North Shore Alternatives Analysis Findings

MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) sponsored the North Shore Alternatives Study (NSAA). The Staten Island Borough President funded the study. We examined alternative transit service on the old North Shore rail line between South Ave and the St. George Ferry terminal. The line last carried passenger service in 1953 and rail freight service in 1989. Reusing the right-of-way could provide much needed public transit capacity.

We considered three alternative modes of transit: bus, train and ferry. We also considered two western terminals: Arlington and West Shore Plaza. These are the alternatives we included:

• Transportation Systems Management (TSM) - We considered making improvements to existing service.
• Heavy Rail - We explored service like SIR on the South Shore of Staten Island.
• Light Rail - We evaluated new service like the Hudson Bergen Light Rail in New Jersey.
• Bus Rapid Transit - We explored fast, efficient bus service within the right-of-way.
• Ferry Service - We considered adding ferry service between stops along the North Shore and Lower Manhattan.

The NSAA selected Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) as the locally preferred alternative.