Staten Island light rail

Staten Island light rail proposals refer to any number of projects in the New York City borough of Staten Island. These proposals are among the several light rail projects that have been floated in New York City in recent years.

North Shore Light Rail

The North Shore Light Rail line is a proposed rail line serving the northern portion of Staten Island. According to PlanNYC.org, which is affliated with the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University, " [t] he proposed five mile route, which would connect Arlington and the St. George Ferry Terminal, would cost $360 million, with funding coming from federal, state and local agencies. In order to move forward, the project will require a $4 million allocation from congress for a feasibility study which is currently awaiting approval from the House Transportation Committee."PlanNYC.org, " [http://www.plannyc.org/project-77-Staten-Island-North-Shore-Light-Rail Staten Island North Shore Light Rail] "; Retrieved on 2006-09-11.]

According to NY1.com, "Officials estimate anywhere between 11,000 to 15,000 riders would use the North Shore line."NY1.com, " [http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=60287 Schumer Throws Support Behind S.I. Light Rail System] ," June 18, 2006; Retrieved on 2006-09-11.]

West Shore Light Rail

The West Shore Light Rail is another proposed light rail project. Beginning at the South Shore, probably near a park-and-ride in Pleasant Plains, the proposed line would run along the western shore of Staten Island. It would cross into Bayonne, New Jersey, and go over the Bayonne Bridge to connect to Hudson-Bergen Light Rail. According to a news story aired on NY1 on March 8, 2007, many Staten Island residents endure very long commutes into Manhattan, and the West Shore Light Rail project would lessen this for many commuters.

It is not currently clear whether or not such a system would fall under the supervision of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, although this is likely. Some proposals have been to extend the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, which is a subsidiary of NJ Transit, to Staten Island.

There are several route alignments that the light rail could take. One route would send the track along the Martin Luther King Expressway and Victory Boulevard to a track along Richmond Avenue. Another route would send the track along the Martin Luther King Expressway to the Staten Island Expressway to the median of the West Shore Expressway. The final route alignment would send the track on the North Shore rail Right-of-way to the Travis branch of the line, and from there, onto the median of the West Shore Expressway.

See also

* Transportation in New York State
* Transportation in New York City
* Staten Island Railway

Notes

External links

* [http://www.siedc.net/projects/rail.php West Shore Light Rail Project] —description from the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation
* " [http://nyc.theoildrum.com/story/2006/9/11/142513/122 Restoring Staten Island's Rail Connections] "
* " [http://www.statenislandusa.com/2006/bayonne.html Borough President Molinaro to MTA: “light rail users strongly support Bayonne bus service”] "