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Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council study area for mass transit in Syracuse.
(Syracuse Metropolitan Transporta)
SYRACUSE, N.Y.--Transit planners have derailed any chance of building a light rail or street car system in Syracuse. They say it's just too expensive.
Light rail or street cars are not among the options the Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council will present to the public Thursday afternoon when it unveils several alternatives for improving mass transit in the city. The presentation is from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Sky Armory, 351 S. Clinton St., Syracuse.
The SMTC study commissioned by Centro to look at ways to improve service had considered light rail or street cars to move people swiftly along the transit agency's two busiest corridors along James Street and University Hill.
The cost of building a light rail or street car system would be upwards of $400 million, much more than the community can afford, said SMTC Director James D'Agostino. Although the federal government could provide $100 million toward such a project, that still brings in the local share at $300 million, he said.
"They are quite costly. We didn't believe we'd be able to publicly fund them," D'Agostino said.
The SMTC also dropped an option of building a dedicated road, called a bus way, that would swiftly carry bus riders to their destinations. At a cost of $200 million that option was also considered too expensive, he said.
Light rail costs more to build and maintain, said Centro Vice President Steve Koegel. "When you look at the costs of light rail versus bus rapid transit, it makes sense to look at BRT," he said.
Mass transit competes against cars in Central New York, Koegel said. A bus rapid transit system would have limited stops allowing buses to swiftly take riders to their destinations, Koegel said. "It's enticing," he said.
The $330,000 SMTC study paid for with federal funds is recommending the community look at making changes to the current bus system.
The study found:
- The lowest cost option would be to improve the existing service by increasing the frequency of the service to every 20 minutes, building new bus shelters and making other improvements.
- The medium cost option would be to create a bus rapid transit system with specially branded buses, dedicated stations, service every 10 to 15 minutes and other improvements.
- The highest cost option would be to create dedicated bus-only lanes for use by specially branded buses that only stop at bus rapid transit stations, service every 10 to 15 minutes, and other improvements. This option would improve travel times the most, the SMTC said.
The cost to implement the changes range from $20 million to $54 million. Centro could apply for federal grants to pay for up to 80 percent of the costs. By comparison the Connective Corridor cost $30 million to build, D'Agostino said.
The SMTC will make its final recommendation for improving service next year.
The public has told the SMTC that it wants the city's bus system to run more frequently, have better on-time performance, have longer hours by operating earlier in the morning and later at night, and use more technology such as apps to pay fares or track buses.
The agency looked at improving service along the two corridors that have the greatest number of riders.
The current James Street service, for example, serves 2,241 riders a day. The James Street buses are standing-room only during the evening commute, D'Agostino said. By comparison, the Connective Corridor serves 689 riders daily.
The changes are proposed for a corridor that links Eastwood along James Street to Onondaga Community College. The route would also serve the downtown, St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center, Bryant and Stratton College, Upstate University Hospital Community Campus, and the SRC Arena & Events Center.
A second corridor links the Regional Transportation Center and Destiny USA to Syracuse University. It would also serve SUNY-ESF, SU, North Salina Street, downtown, East Genesee Street, Crouse Hospital, the Crouse-Marshall business district, Carrier Dome, Upstate University Hospital the VA Medical Center and the St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center.
All of the proposed options would work with either alternative chosen to replace Interstate 81 in the city, D'Agostino said. The state Department of Transportation is considering either replacing the highway with a newer taller version, or tearing out the old elevated highway, routing "through" traffic around the city on the current Interstate 481 with vehicles using local streets to reach destinations in the city.
The SMTC is taking public comment about its proposals. For more information, contact the SMTC at 422-5716, by email at contactus@smtcmpo.org or by mail at 126 N. Salina St., Suite 100, Syracuse, NY 13202
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