EPA press release on WTC cleaning hotline launch, June 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

their industries, have consistently cited transportation as an essential driver in their businesses' location decisions. In their Key Princip/es in Rei^ui/ding Lower Man/jaitan, the Alliance for Downtown New York, Association for a Better New York, New York City Partnership, and Real Estate Board of New York cite transportation and infrastructure as the first priority.' Similarly, surveys by the Downtown Alliance and Wall Street Rising found that transportation is the single most important improvement for firms and workers in Lower Manhattan.® 5 Change in Office’Jobs CBD Square Footage* *' Number of Employees* Available Transportation* During the 199O's I 3 commuter rails, PATH, Midtown 282,900,000 970,000 19 subway lines, ferries, bus, Amtrak, 49,000 Manhattan airport access

Lower 0 commuter rail, PATH, 18 subway 107,800,000 388,000 -16,000 Manhattan lines, ferries, bus

* Pre-Septembcr 11 numbers; square footage numbers obtained from Cushman & Wakefield.

Midtown Manhattan provides a valuable example of how enhancements to local, regional, and international transportation can spur economic development. Between the 1980s and today, sev­ eral transportation improvements have occurred in Midtown that are the result of long-term transportation planning. Enhancements to key subway stations, such as Times Square - 42nd Street, have improved navigation and convenience for thousands of daily subway riders. New Jersey Transit's Midtown Direct service to Midtown's Penn Station created a one-seat ride between New Jersey and Midtown Manhattan for additional New Jersey Transit customers. During the same time period, the MTA increased its fleet of Metro-North and LIRR trains, enabling a higher frequency of service to Midtown from several of the surrounding suburban regions. More recently, the Port Authority has completed an airport link from Midtown to Newark Liberty International Airport, while construction to connect Midtown to JFK is under­ way.

If Lower Manhattan were to follow Midtown's example, it would be of mutual advantage. A 1997 study by Empire State Development Corporation found that improved transportation for Lower Manhattan would create 14,000 new downtown jobs, increase average Class A commer­ cial rents in Lower Manhattan by as much as 12%, and boost economic activity across all of Manhattan by as much as $930 million’ — benefiting not only Downtown, but also Midtown.

The Future of Lower Manhattan — Connectivity for the City, Region, and World

The development of a September 11th memorial and a rebuilt World Trade Center will require substantial upgrades to the area's rail, bus, ferry, and street systems. The Statue of Liberty already receives 3.5 million visitors per year departing from Lower Manhattan, while the original obser­ vation deck for the World Trade Center site received approximately 2 million visitors per year.

Introduction 9

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