We will seek to provide transit to new and emerging neighborhoods
Two areas of the city offer immediate opportunities to add new transit options where none currently exist. The 5.1-mile Staten Island North Shore Alignment-an abandoned railline linking directly to St. George and the Ferry Terminal-has been unused since 1953. A study will examine the potential for either rail or a dedicated road for buses to give the area its first rapid transit service in two generations.

The second area of opportunity is on Manhattan's West Side: as the 7 train is extended to reach the Javits Center, it will pass through an area that is growing fast but lacks transit. A new 10th Avenue Subway Station will meet a strong, emerging need at West 41st Street.

But transit-oriented development isn't limited to the city: developing transit hubs around suburban railroad stations can achieve a similar purpose. One such project, the Nassau County Hub, envisions a transit loop connecting LIRR stations and several existing and emerging employment centers in Mineola, Hempstead, and Garden City. Serving local riders, inbound commuters, and reverse commuters, the project will help reduce congestion on Long Island and create opportunities for the entire region.

These three projects should only be the beginning of a new era of rapid transit planning in New York. We will work with the MTA to review other potential transit expansions in the city, and we will support other regional efforts to explore local and longer-distance opportunities.

Progress (as of 4/22/08):
In Summer 2007, the City began preliminary research on the history of subway expansions and past transit expansion studies, and, in its recently-released 2008-2013 capital program, MTA allocated $50.0 million to build upon this research. Targeted studies will be conducted for Queens, Bronx, the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Southeastern Brooklyn, Staten Island's North Shore, Long Island, and the west side of the Hudson. These studies will guide future system expansion program work, including engineering and environmental review, and enhance access to underserved communities. In addition, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) issued an RFP on March 5th 2008 for consultants to study the North Shore of Staten Island. Selection is expected to take place by summer 2008.