Staten Island Tunnel
Encyclopedia
The Staten Island Tunnel is an abandoned, incomplete subway
tunnel that was intended to connect railways on Staten Island
(precursors to the modern-day Staten Island Railway
) to the BMT Fourth Avenue Line
of the New York City Subway
, in Brooklyn
.
Construction began in 1923, but New York City Mayor John Hylan, a former BMT employee, canceled the project, and the tunnel only went 150 feet (45m) into The Narrows
before it was halted. The tunnel lies dormant under Owl's Head Park in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
. Later proposals to complete the tunnel, including the 1939 plans for the ambitious IND Second System
, were never funded.
Modern proposals for completion of the tunnel have come from New York City Councilman Lewis Fidler
who has proposed a one-third of one percent tax for the tri-state region to pay for the construction. The tunnel is one of many projects that could compete for $3 billion of federal funds that were to have been allocated to the ARC tunnel, which was canceled in October 2010.
State Senator Diane Savino
, whose district includes parts of Staten Island and Brooklyn, supports such a plan; "The MTA should complete a 1912 plan that would have rail and freight access from the terminus of Victory Boulevard to Brooklyn, along 67th Street, and then utilize the R
train route along Fourth Avenue. The projected cost of the plan is $3 billion, the same as a proposed extension of the Flushing line
under the Hudson River."
Supporters argue that a rail tunnel would improve quality of life for Staten Islanders, reduce traffic, and increase the attractiveness of the borough for investment.
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
tunnel that was intended to connect railways on Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
(precursors to the modern-day Staten Island Railway
Staten Island Railway
The Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority, publicly known as MTA Staten Island Railway or SIR, is the operator of the lone rapid transit line in the borough of Staten Island, New York City, USA...
) to the BMT Fourth Avenue Line
BMT Fourth Avenue Line
The Fourth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line of the BMT division of the New York City Subway, mainly running under Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn. Fourth Avenue never had a streetcar line or elevated railway due to the provisions of the assessment charged to neighboring property owners when the street...
of the New York City Subway
New York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
, in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
.
Construction began in 1923, but New York City Mayor John Hylan, a former BMT employee, canceled the project, and the tunnel only went 150 feet (45m) into The Narrows
The Narrows
The Narrows is the tidal strait separating the boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn in New York City. It connects the Upper New York Bay and Lower New York Bay and forms the principal channel by which the Hudson River empties into the Atlantic Ocean...
before it was halted. The tunnel lies dormant under Owl's Head Park in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
Bay Ridge is a neighborhood in the southwest corner of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA. It is bounded by Sunset Park on the north, Seventh Avenue and Dyker Heights on the east, The Narrows Strait, which partially houses the Belt Parkway, on the west and 86th Street and Fort Hamilton on...
. Later proposals to complete the tunnel, including the 1939 plans for the ambitious IND Second System
IND Second System
Before unification in 1940, the City of New York made plans for expanding the Subway system. The first one, conceived in 1929, was to be part of the city-operated Independent Subway System . By 1939, with unification planned, all three systems were included...
, were never funded.
Modern proposals for completion of the tunnel have come from New York City Councilman Lewis Fidler
Lewis Fidler
Lewis A. Fidler is a New York City Councilman. In January 2002, he began his first term as Councilman for the 46th District in New York City, which includes the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Bergen Beach, Canarsie, Georgetown, Flatlands, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Mill Island, Gerritsen Beach, Madison...
who has proposed a one-third of one percent tax for the tri-state region to pay for the construction. The tunnel is one of many projects that could compete for $3 billion of federal funds that were to have been allocated to the ARC tunnel, which was canceled in October 2010.
State Senator Diane Savino
Diane Savino
Diane Savino is a Democratic elected official from New York City, USA.She currently represents the 23rd Senate District in the New York State Senate, in northern Staten Island and parts of southern Brooklyn, including Sunset Park and Coney Island. She was elected in 2004.On December 2, 2009, Savino...
, whose district includes parts of Staten Island and Brooklyn, supports such a plan; "The MTA should complete a 1912 plan that would have rail and freight access from the terminus of Victory Boulevard to Brooklyn, along 67th Street, and then utilize the R
R (New York City Subway service)
The R Broadway Local is a service of the New York City Subway. It is colored yellow on the route sign and on station signs and the NYC Subway map, as it represents a service provided on the BMT Broadway Line in Manhattan.The R service operates at all times...
train route along Fourth Avenue. The projected cost of the plan is $3 billion, the same as a proposed extension of the Flushing line
7 Subway Extension
The 7 Subway Extension — Hudson Yards Rezoning and Development Program is the plan to extend the IRT Flushing Line of the New York City Subway, which carries the 7 train service, westward from its current terminus at Times Square, adding one new station at 34th Street – Eleventh Avenue...
under the Hudson River."
Supporters argue that a rail tunnel would improve quality of life for Staten Islanders, reduce traffic, and increase the attractiveness of the borough for investment.