Click here: North American Light Rail Information and News Site

A series of three meetings of the vision42 working group has featured talks by representatives of three different light rail manufacturers.  Bill Conis of Seimens Transportation made a presentation on March 17th, Joe Kenas from Bombardier spoke on April 28th, and Dave Ward and Derek Hurst from Alstom spoke on May 19th. All three presented their companies' latest light rail developments, including models that are capable of operating without overhead wires. If you are interested in participating in future meetings and wish to receive agendas, please send your name to info@vision42.org.  Meetings are held from 6 to 8pm, at the offices of Transportation Alternatives, 127 West 26th Street. 

See the latest New York Times article on vision42: "Vision of 42nd Street Without Cars".

A 50-page illustrated booklet about vision42, highlighting key findings of the technical studies, has been published in December and January and distributed to a wide range of constituancies.

The New Jersey Light Rail Study Tour on September 13th had some 60 attendess, and was a great success. It provided an opportunity for New Yorkers — community leaders, elected officials and advocates for sustainable transportation — to experience this popular mode of transit — which has gained enormous ridership all over the country. Transit for the group by ferry over the Hudson was courtesy of New York Waterway, and a special VIP light rail car was arranged by the operators of the Hudson Bergen Light Rail line. It was suggested by several attendees that we plan a repeat of the tour in the future.

In September 2008, Philip Macciolli, President & CEO of 21st Century Rail Corporation, which operates the highly successful Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit line, became the 38th member of the vision42 Advisory Committee.  

We were greatly saddened to learn in May 2008 of the death of vision42 Advisory Committee member Dick Netzer. Dick was a distinguished economist, who spent much of his career at New York University and became dean of its Graduate School of Public Administration. He served on the first board of the Municipal Assistance Corporation from 1975 to 1995, providing continuity and perspective in a time of deep financial crisis for the city. He was a highly valued advisor to Mayors John V. Lindsay and Abraham D. Beame, as well as to Governors Hugh L. Carey and Mario M. Cuomo. His advice on vision42 was greatly appreciated, and he will be sorely missed.

Read the letter to the editor that was published in The New York Times.

Visit the new vision42 blog!

A financing study for vision42 by economic consultant Urbanomics, Inc. was completed in February 2008. It explores and recommends the most feasible means to capture the value created by the light rail and pedestrian street — without competing with other ongoing transit projects for scarce public funds.

An update of the cost estimate was completed by Halcrow, Inc. in July 2007, and is available here.  Figures previously posted on the website and in the vision42 presentation were based on 2004 costs; the updated estimate shows figures for 2007 and projects costs for 2009.

In June 2007, vision42 welcomed with pleasure to the Advisory Committee its 35th member, Joseph G. Tucker, Senior Vice President for Corporate Operations for the Walt Disney Company, and President and General Manager of Times Square Studios, Ltd., a Disney wholly-owned company.  Joe acts as Disney's corporate liaison to City Hall, recommends real estate development opportunities, and represents Disney production units operating in the city.

A Community Informational Forum, with presentation and discussion, was held on October 24, 2006, at the auditorium of the SUNY College of Optometry, 33 West 42nd Street. The results of a second round of technical studies were released — The economic study projects gains of over $1 billion annually, when travel time savings, increased business, and the resultant increases in tax revenues are combined.  The traffic study further refines the previous traffic study and addresses provisions for the needed curb space on the avenues for truck deliveries to 42nd Street.  The construction phasing study shows how the work can be performed within a two-year time span, with only a six-month construction period per block, and with a minimum of disruption to businesses and pedestrians.

Exhibition of vision42 during the month of September 2006, at the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter, Center for Architecture, illustrated the key findings of the latest round of studies on anticipated impacts of vision42 on retail, theaters, and hotels; on the details of traffic planning and parking space for deliveries; and on construction phasing methods that will minimize disruption to pedestrians and businesses.

Exhibition Opening/Presentation/Discussion occurred on September 5, 2006, at the AIA New York Chapter, Center for Architecture.  Michael Sorkin, Director of the Urban Design Program at City College, and a member of the vision42 Advisory Committee, introduced the presentation, remarking that vision42 would re-establish the city's historical river-to-river axis, along which lie a rich assortment of landmarks, cultural, entertainment and governmental facitlities, efficiently interconnecting them with the city's dominant north/south avenues and subways.

:: View all 38 members of our Advisory Committee, as well as Elected Officials in Support of vision42