Hawaiitiki wrote:I like the idea of it all. Seems to make just as much sense if not more than the HBLR due to possible system interchangeability. The new Goethals, as someone mentioned in the other forum, is being built with a provision for Mass-Transit.
On the SI side of the Arthur Kill, it doesn't seem like much of a stretch a connect the future Goethals bridge to the old North Shore line and terming at the St. George's Ferry terminal with the PA possibly assuming control of both systems. (SI PATH and SIRR).
I just don't see a non-multibillion dollar idea of getting the PATH to the Goethals from the EWR Rail Station. Wrapping around the South/Southwest Side of EWR then running along some sort of raised medium above the Turnpike(ala JFK airtrain) seems like one of the few "reasonable" ways.
Why not simply replace the SIRR with the PATH once their joined? Perhaps the MTA could take over running the PATH as part of the deal. It seems inefficient to have MTA running all of the subways and the port authority just running PATH. Subsidies can be worked out.
I think the best route would be:
1. St. George connection to SIR (becomes one system)
- Tunnel down to cross over to Bayonne
2. Underground stop at 8th Street HBLR station for transfer
- Continue in tunnel under Newark Bay
- Tunnel under Newark Airport
3. IKEA/SHOPPING CENTER (economic development on the other side of Turnpike)
4. Terminal A/B Station (people movers between terminals and rail station, like at Heathrow 123 station)
5. Terminal C Station / Car rental (again people movers underground)
6. Join Northeast Corridor at EWR airport rail station. Opportunity for NJT and AMT passengers to transfer to PATH towards airport stations or Staten Island.
7. Newark Train Station
8. Rest of PATH system.
This is obviously ambitious. But plans for EWR expansion involve rebuilding terminals to make room for another runway. So in that context, much could be achieved.
I've attached a map.
I revised this message to include the Ikea stop.