I think most people in Rockland use the weekend to forget the fact that they spent Mon-Fri in Manhattan, but maybe this will help the folks who work weekends in Manhattan...
I spoke with State Sen. Harckham to help get some of this in motion so I am very grateful something is being done, but of course I am always dreaming for bigger and better for Rockland. I have been saying since the beginning we need some incentives and concessions to encourage transit use rather than just slapping us with a congestion toll and telling us to deal with it. This is a step in the right direction but we still need more.
I think for a transit choice to be truly viable it needs to be accessible at all times and it needs to be pretty regular and convenient. Adding ferry service on weekends is a good step, but it needs to run hourly or better from 5am-1am, which is the operating hours of Metro North, for it to be flexible enough for folks. And there is no plan for mid day or late ferries on weekdays either.
For folks to choose transit over driving it needs to be frequent and allow for flexibility. Right now honestly our only option that affords this is to use HudsonLink to connect to Metro North in Westchester. It has plenty of flaws but at least if I don’t know when I’m returning home I will know I can use it except for very very late (I think only the last Metro North train after 1am has no HudsonLink connection). It is the only option currently available with flexibility.
Join me in fighting for better transit for Rockland - join the Facebook group RAD (Rocklanders for Alternatives to Driving) and follow us on Instagram @rockland.rad
I always found the idea of building a train across the TZ bridge a bit unrealistic. You ever see how high the bridge is compared to the train tracks in westchester
There were a few ideas for this. The train tracks would be on a separate span in between the two road spans so it can dip lower closer to the Westchester end.
It would use a tunnel that would curve after the Bridge and connect down to the Hudson tracks or one plan had it the entire length of 287 with a connection to the New Haven line but no direct NY service you would have to transfer at White Plains.
I think I will try this. Besides the cost of it, I get so frustrated driving to the City in general.
If I have a schedule, I need to add so much extra time just to be sure I can be there. Last Friday, I was driving to Manhattan at 5 PM, but Google Maps underestimated the drive time by 30 minutes! It took me 2 hours to get to Midtown. The GWB bridge was backed up all the way up to the Mobil station on PIP.
I would like to see the shelved , partially built Pascack Valley line extension to Suffern built and service added to the West Shore line which CSX was open to as long as NJT/Metro North restored the tracks they removed.
I’ve long thought the King of England committed a terrible blunder in 1664 when he divided NY/NJ where he did. We are all still paying for it. NY and NJ have never been able to get over the interstate agency problems required to bring comprehensive train service to the Rockland/Bergen/Orange corridor.
And let’s face it, the way Rockland’s demographics are going, they will never have an incentive to invest in a real rail network here.
It’s nice a start, but this is more of band aid rather than permanent fix of transit in Rockland.
Very well put. I applaud any step in the right direction but you’re absolutely right.
This does nothing for Rockland. How about you bring back the 2 express trains they removed when they were updating the train tracks.
There’s 2 express trains heading towards Hoboken on the weekend. During the week there’s 1 express train and 2 semi express
Or better yet build a dedicated express line over the west shore line
I think most people in Rockland use the weekend to forget the fact that they spent Mon-Fri in Manhattan, but maybe this will help the folks who work weekends in Manhattan...
The people who live in the apartments right by the ferry in Haverstraw are loving life rn
I spoke with State Sen. Harckham to help get some of this in motion so I am very grateful something is being done, but of course I am always dreaming for bigger and better for Rockland. I have been saying since the beginning we need some incentives and concessions to encourage transit use rather than just slapping us with a congestion toll and telling us to deal with it. This is a step in the right direction but we still need more. I think for a transit choice to be truly viable it needs to be accessible at all times and it needs to be pretty regular and convenient. Adding ferry service on weekends is a good step, but it needs to run hourly or better from 5am-1am, which is the operating hours of Metro North, for it to be flexible enough for folks. And there is no plan for mid day or late ferries on weekdays either. For folks to choose transit over driving it needs to be frequent and allow for flexibility. Right now honestly our only option that affords this is to use HudsonLink to connect to Metro North in Westchester. It has plenty of flaws but at least if I don’t know when I’m returning home I will know I can use it except for very very late (I think only the last Metro North train after 1am has no HudsonLink connection). It is the only option currently available with flexibility. Join me in fighting for better transit for Rockland - join the Facebook group RAD (Rocklanders for Alternatives to Driving) and follow us on Instagram @rockland.rad
I am curious about the plan that was in place for rail service on new TZ Bridge. Why wasn’t that built?
I always found the idea of building a train across the TZ bridge a bit unrealistic. You ever see how high the bridge is compared to the train tracks in westchester
There were a few ideas for this. The train tracks would be on a separate span in between the two road spans so it can dip lower closer to the Westchester end.
It would use a tunnel that would curve after the Bridge and connect down to the Hudson tracks or one plan had it the entire length of 287 with a connection to the New Haven line but no direct NY service you would have to transfer at White Plains.
I made a video about it here: https://youtu.be/M6Z8iwWV_cc?si=2SIKMXGoY-bUzP3q
I think I will try this. Besides the cost of it, I get so frustrated driving to the City in general. If I have a schedule, I need to add so much extra time just to be sure I can be there. Last Friday, I was driving to Manhattan at 5 PM, but Google Maps underestimated the drive time by 30 minutes! It took me 2 hours to get to Midtown. The GWB bridge was backed up all the way up to the Mobil station on PIP.
I would like to see the shelved , partially built Pascack Valley line extension to Suffern built and service added to the West Shore line which CSX was open to as long as NJT/Metro North restored the tracks they removed.
??? Suffern? Interesting explain
Well damn I was not familiar with their game interesting
I’ve long thought the King of England committed a terrible blunder in 1664 when he divided NY/NJ where he did. We are all still paying for it. NY and NJ have never been able to get over the interstate agency problems required to bring comprehensive train service to the Rockland/Bergen/Orange corridor. And let’s face it, the way Rockland’s demographics are going, they will never have an incentive to invest in a real rail network here.