Passenger Trains > "Staten Island to get LRT study funds"

November 16, 2007 news from RAILWAY AGE Magazine:
_______________________________________

Staten Island to get LRT study funds

New York's two U.S. senators announced Thursday $225,000 to further study and eventual construction of light rail on Staten Island, to be funded through the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill now working its way through the Senate. Borough officials, along with local New York State assembly representatives and both Sen. Charles Schumer and Sen. Hillary Clinton, have pushed for the project throughout 2007, aimed at serving the west and north shores of Staten Island.

Advocates say the proposed LRT along the five-mile north shore route initially would served 11,000 to 15,000 riders per day; 27,000 people per day could result by 2020. Planners envision the system to extend across the Bayonne Bridge into Bayonne, N.J., to connect with existing (and expanding) Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit (HBLRT) operated by New Jersey Transit. Bus service linking Staten Island to HBLRT began in August.

"Any Staten Islander knows that traffic congestion is the first, second and third problem confronting growth and quality of life in the borough, and these light rails are a visionary and effective means to addressing that problem," Schumer said in a press release.
the President signing this bill into law."

Been to Staten Island many times. Some parts of the island/borough are indeed very nice and scenic-particularly the Todt Hills, Wolfes Pond Beach, and Tottenville areas. But the primary route (Hylan Blvd) running mostly north-south on the east side of the island is indeed a traffic nightmare. The south end of the road is, on the other hand, relatively lightly travelled.

Did it ever occur to anyone that maybe "GROWTH" (or expectations thereto) is the main problem?

Sometimes what's needed is not more roads, trains, bulldozers, and houses...but LESS PEOPLE.

> but LESS PEOPLE.

I'm in, how many shall we kill?

Des-Lab Wrote:
>
> Sometimes what's needed is not more roads, trains,
> bulldozers, and houses...but LESS PEOPLE.

Traffic increases even in metropolitan areas which have experienced population declines. Traffic growth is more a function of household size, economic conditions, and the relationship between where people live and where they go to work, shop and for entertainment.

Dave

Des-Lab Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Been to Staten Island many times. Some parts of
> the island/borough are indeed very nice and
> scenic-particularly the Todt Hills, Wolfes Pond
> Beach, and Tottenville areas. But the primary
> route (Hylan Blvd) running mostly north-south on
> the east side of the island is indeed a traffic
> nightmare. The south end of the road is, on the
> other hand, relatively lightly travelled.
>
> Did it ever occur to anyone that maybe "GROWTH"
> (or expectations thereto) is the main problem?
>
> Sometimes what's needed is not more roads, trains,
> bulldozers, and houses...but LESS PEOPLE.

Why not give it to NJ....let them commute to Perth Amboy?.

Wait a minute...then we would never have Working Girl.. ("Why take speech claases; you talk foine.") Never mind.

tburzio Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > but LESS PEOPLE.
>
> I'm in, how many shall we kill?


Start with all the lawyers...

Diddle_E._Squat Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> tburzio Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > > but LESS PEOPLE.
> >
> > I'm in, how many shall we kill?
>
>
> Start with all the lawyers...

Didn't Shakespeare take care of them before trains?