know why that happened?
It is a shame is that the North shore branch of the SIR was dismantled, however. Fred, do you know why that happened?
It was mostly a lack of ridership. The North Shore branch never did particularly well.
There was also an absence of foresight; before the Verrazano opened for business in 1964, nobody thought that there would be any great development in Staten Island. Otherwise, the North Shore might've been kept around.
The most realistic new train line right now is an extension of Hudson-Bergen Light Rail over the Bayonne Bridge into SI. If it went from the bridge to the Ferry and maybe the mall it would help getting around the island and give an option for those going to NJ w/o a car.
Half a million people on an island with only four bridges and a ferry.
There is the Staten Island Railroad, and a multitude of EXPRESS buses to take you into NYC, besides the four bridges, and the ferry. WE LIKE IT THE WAY IT IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! More country than city................
The most realistic new train line right now is an extension of Hudson-Bergen Light Rail over the Bayonne Bridge into SI. If it went from the bridge to the Ferry and maybe the mall it would help getting around the island and give an option for those going to NJ w/o a car.
Not going to happen, for a previously stated reason: if you cross a state boundary, the line automatically goes under the Federal classification for a "railroad," as opposed to an "urban transit system." That entails an entirely different set of guidelines, to say nothing of a higher pay scale for the workers--and you may bet your last nickel that the operating agency of that light rail line doesn't want to see any such thing happen.
Mod cut: rudethey talk about staten island being isolated.....there is 4 bridges and a ferry.......its surrounded by brooklyn, manhattan,bayonne,elisabeth,and perth amboy, half of brooklyn moved here in the 1970-90's.....we have 500,000 people......anyone who hates staten island probably has visited it once or twice and dislikes seeing duplexes with front lawns.......STATEN ISLAND IS REAL NYC..........we are the real people that work the nypd fdny sanitation, court houses, pizzarias, deli's, construction, the unions, bridge and tunnels, DOT, we run NY........if you want to live around italians and irish hard working americans move to staten island Mod cut: rude
Last edited by Viralmd; 03-19-2009 at 12:58 PM..
Reason: Rude personal attacks
Well, no, Staten Island isn't "real" New York City. If anything, Staten Island is "outback" New York City. But I don't say that as a putdown. (If someone puts my back to the wall and insists that I put down a given location, that location will be outside the five boroughs!)
nothing.. Its NYC now a days.. Its traffic island.. over populated like the rest of the boroughs.
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