as a former new yorker...i'm simply appalled at the sheer idiocy of some transit advocates there... the island of manhattan is the densest parcel of land in the country and has the highest density of rail transit too!
forget about 42nd street! the only way to develop it any more would be to build skyscrapers on top of or below the ones already there! Besides, there's already a 42nd street shuttle!!!
instead, how about light rail lining parts of NYC that arent as dense yet!? Imagine Staten Island, Brooklyn and the Bronx, all resembling Manhattan's glory and density within 20 years! This could easily happen if light rail connects those borough's major thoroughfares!!!
The whole reason for dedicating 42nd Street to pedestrians and high-quality surface transit is because it is at the heart of the most densely developed borough in the nation. Only 23% of Manhattanites even own a car - most take transit and walk where they're going. As a result, and because we share our space heating and cooling requirements with our neighbors in apartment buildings, New Yorkers have a much smaller carbon footprint than most Americans. Removing cars from the streets that have the greatest crowds of pedestrians will allow space for landscaping, strolling, and outdoor cafes. Cars need to be discouraged here because they add nothing, but impose a real imposition on city life.
I think Vision42 project is just a beginning of a totally new concept in public transit in lieu of a green trend gradually taking over people's minds all over the world.
New York has been behind transit innovations lately. I strongly believe that Light Rail is a modern solution for cleaner air, safer streets and efficient transportation system.
I noticed in the report that the cars would get their power from fuel cells or other advanced technologies. I am disappointed about this because I associate light rail, streetcars or trolleys with electric overhead. A traditional overhead, as seen from afar, provides a visual cue as to the location of the light rail line and adds to the perception that this line is here to stay and it is heavy duty system. The majority of light rail cars in the world today get their power from overhead wires, but there is a minority of systems that use diesel or other power sources. Traditionally, Manhattan streetcar lines received their power through an underground third rail in a conduit between the regular running rails. This system was expensive to build and maintain, but it worked. Washington, D.C. was another streetcar system that used an underground third rail as a power source. Only small sections of upper Manhattan, where Bronx trolleys that used the traditional overhead, entered Manhattan, used the traditional wire overhead. I believe 155 th Street had such overhead. Obviously, not building an electric overhead will speed up the project and cause less opposition to the project. If the project is successful and it is desired that the system expanded, as discussed elsewhere, the system could be extended via the Lincoln Tunnel and connect with the HBLR system. In fact, if the North Shore line is converted to light rail and extended to Bayonne. it would be possible to have a one seat ride from St.George Staten Island to 42 nd Street and 1 st Avenue. To do this, the power source for all three systems must be compatible. One way to solve this problem is to use what was called a "plow pit". Some Manhattan trolley cars were equipped with a plow to pick up electricity from the underground conduit and a traditional trolley pole. In the Bronx, the trolley car used the overhead pole. As soon as the trolley entered Manhattan, the trolley pole was lowered and the car was attached to the underground third rail at this "plow pit". If an overhead is not used on 42nd Street due to obvious reasons and the electric conduit is used, before the trolley enters the Lincoln Tunnel, the car plow can be detached and the pantograph raised automatically to the power source. Thus such a car, that would run from St. George to 42nd Street and 1 st Avenue may be equipped with both pantographs and underground conductors, making this light rail car a sort of "all service vehicle". This would be a good thing to investigate.
I think I support idea of connecting 42nd street to New Jersey and Staten Island.
I also want to express my passion to trams/trolleys/LRT and my idea of supporting the Vision42 project through lyrics.
The following stances below are dedicated to Vision42 project and people behind it.
LRT Madness
Long time ago all year round New Yorkers cherished that streetcar sound. Streetcars did not stand a few-decade race. They had lost it to cars and gave up their space. Twentieth is gone. Twenty First is on the go. Green Earth has been taking in the minds the first row. Streetcars are to return as they suit right along. Clean air and style is in demand before long. Light Rail is a buzz taking over the world. A new has been always a well buried old. New York was at ease to get rid of the Streetcars. It has been a challenge to fit it so far. But hope is warming refreshed and anew. A vision is blooming and comes into view. So far it’s an effort of the people just few. We’ll wait and we’ll see when it gets into queue.
7 comments:
Looks great!
Mayor Bloomberg
as a former new yorker...i'm simply appalled at the sheer idiocy of some transit advocates there...
the island of manhattan is the densest parcel of land in the country and has the highest density of rail transit too!
forget about 42nd street! the only way to develop it any more would be to build skyscrapers on top of or below the ones already there! Besides, there's already a 42nd street shuttle!!!
instead, how about light rail lining parts of NYC that arent as dense yet!? Imagine Staten Island, Brooklyn and the Bronx, all resembling Manhattan's glory and density within 20 years! This could easily happen if light rail connects those borough's major thoroughfares!!!
The whole reason for dedicating 42nd Street to pedestrians and high-quality surface transit is because it is at the heart of the most densely developed borough in the nation. Only 23% of Manhattanites even own a car - most take transit and walk where they're going. As a result, and because we share our space heating and cooling requirements with our neighbors in apartment buildings, New Yorkers have a much smaller carbon footprint than most Americans. Removing cars from the streets that have the greatest crowds of pedestrians will allow space for landscaping, strolling, and outdoor cafes. Cars need to be discouraged here because they add nothing, but impose a real imposition on city life.
I think Vision42 project is just a beginning of a totally new concept in public transit in lieu of a green trend gradually taking over people's minds all over the world.
New York has been behind transit innovations lately. I strongly believe that Light Rail is a modern solution for cleaner air, safer streets and efficient transportation system.
I noticed in the report that the cars would get their power from fuel cells or other advanced technologies. I am disappointed about this because I associate light rail, streetcars or trolleys with electric overhead. A traditional overhead, as seen from afar, provides a visual cue as to the location of the light rail line and adds to the perception that this line is here to stay and it is heavy duty system. The majority of light rail cars in the world today get their power from overhead wires, but there is a minority of systems that use diesel or other power sources. Traditionally, Manhattan streetcar lines received their power through an underground third rail in a conduit between the regular running rails. This system was expensive to build and maintain, but it worked. Washington, D.C. was another streetcar system that used an underground third rail as a power source. Only small sections of upper Manhattan, where Bronx trolleys that used the traditional overhead, entered Manhattan, used the traditional wire overhead. I believe 155 th Street had such overhead.
Obviously, not building an electric overhead will speed up the project and cause less opposition to the project. If the project is successful and it is desired that the system expanded, as discussed elsewhere, the system could be extended via the Lincoln Tunnel and connect with the HBLR system. In fact, if the North Shore line is converted to light rail and extended to Bayonne. it would be possible to have a one seat ride from St.George Staten Island to 42 nd Street and 1 st Avenue. To do this, the power source for all three systems must be compatible. One way to solve this problem is to use what was called a "plow pit". Some Manhattan trolley cars were equipped with a plow to pick up electricity from the underground conduit and a traditional trolley pole. In the Bronx, the trolley car used the overhead pole. As soon as the trolley entered Manhattan, the trolley pole was lowered and the car was attached to the underground third rail at this "plow pit". If an overhead is not used on 42nd Street due to obvious reasons and the electric conduit is used, before the trolley enters the Lincoln Tunnel, the car plow can be detached and the pantograph raised automatically to the power source. Thus such a car, that would run from St. George to 42nd Street and 1 st Avenue may be equipped with both pantographs and underground conductors, making this light rail car a sort of "all service vehicle". This would be a good thing to investigate.
I think I support idea of connecting 42nd street to New Jersey and Staten Island.
I also want to express my passion to trams/trolleys/LRT and my idea of supporting the Vision42 project through lyrics.
The following stances below are dedicated to Vision42 project and people behind it.
LRT Madness
Long time ago all year round
New Yorkers cherished that streetcar sound.
Streetcars did not stand a few-decade race.
They had lost it to cars and gave up their space.
Twentieth is gone. Twenty First is on the go.
Green Earth has been taking in the minds the first row.
Streetcars are to return as they suit right along.
Clean air and style is in demand before long.
Light Rail is a buzz taking over the world.
A new has been always a well buried old.
New York was at ease to get rid of the Streetcars.
It has been a challenge to fit it so far.
But hope is warming refreshed and anew.
A vision is blooming and comes into view.
So far it’s an effort of the people just few.
We’ll wait and we’ll see when it gets into queue.
Buy by Night
When the last barrel of oil is encased in the Smithsonian Museum,
And the last canister of compressed natural gas is enclosed in a fancy glass case in the British Museum,
The New York City Transit Authority, for spite,
Will buy smelly GM diesel buses at night.
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