42nd St. trolley tooted as 1B boon

BY DAVE GOLDINER
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

A private group pushing for a light-rail line along 42nd St. said yesterday the trolley-style trains would pump more than $1 billion into the city economy.
Vision42 says closing the traffic-clogged street to cars and building a gleaming new rail line would lure jobs, corporations and tourists to the city's most vital crosstown artery.

"There will be many more pedestrians in the street and that translates into more business," said Roxanne Warren, an architect who is spearheading the push. "This is a very tourist-friendly mode of transit."

The plan has been in the talking stage for more than a decade, but gained momentum with support from retailers and hotel owners.

They foresee 42nd St. transformed from a crowded, gridlocked traffic hell into a river-to-river tree-lined boulevard designed for walking.

Cars would still be allowed to cross 42nd St. going uptown and downtown on the avenues and Broadway.

The $500 million rail line would run from the far East Side across town to 11th Ave., with a connection to the expanded Javits Center.

"We would love to see this happen," said Mike Stengel, manager of the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square.

The MTA is already planning a $2.1 billion extension of the No. 7 train from Times Square to the Javits Center on 11th Ave.

The city Department of Transportation said it would look at the proposals, but some officials warn that completely closing 42nd St. to traffic could be problematic.

"We'll review the economic studies ... but our focus is on the extension of the No. 7 train," said DOT spokeswoman Kay Sarlin.

Originally published on October 25, 2006