PCAC Chair Randy Glucksman, NYCTRC Member Stuart Goldstein, and PCAC Executive Director Bill Henderson attended the inaugural first ride on December 20. The NYCTRC issued a statement on in response to the event, which follows below:
The New York City Transit Riders Council (NYCTRC) congratulates MTA New York City Transit, the MTA Capital Construction Company, and the City of New York on the progress made on the 7 Line extension and on this afternoon’s ceremonial first ride to 34th Street. This project is a true achievement and will support the transformation of Manhattan’s Far West Side. The impact of this project strongly underscores the benefits that increased transit service brings to underserved areas of the City.
The NYCTRC notes, however, that this project fails to include a station at 10th Avenue and 41st Street, which was part of the original plans for the extension but was dropped from the project in 2008 for budgetary reasons.
“The 10th Avenue station is needed to serve the explosive residential growth already occurring in this area. The NYCTRC has pressed for a 10th Avenue station from the start of this project. We note with alarm that to complete the 10th Avenue station in the future will cost an additional $100 to $150 million more than the station would have cost if included in the original construction. We ask Mayor-elect de Blasio and the incoming City Council to build on the success of what has been accomplished and to find ways to finance a 10th Avenue station. Adding this station will provide for those along the route who currently will not be served by the 7 line extension” said NYCTRC Chair Andrew Albert.