Fulton Street Transit Center
Recently, the MTA announced use of additional federal funds and other resources to meet about an $100 million increase in costs at the proposed new Fulton Street Transit Center hub downtown.
Normally this type of spending would raise our eyebrows, but we have been a strong supporter of building the transit hub and think the extra funds should be dedicated.
A well-designed station will help revitalize downtown Manhattan by restoring service, eliminating glaring deficiencies in the current complex of downtown stations and meeting future needs.
Our offices are downtown and our staff frequently uses the current Fulton St-Broadway Nassau station regularly. It is a misery for transit riders, with clogged entrances, confusing passageways, congested platforms and a crazy quilt of connections more suitable to a funhouse than the subway.
The proposed Fulton Street Transit Center would turn a major liability for lower Manhattan into a major asset. The project deserves to be a top priority for scarce federal 9/11 rebuilding funds, which makes the project possible without seriously undermining the MTA?s need to continue its vital capital program to bring the entire subway, bus and commuter rail systems to a state of good repair and a normal replacement cycle.
Among the important elements of the Full Build Alternative we support are:
? an open and attractive new entry facility at Broadway and John Street;
? enhancing connectivity between the A/C and 4/5 lines, both horizontally and vertically;
? connecting the subway stations to the World Trade Center PATH station through an underground passageway below Dey Street;
? rehabilitating the 4/5 and 2/3 stations in the Fulton St-Broadway Nassau complex;
? better and simpler access to the A/C and J/M/Z lines at the Fulton Street station;
? connecting the R/W and E lines between the Cortlandt Street and Chambers Street stations;
? better pedestrian flow through wider stairs, new entrances and ADA access;
? preservation of the adjacent Corbin building; and
? incorporating retail facilities in the design to generate long-term revenues.
Posted Jun 28 2006 by Gene Russianoff |
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