| West Shore Light Rail |
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The West Shore Light Rail (WSLR) could provide a reliable and attractive travel choice for Staten Island residents located in South Shore and Mid-Island communities. The WSLR would extend NJ TRANSIT's Hudson-Bergen Light Rail system (HBLRT) over the Bayonne Bridge and into western and southern portions of Staten Island and connect to SIRTOA service at the Richmond ValleyStation. The HBLRT connects to the PATH subway service for points in Downtown and Midtown
Manhattan. Residents in this area of Staten Island now face long and unreliable travel options to Manhattan and other points outside of Staten Island, and also contend with significant traffic congestion on Staten Island itself.
What is Light Rail?
An electric railway system able to operate single or multiple car trainsets along shared or exclusive rights-of-way. These systems can be at ground level, on aerial structures, or in streets, and are normally powered by overhead electrical wires.
Benefits of Light Rail
Trips diverted from congested roadways
Travel time savings
Improved reliability
Increased property values near stations
The Purpose of the West Shore Light Rail Study
The West Shore Light Rail Phase II Study will assess the feasibility, benefits, impacts and costs of developing light rail transit serving Staten Island communities, as a way to address present and future traffic congestion and reliability problems, which are expected to worsen in the future. While identifying a preferred alignment and set of stations, phasing service implementation and using express bus services in conjunction with light rail will be explored.
Goals & Objectives of the Study
TRANSPORTATION:
Improve reliability and reduce travel times for Staten Island commuters to Manhattan and the Hudson County waterfront.
Create additional commute choices for Staten Island residents
Increase public transit ridership on Staten Island by making public transit a more viable option
Reduce the growth of peak traffic congestion in Staten Island
Allow future connections with existing and future transit services on Staten Island to enhance intra-Staten Island travel via public transit
Connect important commercial/office hubs on Staten Island with new transit services
Provide the ability for phased implementation, as well as projects with short-term implementation
Provide Staten Island with a fixed mass-transit link to the greater Metro NYC region, finally bringing Staten Island on par with the transit services provided to the other four boroughs of NYC as well as the NJ, Long Island, and upstate NY counties.
Develop the WSLR project as an attractive and lucrative project for bi-state sponsorship that would shepherd the project through subsequent phases towards implementation.
ENVIRONMENTAL/COMMUNITY:
Minimize impacts to both the preexisting natural and human-made environment
Minimize community impacts
Support community economic development goals and provide economic benefits to the locations to be served by light rail.
FINANCIAL:
Develop cost effective alternatives
Invest financial resources efficiently and effectively Leverage financial resources, look for public / private partnerships
For more information on the West Shore Light Rail Study, please contact Laura Liberto at 718.477.1400 x16 or
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