Comments on the ARC Meeting of Dec. 2, 1999 December 15, 1999
With Alternative AA now requiring the examination of 11 Variants. It is critical that these Variants be studied not only among themselves but as possible Variants for Alternative BB.
The problems associated with connecting Penn Station with Grand Central could be bypassed by building the New Tunnel further north for a more direct access to the Grand Central Area.
Furthermore, Access to the Region's Core has unnecessarily limited its scope by concentrating its effort on the Midtown Area. This leads to a bad case of SUB-OPTIMAL PLANNING.
Now that interest in a new Hudson River rail connection has been aroused, it is important that it be done in the RIGHT manner to derive maximum benefits for the population of the Metro Area. In this light it would be advisable to revisit the "JENNY PLAN" before any further studies are completed.
A revised JENNY PLAN may consist of a loop, coming from both NJ and Queens to the North of Midtown. This loop would run in a deep tunnel, with limited stops, to downtown Manhattan where it would split to go to both Brooklyn and Hoboken. Such a plan could be implemented in stages with success feeding upon success.
It appears that Alternative AA will be at best a Band Aid which cannot be expanded without great difficulties.
Modified Jenny Plan The following is based on the concepts developed by Col. Alfred Jenny from 1910 through 1950.
Build, in phases, a deep limited station Spine Line rail tunnel in Manhattan. This tunnel would eventually extending from 63rd Street to the Downtown Financial District.
Routing
Phase I. A new tunnel would cross the Hudson River in the neighborhood of 63rd Street to connect in a Wye with the Spine Line as well as with LIRR coming from the east through the East River 63rd Street Tunnel. This would provide direct access to GCT and Lincoln Center for both the LIRR and NJ Transit. Part of this Phase would be a connection with the West Side Line to provide access to the rail Yards north of 125th Street to provide midday storage for NJ Transit, LIRR and Metro North.
Phase II. Continue the Spine Line with trains stopping at new platforms beneath the Lower Level of GCT to another Wye at 33rd Street. LIRR trains could return to Queens while NJT trains could return to NJ via Penn Station. Reverse direction travel would also apply for both lines.
Phase III Complete the Spine Line downtown to the Financial Center and run into two underwater tunnels, one to connect with NJ Transit in Hoboken, and the other to the LIRR at Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn
Operation
Phase I. Trains would come from NJ stop at Lincoln Center and continue to GCT. Trains from Queens would also Terminate at GCT. Empty equipment would lay over in the 125 Street yards.
Phase II. Same as Phase I, but some trains would continue in the deep tunnel to the 33Rd Street tunnels. NJ Transit trains would bear right returning to NJ via Penn Station. LIRR trains could bear left to return to Long Island City or terminate at Penn Station.
Phase III. Adds to Phase II the options of continuing downtown to the Financial District with NJ Transit returning via Hoboken and LIRR returning via Brooklyn.
Phase IIIB. If a four way interchange is built at 33rd Street, trains from Penn Station and Long Island City could also reach the Spine Line at 33rd Street and continue Downtown to the Financial Center tunnels.
Phases II, III & IIIB would also accommodate trains in the opposite directions and would be built to accommodate all three lines in any direction including running trains from New Jersey to Long Island and Westchester. Trains from the West Shore and all other rail lines coming from Bergen and Rockland Counties would have direct access to New York City and possibly Newark
Proposal for an Updated Jenny Plan
This proposal is an adaptation on the work of Col. Alfred Jenny. Col. Jenny who was involved in the building of Grand Central Terminal developed his concept during the 1910-1950 period. It is to be noted that the accommodation of three tracks, from West of the Hudson, was included in the original planning of Grand Central Terminal.
Modifications to the original plan proposed by Col. Jenny have been made necessary by the UPTOWN CREEP of the Midtown Central Business District.
Alternative "AA", as proposed in the "Access to the Region's Core study, neglects the needs resulting from this Uptown Creep. Furthermore, AA is a closed ended proposal which can not be easily modified to accommodate the needs of future development.