#7 Extension to Secaucus regional transportation and economic Solutions for the 21st Century Len Resto & Christine Berthet- September 17, 2016

The Problem Additional capacity needed to handle current and future passenger volume into and out of New York City NJ Transit trains are currently operating into and out of New York Penn Station at peak capacity, but on-time performance needs improvement Bus travel time to the Port Authority Bus Terminal totally unpredictable, varying widely due to many factors Lincoln Tunnel currently operating beyond capacity Port Authority Trans Hudson (PATH) trains operating beyond capacity Ferry service overly expensive for average rider Infrastructure in desperate need of repair Regional population up 14% in past 30 years & growing Rail demand expected to rise 50% by 2030; bus demand by 30%

The Problem, cont’d Additional capacity needed to handle current and future passenger volume into and out of New York City Gateway project is “underway” but not near completion The south tube of the Hudson River Tunnels is fragile, and will need to be taken out of service for desperately needed repairs due to Sandy and age The tube may need to close before Gateway is completed, severely impacting current capacity No new ferry services are contemplated in the near future Population of Jersey City, Hoboken, Bayonne, Harrison continues to grow as Millennials settle there for auto-free mobility options The current transportation system cannot handle the load Current transportation system offers no predictability

Proposed Solutions The Suggested Ways of Getting Out of Our “Mess”

Current Proposed Solutions/Situations The “Gateway” Project Additional tunnels under the Hudson and replacement of Portal Bridge Amtrak project with Port Authority, NJ Transit and federal government involvement Close one of the existing 100+ year old tunnels, initially the south one, for repair due to Sandy damage and age Build a new $10 Billion Port Authority Bus Terminal with greater bus capacity approximately 1 to 3 blocks farther west in Manhattan PATH Positive Train Control installation to allow a few more trains to operate on its lines

The Legislative View The Coveted & Mostly Non- Existent “One-Seat” Ride: Bring Your Own!

Legislative Assumptions The “Gateway” project may or may not be ready before an existing tunnel needs to be closed The Port Authority “West” Bus Terminal will “guarantee” the “one seat” ride passengers currently have and want Most bus and rail passengers already have a one-seat ride to work Existing ferry service is underutilized and has room to expand HBLRT extension is a local issue, not a regional one Restoration or keeping of the “status quo” is good enough

The Reality The “Gateway” project will not be ready before an existing tunnel has to be closed Even when the current phase is completed, trans-Hudson capacity will not be increased--because the existing tunnels will have to be shut down for lengthy repair, portal bridge and restraints at Penn Station Most bus and rail passengers already have a multi-seat ride to work. Their destinations are not necessarily walkable from the PABT The seat change currently occurs in Manhattan and involves either riding a local bus or the subway. Sizeable two-seat destinations are the east side of Manhattan, and, to a lesser degree, south and north The issue isn’t a “one seat” ride, it is the TIME it takes to get to work or home A new PABT-West lengthens the TIME it takes to get to work or home

The PABT West Problem Big $$ for Greater Inconvenience A new PABT-West lengthens the TIME it takes to get to work or home Walking: On average two to three additional long blocks Subway: Current users of the 1, 2, 3, A, C and E lines to endure longer walk and/or a subway-to-subway transfer (E-line currently serves east side of midtown north of 48th Street) Result: Will drive people away from Public Transportation Will not relieve bus congestion Increases air pollution in central, western Manhattan Deprives NYC of valuable real estate tax base

21st Century Regional Realities Workers live and work both in NJ and NY Both economies are dependent upon the other The “one seat” ride does not exist and never has existed for most commuters The change of seats has traditionally happened in NY; it can happen in NJ, and at a great savings of time Our waterfront cities will continue to grow Younger people will be less “auto-centric” and that need must be addressed Our economy will be constricted by our ability to move people. Transportation’s ceiling will be our economic ceiling

21st Century Regional Solutions Admit this is a regional economy Fast-track Gateway Close and fix the Hudson River tunnels, one at a time Replace Portal Bridge with a modern 4 track structure Decide how to renovate Penn Station/Moynihan for maximum efficiency Recognize that the Lincoln Tunnel is beyond maximum capacity NOW!

21st Century Regional Solutions Extend the #7 subway line west to Secaucus and build a new PABT at Secaucus instead of NYC Fewer buses will use the Lincoln Tunnel reducing congestion to speed commuter trips Current PABT will not ease congestion at Lincoln Tunnel and speed commuter trips Eliminates existing chaos of subway/bus transfers near the PABT in NYC with speedy, rider-friendly connection from new PABT and existing rail station Passengers walking from current PABT continue to have their one-seat ride Reduces need to extend Gateway project to east side of midtown Parsons-Brinkerhoff Study P-B Study of 2013 estimates time from Secaucus to Grand Central to be 16 minutes, shaving over 30 minutes off current commute P-B Study states #7 can run one train every two minutes (30 trains per hour) #7 permits easy transfer to most other subway lines- east side access

Interim/Long-Term Solutions Expand and increase ferry service and provide additional subsidies to allow average worker to use it Increase service to underutilized Hoboken Terminal Extend Hudson-Bergen Light Rail to eastern Bergen County, bringing more passengers to Hudson River waterfront and ferries Provide additional “off peak” service on all transit modes Add citizen members to the Port Authority Board Ensure that Port Authority Board members have transportation backgrounds, either as planners or users

More 21st Century Regional Solutions Complete HBLRT to New York State border to allow Bergen County riders the opportunity to transfer to ferries or #7. Extend HBLRT to Rockland County and Staten Island Implement technology to allow seamless fare collection with one fare payment Once Gateway is operational and existing tunnels rebuilt and renovated, implement M-O-M project and also extend rail service to West Trenton, Phillipsburg and Sparta, and on the entire Lackawanna Cutoff

Extend #7 Line To Secaucus; Forego Building a PABT-West Thank you for your attention Questions?