New York’s South Ferry Station Closed for Foreseeable Future

[marmar]

from Transportation Nation:


Don’t expect trains to run to the South Ferry Station in Lower Manhattan anytime soon. Officials say it could be a year or more before the storm Sandy-ravaged station — the end of the 1 line — is running again. The station is a vital daily link for almost 30,000 Staten Island ferry commuters switching to the New York subway system.



The station remains as the pumped-out storm waters left it — broken-off bits of tile, debris, and glass covering platforms, overturned chairs and computer monitors in moldy workers’ offices, even a service alert flyer from the days before the storm lying randomly on the platform, where the waters washed it up. The flyer attempted to reassure: “After the storm, our goal is to restore as much service as possible after assessing the storm’s impact to critical infrastructure.” That impact was greater than anyone anticipated.



The storm flooded the station with 14.7 million gallons of brackish water that rose 80 feet up from the train beds and completely engulfed tracks, platforms, signs, and escalators.



And most critically, says Wynton Habersham, Chief Electrical Officer in charge of signals and power for NYC Transit, the relatively brand new signalling room was inundated with saltwater: live wires hardened, signals corroded, and even electronic track-moving equipment was rendered unusable. “It’s like just taking your computer and dipping it in saltwater,” Habersham says. ....................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://transportationnation.org/2013/01/17/south-ferry-station-closed-for-forseeable-future/

[Cooley Hurd]

1. Bad news for commuters, but good news for the Staten Island Ferry, I suppose...

[marmar]

2. But commuters from the Ferry would then board the subway at the South Ferry station.

It was a symbiotic relationship.

[Cooley Hurd]

3. My knowledge of NYC commuting has been enhanced by your post...

[Autumn Colors]

5. This doesn't replace the ferry

This subway doesn't replace ferry service. There is no subway service to/from Staten Island. This is where the people already taking the ferry, get on the subway in lower Manhattan to travel to other places in Manhattan to get to their offices, etc. This means that people taking the ferry into Manhattan will have to either walk to the next closest subway station or take a bus or a taxi to get to their destination instead.

[Cooley Hurd]

6. As the OP pointed out to me...

I lost my mind for a moment.

[Autumn Colors]

7. I got lost there for a sec, too

I deleted my comment the first time because I thought I had replied to the wrong post. Sorry.

[PastorMVCrea]

8. PastorMVCrea

One World Life Systems"Serving One Love & Developing One World for the Common Good of Humanity" 21 January 2013The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day & 2nd Inaugural of President Barack Hussein Obama IMMEDIATE RELEASE MORE INFO: 212-360-7458 FED CASE TO DEFEND DISABLED STATEN ISLANDERS:All Commuters Kicked To Curb By AWOL NY Officials Staten Island, NY. Jan 21. US Department of Justice and Federal Transit Administration Civil Rights divisions are responding to the needs of Staten Island Ferry commuters.New York officials, still not providing for all passengers of the flooded #1 Train South Ferry station and terminal, shall be held accountable for failing to accommodate all commuters with an accessible route and connection since Super Storm Sandy. A federal complaint cites Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and MetropolitanTransit Authority [MTA]officials for delinquency to provide both plans and alternative transit routes, acessible to all disabled, ambulatory impaired and traveling persons.NYC Transit VP John F. Kivlehan and former MTA Joseph Lhota have told stranded Staten Island travelers to take a hike after Sandy cut off all ferry commuters of #1 train. Native and resident Staten Islander, Pastor Michael Vincent Crea signed the complaint on January 15, Dr. King's birthday. Last November 4, SI ferry service resumed, yet, no official or media addressed the need to connect disabled and impaired commuters. His efforts heard by State Sen. Diane Savino had Lhota replying to her 'let 'em walk'. Pastor Crea testified under protest on November 24 at the MTA hearing on hiking fares.Arguing against such business as usual in the aftermath of Sandy, he stood up for all stranded SI Ferry passengers and called for a #1 Train Shuttle Bus to accommodate all.Previously, during construction, buses shuttled all between the Ferry and Chambers St. Leaving the hearing Lhota ignored the pastor, as MTA VP Kivlehan, asked Crea to work with him. Three weeks of phone calls and emails with the NYC Transit Bus VP proved futile. MTA heads demanded to be heard at Congress' DC hearings but are deaf, blind and insensitively intransient to New York's own disabled, impaired and SI commuters. Multiple calls and emails to Staten Island and New York elected leaders, also, brought no solution. Mr. Dylan Orr, US Dept. of Labor Office of Worker Disabilties, did call and emailed Pastor Crea, the necessary links to the DOJ. Without computer to initiate the case, the pastor traveled to Manhattan, albeit without reasonable accommodation. While in process, a FEMA Region 2 chief in Queens called Crea before Christmas. He directed the pastor to call Mr. Richard Devylder, President Obama's Senior Advisor for Accessible Transportation at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Within 24-hours, he called Pastor Crea, returned and received emails, including 100 photos, and assured follow-up. Ms. Hyacinth Clarke, Federal Transit Administration, is readily doing so. On January 14, Pastor Crea received a call and email from NYS Senator Andrew Lanza's staff Kristian D. Amundsen, forwarding a January 2 joint letter by all, 11-elected, Staten Island office holders. Senator Lanza, who greeted Crea at the MTA hearing 7-weeks earlier, is the only official returning with a response of his own efforts. Nonetheless, their letter to MTA President Thomas Prendergast fails to see, to hear or to respond to the American with Disabilities law, recognizing rights and needs of the persons living with disabilites, most especially, during dislocations and disasters. Pastor Crea is calling for the Cuomo and Bloomberg administrations to stop their own backslapping, having neglected to have plans in place prior to and since Sandy. "Shamefully, Staten Island and NY officials are unconscious of their own constituents and of what the law and the rights for disabled persons demand. It's unaccceptable for elected office holders and their appointees to be oblivious that Rector St. is unaccessible, as is still South Ferry station and Whitehall terminal. Also, a current local bus would cost all commuters more money, time and energy, already depleted from service dislocation," says Crea, a 23-year, pro bono pastor, living with disabilities. "The old South Ferry station is currently being used as a turnaround. Now, it must be reopened. The #1 Train Bus Shuttle can and has accommodated all with accessibility at Chambers St., yet, both White Hall Station and Terminal still require emergency power." "Restoration is estimated, now, to take up to three years. For ambulatory impairedand all dislocated, commuting passengers action is essential immediately," he states. ########## [PLEASE SEE ATTACHED LETTER TO MTA BY STATEN ISLAND OFFICIALS] MV CREA RESPONSE: Michael Vincent Crea <[e-mail]>
Jan 14 (7 days ago)to richard.devyld., orr.dylan, Hyacinth.Clarke, amundsen, bcc: me
14 January 2013
4:45 pm

The Honorable Andrew J. Lanza
New York State Senate

Dear Senator Lanza:

I would like to thank you for your staff contacting me, today, regarding our representatives addressing resumption of the South Ferry train station and terminal to full operations and alternatives, until such restoration is accomplished.

Of all the elected officials representing the constituents of Staten Island, you are the only person whose staff has followed up my own efforts beginning November 4, when the Staten Island Ferry resumed operations and since meeting you on November 24, 2012 after testifying before the MTA board. Senator Savino's initial fruit, appears to have died on the vine. Others are AWOL.

The need for an all-inclusive accommodation of all passengers, now, dislocated until full train operations are restored at South Ferry, as well, as Terminal accessibility being addressed with alternative generators, remains unresolve and violates ADA laws.

This delinquency in the delivery of services is a gross violation of the Americans with Disabilities law, as well, as toward all ambulatory impaired persons. Such travelers include the blind, seniors, small children, all ambulatory related impairments, including but not limited to those using wheelchairs, walkers, canes and service animals. All our workers and commuters deserve better from those elected to direct the bureaucrats not dictated by either Cuomo and or Bloomberg appointed administrators.

Also, missing at every point are MTA personnel and sufficient signage for deaf, blind and non-English and non-NY persons.

While it is positive to view a page of all Staten Island political leaders signing, together, a statement rightly stating the problem, sadly, all of you have failed to see not only a solution of the #1 Shuttle Bus from South Ferry to Chambers Street, but more so, Staten Islanders and all desiring to travel to South Ferry that are living, working, studying, coping and enjoying life with disabilties, 365/7/24, that is, daily. Costs to my own health, welfare, work and pastoral obligations, duties and goals are innumerable and devastating. I am not seeking sympathy but rather Liberty and freely being recognized, respected and receiving equally our rights.

Being bureaucratically blindsided did not start with Super Storm Sandy but with the Bloomberg and Cuomo-MTA administrations and NYS/NYC legislators not complying with Federal FEMA guidelines requiring all evacuation, rescue and recovery plans to include all potentially dislocated persons, living with disabilities.

Although first heartened by your staff Kristian D. Amundsen's call and email, the letter's unconscionable lack of insight, content and accountability in demanding the law be upheld, not negotiated with governmental gobblygoopers, is most disconcerting for all constituents of Staten Island and or travelers, thereto. Both Rector St. and Wall St. are not fully accessible; M20/M5 buses cost commuters and all Staten Islanders more money, time and energy. During past construction a #1 Train Shuttle accommodated all.

The fact that the old South Ferry Station is being used as a turnaround, yet, has not been re-opened is incomprehensibly stupid!

"When one of our members suffers we all suffer; when one has cause to rejoice, then we all have reason to rejoice."

I had planned to mail my complaint to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transportaion Administration Civil Rights Division, today, having retrieved the printed form in the mail last Friday. Responding, now, has consumed all my energy for today.

The signers of the letter leave me disgusted, honestly, like elected represenatives' responses to the US Congress and Speaker Boehner's unequal, insensitive non-response to passing the entire relief bill, yet, disconcerted only for today because I remember and love all Staten Islanders, who shall never be forgotton, left behind nor kicked to the curb! Nor made to crawl up stairs at South Ferry for our hard fought, already won rights! Working together must begin and include all y(our) constituents, especially persons with disabilities, hardships and other impairments.

It shall go out tomorrow, hopefully, with all of us seeing sooner a suitable, all inclusive solution. However, my own personal, pastoral and professional assets lost must be accounted for because of unaccounable, awol political players. "Basta!" "Enough!"

Yes, all of Y-O-U: work together with and for A-L-L Staten Islanders, heeding the motto of all of us supporting, working and winning our equal, civil and Human rights as persons with disabilities: "Lead! Follow! Or get the hell out of the way!"

U.S. DOT Senior Mr. Richard Devylder called and emailed me twice, as well as Ms. Hyacinth Clarke of Federal Transit Administration, as well, as Mr. Dylan Orr, Esq. Dept. of Labor Office of Worker Disabilties. Please give time to view and listen to Mr. Devylder, Senior Advisor for Accessible Transportation at the U.S. Department of Transportation: Short video on 20th Anniv. of ADA adresses "needs" & "disasters"

Also, longer evacuation planning video: http://vimeo.com/39020124

I did enjoy meeting you and would welcome working with you, as a concerned constituent for constructing solutions from the ground up for all of us, especially, the people visiting and of Staten Island, living with disabilities. I may be reached 607-319-9523 [home] or 212-360-7458 [cell].

All I am,
Yours in One Love,
Steadfast in Spirit & in Truth,

Respectfully,

Pastor Michael-Vincent Crea
www.oneworldlifesystems.org
[e-mail]

"Serving One Love and Developing One World for the Common Good of Humanity"

OWLSNEST
14 JAN 2013
FLEW-2-U: 7:31 PM
STAPLETON-SI-NY


On Mon, Jan 14, 2013 at 11:24 AM, <[e-mail]> wrote astor Crea,

Please find the letter sent to the MTA attached to this email (I don't have a word document of it, only pdf). As you can see, this letter was signed onto by the entire Staten Island Elected Delegation.

Hopefully we can see some movement on this vital isssue.

Sincerely,
Kristian D. Amundsen
Constituent Aide
SENATOR ANDREW J. LANZA
P: 718-984-4073
F: 718-984-4455
www.lanza.nysenate.gov1