Advocating for Better Transportation Options on Staten Island
Since its creation in 1895, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce has been dedicated to serving and advocating on behalf of the borough’s small business community.
New York City relies heavily on efficient and reliable transportation to support its businesses and residents. Yet, despite its status as one of New York City’s five boroughs, Staten Island’s transportation options are limited. In response, the Chamber has been active in advocating for improvements to our current options, expanding what is presently available, and achieving greater equity within the City’s existing and upcoming initiatives.
In 2022 and 2023 alone, the Chamber advocated on behalf of small businesses in response to three key transportation items: Congestion Pricing, the North Shore BRT, and improvements to the Staten Island Railway.
All of the Chamber’s efforts return to the core of its advocacy effort: Staten Island disproportionally pays for public transportation, yet receives little reinvestment.
Congestion Pricing
In 2024, New York City will be home to the Nation’s first implementation of congestion pricing. While the plan is set to move forward, the Chamber has voiced concerns on how it the plan will disproportionately affect Staten Island.
“If the true purpose of congestion pricing is to remove cars from the road and to encourage travel by alternative means, there must be a true investment in providing alternative transit options within our borough,” said Linda Baran, President and CEO of the Chamber, in a letter to MTA CEO Janno Lieber. “Otherwise, Staten Island will continue to be a car-dependent borough; not because it wants to be, but because we have limited transit options both locally and regionally.”
In anticipation of the implementation of Congestion Pricing, the Chamber provided the MTA with a list of transportation opportunities that serve as ideal candidates for reinvestment with funds raised from the plan. These include capital investments to the Staten Island Railway (more details below), increased fast ferry options, expediting the North Shore Bus Rapid Transit (more details below), a completion of the Staten Island Expressway’s HOV segment, and funding to support an Island-wide Smart Traffic Light pilot program.
In summer 2023, a contingent from the Chamber visited Washington, D.C. to voice their concerns on congestion pricing, among other items. The group met and shared concerns with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and Congresswoman Malliotakis. Additionally, the Chamber coordinated a lunch & learn event with MTA CEO Janno Lieber. At the event, Lieber presented the plan to members of the small business community, who responded with questions and feedback.
The Chamber, Staten Island Borough President Vito J. Fossella, and the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation held a meeting at the Chamber’s Headquarters for an important discussion around Congestion Pricing. The group discussed the BP’s pending lawsuit and how to put the brakes on Congestion Pricing. Representatives present at the meeting included Senator Andrew J. Lanza, Assemblyman Michael Reilly, Michael Cusick, Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, reps of Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo, reps of Assemblyman Michael Tannousis, reps of Assemblyman Charles fall, Council Member David Carr, reps of Kamillah Hanks Council Member-D49, and reps of Councilman Joe Borelli's Office.
Finally, the Chamber sent letters to the MTA, Governor Hochul, and other elected officials and city agencies to voice the concerns of the small business community. The letters can be found here.
Although the final details of the Congestion Pricing plan are still to be determined, the Chamber will continue to fight to ensure that Staten Island is treated equitably.
Staten Island North Shore Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
For years, the Chamber has advocated to advance the North Shore Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), which will provide commuters with faster, more reliable travel along Staten Island’s North and West Shores. At a recent briefing with MTA officials, the Chamber was updated on the MTA’s comparative evaluation (CE) process, of which North Shore BRT is included.
Mariners Harbor BRT Station Rendering, courtesy of the MTA
The MTA’s Twenty-Year Needs Assessment, which the CE is part of, was finalized in October of this year. The CE analysis showed that the project does well in cost-effectiveness due to reliability and efficiency resulting in travel time savings for a significant number of riders. The CE also outlines potential alignment and other issues that need to be resolved.
The MTA also recently released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed project. The Chamber plans to comment on these findings and will reiterate our stance that the North Shore BRT needs to provide regional connectivity, specifically street-running connections to Newark Airport, MetroPark, and the Hudson Bergan Light Rail upon implementation.
Public comment can be submitted by November 24, 2023. Click here to learn more and submit your comments.
SIR Improvements
The Staten Island Railway (SI) is one of the borough’s few alternatives to travel via automobiles. Despite its prevalence and importance to commuters, students, and all other riders, the Chamber was made aware of a multitude of inadequacies across many SIR stations.
In response, the Chamber visited every SIR station and documented their shortfalls. The Chamber reported a multitude of safety issues including low lighting, drainage issues, and crumbling platforms, as well as sanitary issues including garbage, animal waste, and chipping paint.
The Chamber’s findings were reported to the MTA, who responded with more than a dozen upcoming repairs, cleanups, or adjustments.