NYT event listing for Children's Museum, Nov 2003

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

on this service. The Lexington Avenue line serves all residents east of Central Park, whereas, the residents west of Central Park have multiple subway options. South of 59th Street in Manhattan, the residential population is overwhelmingly located on the east side and, for many, the Lexington Avenue line is the only subway within walking distance from their homes. The construction of the Second Avenue Subway will relieve crowding on board Lexington Avenue trains and provide needed service to the East Side. The Second Avenue line was identified by the MTA in its Lower Manhattan Access Aifematwes study as the best solution for improving travel between Metro-North at Midtown and Lower Manhattan — precisely because it will attract some East Side passengers from the Lexington Avenue line. The Second Avenue Subway is slated for funding by the MTA, independent of Lower Manhattan transportation funds.

While the long-range goal is for new subway construction and a less crowded Lexington Avenue line, substantial benefits can be realized in the near-term as a result of the above-described initia­ tives —-improving the pedestrian connections at Grand Central, building the Fulton Transit Center, equipping commuters with real-time information on the status of subway line and com­ muter railroad operations, and implementing operational improvements to maximize the capacity and reliability of the line. These short-term initiatives will combine to make the subway trip between Grand Central and Lower Manhattan much more convenient and appealing).

ACCESSING THE REGION: NEW JERSEY Restoring PATH Service and Facilitating Access from New Jersey

Access to Lower Manhattan from New Jersey is accomplished in large measure by the PATH system. PATH, which served 67,000 riders a day to Lower Manhattan before September 11th, provides easy connections in Hoboken to New Jersey Transit trains serving many of the more populated communities.

When PATH service is restored in late 2003, Lower Manhattan will again have direct connec­ tions to suburban areas in New Jersey. The Port Authority and New Jersey Transit have been implementing a strategy to proride service for the long-term growth forecast for New Jersey. Most important in accommodating future growth is the project to increase capacity on PATH trains from eight to ten cars. As of June 29,2003, the Exchange Place PATH Station will oper­ ate as a terminal station with expanded ferry service to Lower Manhattan until WTC PATH service is restored in late 2003. Finally, improvements to the rail network that facilitate connec­ tions to Lower Manhattan PATH service — such as expansion of NJ Transit rail service to Hoboken, introduction of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Service, and the Secaucus Transfer — will continue to provide more options for Lower Manhattan-bound commuters.

Chapter 3; Reaching the Region — Practical Rail and Ferry Solutions 75

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