Rail Link From Rockland & Orange Co's

[x635 4,066]

I feel the next addition we need to our Hudson Valley Commuter infacstructure is a real commuter rail link from Rockland and Orange into Tarrytown and onto the Hudson line. These suburbs are growing by leaps and bounds, and the current rail system, takes them all the way through NJ and puts them out in a PATH station, taking a very long time.

Having a commuter rail link, which hopefully would be interegated with the new bridge, would tremendously help to reduce traffic congestion on local roadways. Also, a light rail from the Tarrytown train station into White Plains would also help congestions and to keep vehicles off the roadway, as well as allow commuters to tie into the Harlem line. Coupled with the infastrucutre improvments going on at GCT and Penn, this would essentially allow someone to take the train (with some transfer) from Walden (Orange County) all the way to Montauk on the east end of Long Island.

These suburbs are only getting bigger and bigger, and it's my opinion that this is an issue that needs to be addressed. Having a true, efficient, and quick way to get commuters from these places into White Plains and NYC is sorely needed, and be a definite boost to the economy and help to take traffic- and pollution- off of the roads.

"This is the express train from Nyack. This station is Nyack. The next station is Grand Central." All on a new M-9 train.

It would also be nice for them to put a bike/walking paths onto the new bridge, it would be awesome to be able to bike into Rockland.

Edited December 20, 2006 by x635

[dadbo46 50]

While there is some likelihood of heavy rail coming across the new "Zee" bridge to a new station in Tarrytown by the bridge, don't get too excited about heavy or light rail across Westchester. Mucho $$$ and significant right-of-way (read "emminent domain") issues.

Don't be surprised if Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) wins out on this.

Edited December 21, 2006 by dadbo46

[CPAGE 2]

I would hope / think the line should start in Port Jervis or even in Pike Co PA. It could come down to the TZ or across the I-84 area and down.

Just my 2 cents

Chris

[Guest]

I'd be pretty dissapointed if they went the way of dedicated bus lanes across the new TZ bridge, but I do think it's more likely. I've known people who take the bus across now and get on MNRR at Tarrytown. They seem to think it's pretty good.

As for a cross westchester light rail. It's a GREAT idea. I287 is always a heavy traffic area. Why not look into something like the AirTrain in Queens? It's built right over the VanWyke. Could you see something like that on the Cross Westchester? You could avoid clearing costly real estate that way.

Who knows.

[x635 4,066]

Would "Bus Rapid Transit" be similar to a "Busway", like LA's Orange line busway?

Although that's not a good example- even though that system works well...it is still plagued by isolated incidents which result in unfounded bad press.

[Guest]

Would "Bus Rapid Transit" be similar to a "Busway", like LA's Orange line busway?

Although that's not a good example- even though that system works well...it is still plagued by isolated incidents which result in unfounded bad press.

←

I haven't heard much about the term, "bus rapid transit", but I have heard a lot about the idea of something that is similar to LA's "busway". It may not be a bad idea. As long as some form of public mass transit has a way go cross the bridge without concern for traffic, we are better off.

I still prefer rail for it's ability to meet growing demands with easily increased capacity, but I recongnize it's cost limitations.

All in all, I think an expandable light rail system for the bridge and then perhaps cross-westchester to White Plains and beyond is the greatest idea. Again, I point towards a simple, operator-less train, such as the AirTrain at JFK.