FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2004
CONTACT:
Rachaele Raynoff (Press Secretary) - (212) 720-3471
INDEPENDENT
SURVEY SUPPORTS CONCLUSIONS OF HIGH TRANSIT
USE TO THE NEW YORK SPORTS AND CONVENTION CENTER
Finds Jets
Move from Meadowlands to Manhattan Will Take
Thousands of Cars off the Roads
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June
23, 2004 - Highlighting the potential for an extension
of the No. 7 line to catalyze sustainable, transit-oriented
development, the city released a Draft Generic Environmental
Impact Statement (DGEIS) this week on the Hudson Yards/7
Line Extension, that includes an independent survey
of New York Jets seasons ticket-holders confirming
that the overwhelmingly majority of fans will use mass-transit
to travel to the New York Sports and Convention Center
(NYSCC) on the far west side. A total of 67 percent
of fans questioned by Schulman, Ronca and Bucuvalas,
Inc. on behalf of the Department of City Planning (DCP)
and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
said they would use existing mass-transit to commute
to the future Sports and Convention Center between
30th and 33rd Streets, and 11th and 12th Avenues. But
with the extension of the 7 Line to 11th Avenue and
34th Street, fully 75 percent of season ticket holders
would travel to games via mass transit.
The survey
found that incentives, such as facilities added ferry
service or discounts on mass transit would further
increase mass transit use. With such incentives, significantly
more Jets season ticket holders surveyed stated that
they would arrive by mass transit. Although the survey
results showed higher mass transit usage, to be conservative,
the DGEIS assumes that only 68 percent of attendees
would use mass transit, including subways, commuter
rail, ferry and buses.
"The study underscores how a strong
mass transit network will help make Hudson Yards a
vibrant 24/7 neighborhood complete with cultural, convention
and cultural attractions, commercial and residential
development, retail, cafés, parks and unique
open spaces," said City Planning Director Amanda
M. Burden.
The future mass-transit usage to the
NYSCC would be a sea change from current travel patterns
to the Meadowlands where almost all current season
ticket holders, 95 percent, drive to the Meadowlands.
This demonstrates the environmental benefits of centrally
locating high-density activities with excellent mass
transit. Midtown Manhattan already enjoys by far the
highest mass transit usage of any area of the country,
with more than 80 percent of commuters walking or using
mass transit to travel to work.
The greatest increase in mass-transit
usage will be from Jets season ticket holders who travel
to the NYSCC from Long Island. Currently, almost all
these Long Island fans drive to the Meadowlands, but
83 percent say they will take mass transit to the Sports
and Convention Center in Manhattan. The increase is
attributable to NYSCC’S proximity to Penn Station,
and the ease of commuting on the Long Island Railroad.
The survey was commissioned as part of the Environmental
Review process. "Modal Split Survey - Jets Season
Ticket Holders" was conducted in May, and 600
season ticket holders were surveyed.
About City Planning
The Department of City Planning is responsible for the City's physical and
socioeconomic planning, including land use and environmental review; preparation
of plans and policies; and provision of technical assistance and planning
information to government agencies, public officials, and community boards.
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