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Originally Posted by Eveningsong
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They're off base. New York City could
always use another subway line. It will always been seens as not sufficient, and that's because it's the greatest public transportation system, and more people rely on and use it. Could there be another line on the east side? Yes, and it's coming. That won't end the crowding on the other lines, but it's another option.
Now about the 7 line extension. Currently, there are 4 stops in Manhattan. When the new Hudson Yards station opens, there will be 5. There were supposed to be 6, but the new station along 42nd isn't being built.
The 7 line connection was necessary to bring the neighborhood into the fabric of the rest of the city. And the connection will do that. But let's not get carried away, it's not the only option or even the option that will be most used by workers getting there. They will come from the east via the LIRR, the west via NJ Transit and even PATH. They will come from Downtown, and Brooklyn via subway, but who's going to take the train uptown to 42nd, just to transfer for an unnecessary trip back downtown on the 7? Some will, but most probably will not. The 7 line trip to Hudson Yards would best be suited to people coming from Queens, the Bronx, and Grand Central, which will be one of the 5 stops in the City.
However, most people commuting into Manhattan on the 7 line will have left the train before it makes it to that final Hudson Yards stop. For the amount of office space they are building, its sufficient enough. For residents in the area, it's a great connection to other parts of Midtown, or Yankee Stadium, Citifield, etc. It would be great if the line continued Downtown or Jersey even. But there are other areas of the city that could be better served, including the airports.
I think we are lucky to be getting this one line - without it the Hudson Yards doesn't happen. That's why basically the city is creating this extension, and not the MTA. There will be a lot of development in the area, and it will be dense. It won't be on the magnitude of Grand Central in density though, or Times Square even for that matter.
When the Hudson Yards station opens, the critics will come out and complain that the "low" ridership wasn't worth the expense of building, especially considering other areas of the city with a lack of subway service. But eventually everyone will see the worth of this extension, and what it means to the City.
As far as new service to the area? Well, there is the second tunnel that will be built under the Hudson, creating more capacity for commuters coming in from New Jersey. The LIRR will be adding service to Grand Central, with Metro North bringing service into Penn Station. I think the city will be ok.
http://web.mta.info/maps/images/subway_2100x2505.jpg