WHO HAS MORE OF A SAY IN THE LOCAL REGION? YOU MAKE THE CALL .

As you requested, the website links to the articles are at the bottom of this news summary.





Back in 2003 the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey scrapped the Goethals Bridge Twin Study. Talk now is of the Goethals Bridge Replacement project. Time will tell when the Goethals Bridge will be replaced. We are still waiting



The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is at it again - throwing yet another nasty curve ball and huge obstacle into the proposed and much needed NASCAR track and diminishing any hope of a proposed Light Rail connection over the Bayonne Bridge. Yes, now there is talk about addressing the needs of international freighter captains and the taller freighter ships that have to pass under the soaring arch of Bayonne Bridge. For the larger ships entering the Kill Van Kull, the international shipping industry is yelling to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey that the bridge clearance is to low and needs to be raised. One proposed project by the Port Authority to raise the entire bridge would take 3 to 4 years. Other scenarios are to replace the entire bridge.



What complicates the entire scenario is the proposed NASCAR track needs every transportation link to sell to the traffic plan to the City Planning Commission. Yes, the Bayonne Bridge is very much part of this plan and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is not helping matters with the reconstruction of the Bayonne Bridge. Timing is everything. This could not come at a worst time.



For Staten Islander the Bayonne Bridge is a vital transportation link in our borough's daily traffic flow.



Who has more of a say and has more power to control the development of the region:



Look at the 2 sides involved in the issue:



The NASCAR track, Staten Island residents, the City of New York and the tax base, NJT Light Rail Transit, and proposed connection to the MTA/Staten Island Rapid Transit (North Shore Line connection)



OR



The International Shipping Industry, Commerce and Cargo, Large Freighter Ships, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Port Newark and Port Elizabeth marine terminals.



At stake the image of Staten Island. An image of the Fresh Kill landfill. Remember - for the last half of the 20th Century, Staten Island was arguably best known as the site of the Fresh Kills Landfill, the primary destination for garbage from the five boroughs of New York City and the largest single source of methane pollution in the world. NASCAR will bring hope and a new and attractive image to Staten Island erasing the negative mindset of the Fresh Kills Landfill connected to Staten Island. An entertainment center for all to enjoy.



Light Rail connected over the Bayonne Bridge will help alleviate the current Staten Island traffic problems and will help reinforce the transportation plan for the NASCAR track. The NASCAR track and the Light Rail system over the Bayonne Bridge is win-win situation for Staten Island and neighboring Hudson County and Union County. It will bring in revenue for the entire surrounding economy with profits generated for all surrounding restaurants, hotels, local grocery stores, and many other local businesses. Added, Light rail is clean, efficient, and the speedy way to commute. Light-rail is environmentally friendly and does not generate emissions or any means of pollution.



Added, a NJT Light Rail Transit link over the Bayonne Bridge connected to the proposed reopening of North Shore Line of the MTA/Staten Island Rapid will bring the highest degree of transit options for Staten Island residents and improve our traffic flow throughout the Island. Something we must all think about.



Don't forget, land-values will skyrocket with the development of 1. NASCAR track on Staten Island, 2. a NJT Light Rail System over the Bayonne Bridge that will alleviate our traffic problems and 3. the much needed reopening of the North shore Line of the Staten Island Rapid Transit. All factors we must consider.



The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is slow to take action to correct the traffic problems on Staten Island. We continue to see how long it is taking to correct the problems with the Goethals Bridge and the scrapped Twin project. We now have the Bayonne Bridge and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey considering catering to the needs of the marine terminals to bring in the larger freighter ships for more commerce and cargo to our region. As we can see commerce is a priority one to the Port Authority mission over interstate traffic improvements.



Rehabilitating the local transportation network with the Staten Island bridge crossings continues to be not a high priority for the Port Authority. Bottom-line there in no rush. Improving the traffic flow at the interstate crossings for Staten Island remains a slow and at best secondary factor for the Port Authority of New York And New Jersey. Non-existing improvements on the Goethals Bridge with large backups on a daily basis. With consideration of the Bayonne Bridge being to be raised for larger freighter ships, we now see any hope of design and construction of a NJT Light Rail System over the bridge factored out. Any construction that will shut down the Bayonne Bridge will impact the proposed NASCAR plan and the Staten Island transportation network and our traffic flow. Yes, we are witnessing once again, the traffic and transit needs of Staten Island taking a back seat to other priorities. This time to commerce and cargo and larger freighter ships entering the New York/ New Jersey region. Don't forget marine terminals and seaports do generate a certain amount of pollution from freighter ships and not environmentally friendly. A lot of aspects to consider.



No joke its all true.



The proof is there.

Put it all together and you decide who has more of a say. Staten Island has reached a fork in the road.



Which way will they go?



A lot at stake and the direction, image, and improvements that are made through the local decision-making of the City of New of New York and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.



Read the articles below for more information.



__________________________________________________________

STAR LEGDER





ARTICLE TITTLE:
Cutting it close
Bayonne Bridge's height is trouble for ships and a costly question for the Port Authority

Friday, May 19, 2006

BY SUSAN TODD

Star-Ledger Staff

To ship captains around the world, it is known as a bridge too low.

When the Bayonne Bridge went up 75 years ago, it was hailed as an engineering marvel. The spare, steel span stretched nearly 8,300 feet from Staten Island to New Jersey, with a slender, intricate arch soaring elegantly over the Kill van Kull waterway.

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE FROM THE STAR LEDGER.

Click on link or Copy and Paste -



http://www.nj.com/search/index.ssf?/base/business-3/1148044528280620.xml?starledger?b&coll=1





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Our side:

STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE



ARTICLE TITLE:



By Cormac Gordon



Light rail system is way to go



We must take step beyond task force to ease Island's traffic trauma



Monday, April 10, 2006

If you take a close look at the federal budget, the only conclusion you can come to is that America is awash in money.

Read the details about this article at:

http://www.silive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1144675890117610.xml&coll=1&thispage=1

Dont Forget To Read About The Goethals Bridge and The Aborted Twin Study.

Ties Into Understanding The Staten Island Transportation Network and The Need For Light Rail Over The Bayonne Bridge.





The Goethal Twin Scrapped in 2003 by The Goethals Bridge.

http://www.transalt.org/press/magazine/031Winter/16metropolitan.html#m





Goethals Bridge Replacement

http://www.goethalseis.com/





Understanding Goethals Bridge

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goethals_Bridge