JP Morgan Chase Hiring for Syracuse Tech Center (Ava, Hope: campus, areas)

[Cleveland Park]

I know that the section of track that splits from the main line and runs north between Onondaga Lake Parkway and Old Liverpool Road sees one train a day. Montreal-bound, I think?

No clue about those NYS&W tracks between Jamesville and the West Side. I was under the impression that they're sort of out there for the taking; the line that owns them is very amenable to the idea of a cheap sale. Could be mistaken on that point. Either way, they don't offer a terribly direct route to any desirable spots. 30 minutes from the Lakefront to University Hill won't sell too many people on the idea of mass transit.

[RollsRoyce]

A few years ago, an Oswego businessman proposed running a light rail service from Oswego to downtown Syracuse. Although I can't recall any specific details, the train would have utilized existing CSX freight line tracks. The spur in Clay near the intersection of Routes 57 and 31 and other areas parallel to I-481 immediately come to mind. The viability of operating an Oswego to Syracuse train service is questionable, however there appear to be some Oswego area residents that make the 35+ mile treck to Downtown Syracuse, not to mention 8,000 SUNY Oswego students that would be more receptive to light rail given their younger demographic. Further, many college students, particuarly those from New York City lack automobiles and make heavy use of the Regional Transportation Center for Greyhound and Amtrak service.

The major factor that will determine whether Syracuse develops a light rail system will be the availability of federal funding. Syracuse and other upstate cities lack the population, population growth, and political clout needed to secure significant federal dollars. The population of the United States has experienced a massive redistribution from the Northeast and Midwest to the sunbelt and Southeast. Population shifts have also resulted in states like New York losing congressional seats. With the election of moderate to conservative democrats in new growth areas since 2006, the Obama Administration and House/Senate leadership is under considerable pressure to funnel scarce transportation resources to these "purple" districts in order to maintain majority power and respond to constituents who demand state-of-the-art mass transit systems that they previously utilized when they lived in Boston, New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia. In addition to new growth areas, upstate will be competing against Chicago which has risen to considerable prominence as the president's adopted hometown. Hometowns of sitting presidents are often large recipients of federal funding. Case and point: Texas, NASA, and President Lyndon Johnson.

As much as I would like to see Syracuse develop a 21st century light rail service, I have little confidence in local elected officials who lack the sophistication and political backbone to advance this agenda. I wouldn't count on New York's US senate leadership to chamption this cause either. While Chuck Schumer will at first give his unwaivering support with his trademark style press conference at Hancock Airport. Several hours later, New York's senior Senator will be in Jamaica, Queens promising funding for a subway station overhaul and the extension of a subway line. With NY's limited allotment of federal dollars, its almost certain New York City interests will trump those of Syracuse.

A light rail service in Syracuse could appeal to the masses if it was marketed as a better mode of transportation during our classic winter storms. The prospect of avoiding snow clogged highways, costly car accidents, car pile ups, and arriving 40 minutes late to work would make light rail far more appealing than the status quo.

[MilesBloodAxe]

Are the people of Syracuse their own worst enemy like the folks in the Rochester area who kill their own progress with their negativity, extreme risk aversion and closed minds?

[CUPlanner]

No clue about those NYS&W tracks between Jamesville and the West Side. I was under the impression that they're sort of out there for the taking; the line that owns them is very amenable to the idea of a cheap sale. Could be mistaken on that point. Either way, they don't offer a terribly direct route to any desirable spots. 30 minutes from the Lakefront to University Hill won't sell too many people on the idea of mass transit.

Piggy-backing on what RollsRoyce said, what makes the line attractive isnt the ultimate directness but the price tag. Building a direct route between the major destinations, many of which the existing line could already serve, would be incredibly expensive and take decades to complete, mostly because of the difficulties and costs of acquiring properties to build tracks on. The Onondaga Creekwalk, a project that has been identified multiple times by state and national officials as a good projects, has taken fifteen years to even get rolling due in part to this problem. Even if you were to build an at grade streetcar-type system, overcoming the political backlash and aquiring property to expand the designated roads would take a very long time and cost a lot of money.

Also, having a quicker and more visible way to get students, many of whom dont have cars and cant choose to drive, from the Hill to downtown, the mall, and the transportation center could provide a significant amount of the ridership base if implemented effectively.

[Cleveland Park]

With little investment at all, something like this http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/09/us...gewanted=print would at least begin to solve the (perceived) parking crunch downtown and make travel within the city considerably easier. As RollsRoyce said, though, local officials absolutely lack any sophistication, vision, and will; a changing of the guard is probably the only way to move on any progressive public policy changes. It's a challenge when the private sector has to carry an uneven burden due to weak local government.

[Cleveland Park]

Also, as CUPlanner has reminded me, what is the status of the Onondaga Creekwalk? I was on Walton Street in late June and saw a knuckleheaded 'Woe is me, eminent domain is horribly unfair' sign on one of the surface parking lots adjacent to the creek. Has the city moved on construction since then?

[RollsRoyce]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Park

Also, as CUPlanner has reminded me, what is the status of the Onondaga Creekwalk? I was on Walton Street in late June and saw a knuckleheaded 'Woe is me, eminent domain is horribly unfair' sign on one of the surface parking lots adjacent to the creek. Has the city moved on construction since then?

I was wondering the same thing. The Driscoll Administration in true form has been dragging their feet with the Creekwalk Project. According to the city's website, an RFP has been issued.

Here is the link: Syracuse Creekwalk Phase I Request for Proposal


I'm sure once proposals have been submitted, the bartender mayor will award the contract to one of his beer pong buddies from Tipp Hill or Lakefront Director Joe LaGuardia will put in a good word for one his childhood friends from the "nort" side.

The Creekwalk long billed as the cornerstone of Syracuse's lakefront redevelopment has been stalled for years, despite millions of dollars in public funding to spawn private sector development, none of which has occurred. I would largely blame Driscoll and the inept Lakefront Development Corporation which is managed by City Hall and the MDA for so many missteps. The Appointment of Joe LaGuardia, a political hack from the State Fair with no experience in commercial real estate, economic development, or urban planning perfectly illustrates the incompetence of the MDA and Driscoll Administration.

[RollsRoyce]

Originally Posted by MilesBloodAxe

Are the people of Syracuse their own worst enemy like the folks in the Rochester area who kill their own progress with their negativity, extreme risk aversion and closed minds?

The quick answer is YES. The fingerpointing, political bickering, posturing and backpedaling on the Renaissance Square and Fast Ferry projects is classic Syracuse fare.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by RollsRoyce

The quick answer is YES. The fingerpointing, political bickering, posturing and backpedaling on the Renaissance Square and Fast Ferry projects is classic Syracuse fare.

I agree. Sad, but true. I will say that a lot of it comes from older residents that seem to be stuck in their ways and think that the area will be like it was 40-50 years ago.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Park

I know that the section of track that splits from the main line and runs north between Onondaga Lake Parkway and Old Liverpool Road sees one train a day. Montreal-bound, I think?

No clue about those NYS&W tracks between Jamesville and the West Side. I was under the impression that they're sort of out there for the taking; the line that owns them is very amenable to the idea of a cheap sale. Could be mistaken on that point. Either way, they don't offer a terribly direct route to any desirable spots. 30 minutes from the Lakefront to University Hill won't sell too many people on the idea of mass transit.

I believe the NYS&W tracks were used for OnTrack.