On the heels of news that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is considering a plan to extend the No. 7 subway line to Secaucus and possibly Hoboken, local residents were receptive to the idea while New Yorkers were shocked and angry. (The latter believe the Metropolitan Transportation Authority should first fix its ongoing budget problems, extend the train to Staten Island, and finish the 2nd Avenue line.)
The No. 7 subway line – which currently runs from Flushing, Queens to Times Square – is already undergoing a major extension to 34th Street and 11th Avenue in Manhattan.
Under the proposed plan, which is still in its preliminary stages, the extension to New Jersey would cost about $5.3 billion, and could be funded with the $6 billion in federal and state dollars that had been set aside for the Access to the Region’s Core (ARC) train tunnel project. The ARC project was to run from North Jersey to Manhattan until it was killed last month by New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie.
Since Secaucus’ Lautenberg Station would be the end of the line for the No. 7 if Bloomberg gets his way, the Reporter asked area residents what they think of the mayor’s proposal.
What do residents say about the subway:
“It would have to be based on the number of people who would use the train. Is it feasible? If the need is there, and they can justify it, then I say go for it. A lot of folks in Secaucus work in the city. I know some people have to take three trains to work. I think for the people who use the train, it would be a lot easier, transportation-wise, getting folks from point A to point C, instead of A,B, C, because they’d spend less time traveling. And with infrastructure like that, I’m sure, comes other jobs. So, if they can make it cost effective, I think it’s a good idea.” – Lenny Singh
“I’ve always worked in the city. I think it’s a good idea. But a lot of people make it seem like, ‘Okay, let’s just build this subway system. It will be easy and convenient.’ But we also thought having the Secaucus Junction station here would be good. But that station is not convenient. It’s not convenient for me anyway. It’s almost like you have to have a car just to get to the station. And a lot of people in this town are old. For people who do work in the city, it’s easier to take the 320 or the 190 [buses]. And I know all the subways. A lot of people don’t really use the 7 to get to Manhattan. You really use the 7 to get to Queens or Shea Stadium. So, I’m not even sure that’s going to be convenient for most people.” – Carla Coniglio
“I take the bus for everything. Personally, I think they should focus more on fixing our bus system than trying to bring a new train system in here. The buses are too slow. They’re not reliable at all. And the bus drivers seem to be getting worse and worse. They could put the money to better use than building a new tunnel or bringing a new train in here. They should get new buses. They should fix the roads.” – Luis Bruno
“I think it’s a good idea. A lot of people live in Secaucus on purpose because it’s close to New York City. So it makes sense to put it close by. I don’t think that building [the Lautenberg Rail Station] is being used enough because when you go by it, it looks kind of empty. So, this way it would make it more useful.” – Margaret Holly
“I can’t drive, so it [mass transit] is a big factor in my life. I think that would be a great idea, really. I think it would take a lot of pollution off the street. We have enough traffic as it is. The streets are congested in Hudson County. Everywhere you turn there’s someone beeping their horn, people are aggravated, they’ve got road rage. It would help people save money on gas. It’s going to cost a lot of money; $5.3 billion is a lot. But in the long run, I think it’s a good idea.” – Peter McCallister
E-mail E. Assata Wright at awright@hudsonreporter.com.