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This is a great article about a proposed light rail line, that would like all 5 MNRR's lines. Any thoughts?http://www.nyjournalnews.com/newsroom/090503/a0105literail.html for those not from the NY area, here is a map. The black is the light rail I drew. -NHtrain
It's certainly a good idea. New York's roads are already at capacity for most of the day. We can't build more roads so some form of rail is the only alternative. While we're at it, many portions of the outer boroughs of NYC are currently underserved by subways. We could use a few new lines so that most people can walk to a subway rather than take a feeder bus service(which is now the case in many parts of Queens, Brooklyn, and The Bronx). This will get polluting buses off the road, and make the subways a more viable alternative to get from one part of the borough to another as well as to go to Manhattan. That should cut down on the number of car trips.One thing public transit needs to do better is to cater not only to people going to/from the city centers, but also those traveling in the outer parts of the city. Light rail is a more cost-effective way to do that than commuter rail or subway.
My vote would be for commuter rail! MNRR can have trains that run up the Hudson line branching off at Tarrytown to cross the river to Suffern. Most of the commuters on the Tapanzee is going to NYC not Portchester and this would relieve traffic on the bridge during rush hours better. A Cross County line can also be used to service Portchester relieving traffic eastbound.
Actually, Your idea was my first thought, but, The people inbetween the 3 lines also use the route to get to the nearest station, Also, The tapenzee would not stand up to the weight of the heavy commuter rail. Another thing is low budget. Light rail is cheaper.-NHtrain
nhtrain: If there is hardly enough room for cars on the TZ, then light rail or any other form of transportation is out of the question. Unless the LRVs would act like buses (in terms of braking, turn signals where the tracks switch lanes, and safety) and pay tolls on the TZ, it would be impossible. You would probably have it run in the median of the NYS Thruway, but in places, there is no median. At that point, it would have to be on an elevated structure. It would also have to use the same lanes as cars on the TZ, which would not be such a great idea. It would have to pass through the toll plaza and continue down the thruway and the cross westchester expressway. Now, move north a little ways to Beacon, Towners, and Danbury. There already is track running between those towns, connecting the three GCT lines. The light rail line would probably work better if it used a tunnel under the Hudson. Then it could have transfer points at all stations, as opposed to being about a mile away.tcain: Most of the commuters on the TZ are actually going to White Plains and not New York City. Most of the commuters from that area going to New York use the George Washington Bridge (17 or Palasades Interstate Parkway).
>nhtrain: If there is hardly enough room for cars on the TZ, >then light rail or any other form of transportationActually, They plan to build a new bridge or tunnel and put convert the old one to Light rail entirely! -NHtrain
I believe the article stated they were thinking of replacing the Tappanzee Bridge so a new one could be made strong enough to handle either rail systems. The commuter approach solves both the cross county problem to White Plains and Portchester and can even be linked with the NH line there for seamless trips up to New Haven. It also provides a non stop run into NYC. Light rail would require passengers to change to the existing commuter lines. This would take away some of the benefits that would draw people away from their cars! Allot of people won't want to wait on a cold platform in the winter for a connection. You can time your arrival at your origin so you don't have a long wait, but your at the mercy of the LR and CR schedules as to how long you have to wait at the connection station. I for one would rather drive myself, in that case! Light rail may or may not be cheaper than commuter rail, (Where commuter rail can utilize existing rolling stock, and light rail would require purchase and design of a new system.) but it won't be as convenient
I keep hearing rumors that MNRR is gonna build on old NYO&W ROW and bring rail service back to sullivan county, And I'll tell you first hand, Driving on 17 it's pretty plugged, So any new transit method would be welcomedI would love to see the rebirth of the NYO&W, maybe get MN to paint some of the genesis units in the grayish blue and yellow O&W livery
____________________________________________ Shawn K, shawnssk@yahoo.com Texture dude for TKW & YLW, Forum Mod. Feel free to e-mail me. The NYO&W.. Running from somewhere to nowhere, But never forgotten ____________________________________________ READ the forum rules! Have a general question? Try Google Looking for an answer to a Train-Sim Question? Search the Forum Archive First Looking for a certain Trainsim add-on? See Here First!
-NHtrain
John
