For anyone who has ever been interested on riding to Staten Island, you can starting tomorrow.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2020
Contact: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
212-435-7777
PORT AUTHORITY TO OPEN SHARED USE PATH ON
NEW GOETHALS BRIDGE ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4
New Crossing’s Shared Use Path to Provide Safe and Seamless Access Between Staten Island and Elizabeth for Pedestrians and Cyclists
Shared Use Path Part of $1.5 Billion Project for New, Modernized and Safer Goethals Bridge
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey today announced that the new shared use path on the Goethals Bridge will open to the public at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 4. In collaboration with the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT), the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJ DOT) and the City of Elizabeth, the Goethals’ shared use path connects to newly created paths on Staten Island and in Elizabeth that will ensure safe and seamless access between the two communities for cyclists and pedestrians.
“We are committed to creating more ways to link communities throughout our region. This new shared use path on the Goethals Bridge opens up dedicated and safe access for residents who want greener recreational and commuting options or those looking for a way to appreciate the scenic views as they cross this impressive span,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “We thank NYC DOT, NJ DOT and the City of Elizabeth for sharing our commitment to safety and green uses of shared space.”
“For the first time in its history, the Goethals Bridge has a shared use path dedicated to cyclists and pedestrians,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “Cycling and walking are environmentally friendly ways to get around and we want to expand these opportunities at our facilities whenever possible.”
The new 10-foot-wide shared use path was part of the Port Authority’s $1.5 billion project to build a new and wider Goethals Bridge – the agency’s first new bridge in 87 years. The original Goethals Bridge, which opened in June 1928, did not have a shared use path or shoulders. The new bridge has been updated to modern highway standards, with three 12-foot-wide lanes in each direction, 12-foot-wide outer shoulders and 5-foot-wide inner shoulders.
On the Staten Island side, the bridge’s new shared use path links to a clearly designated shared path separate from vehicle traffic, creating an accessible pedestrian path that previously did not exist in the Howland Hook neighborhood. NYC DOT and the Port Authority worked jointly to expedite construction, which began in the fall 2019. NYC DOT also plans to add a sidewalk on the north side of Goethals Road North.
“We’re excited about the opening of the new Goethals Bridge shared use path, and the new connections it will create for cyclists and pedestrians between Staten Island and Elizabeth,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “On foot or on two wheels, traveling between our two states has historically been a big challenge – so we thank the Port Authority for working with us to make the bridge and the New York City approaches more accessible. Those traveling across the state line on bike or by foot can now enjoy a great and sustainable trip complete with views for miles – never mind a trip free of all tolls.”
The Port Authority also worked with the City of Elizabeth and NJ DOT to extend safe access to and from the bridge, creating a temporary cyclist path at the intersection of Cole Place and Clifton Street near the entrance of the Elizabeth River Trail and extending to Trenton Avenue and Bayway. The agency is working with the City of Elizabeth to add pedestrian access off the bridge in the near future.
“The City of Elizabeth is excited to announce the opening of the bike path, connecting the Goethals Bridge to our River Trail,” said Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage. “A three-mile bike ride along the scenic Elizabeth River Trail will now connect residents, workers and visitors between Midtown Elizabeth and Staten Island.”
"We applaud the much-anticipated completion of the Goethals Bridge bicycle and pedestrian path, which provides a new mobility option for people travelling between Union County and Staten Island,” said Ed Goodell, Executive Director of the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition. “We support the Port Authority’s investment in the bridge’s shared use path and encourage the development of a more robust bike and pedestrian infrastructure along corridors leading to the City of Elizabeth.”
"We commend the Port Authority for finally making the new Goethals Bridge fully inclusive for all New Yorkers,” said Transportation Alternatives Staten Island Organizer Rose Uscianowski. “The Goethals Bridge is a crucial link between Staten Island and New Jersey.”
The new Goethals Bridge opened in May 2018 using an innovative public-private partnership – the first in the Northeast – with the goal of building a replacement crossing to ease congestion and improve safety and emergency response times. The Port Authority also upgraded the span’s tolling system in September 2019 by implementing cashless tolling, which eliminated the need for motorists to change lanes or merge to accommodate traditional tolling configurations. Cashless tolling and the improvements in traffic flow on the bridge have led to a dramatic 57 percent drop in accident rates on the bridge from 5.37 per million vehicles in 2014 on the old Goethals Bridge down to 2.29 per million vehicles in 2019 on the new bridge.
Map of new shared use paths. Credit: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
ABOUT THE NEW GOETHALS BRIDGE
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2020
Contact: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
212-435-7777
PORT AUTHORITY TO OPEN SHARED USE PATH ON
NEW GOETHALS BRIDGE ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4
New Crossing’s Shared Use Path to Provide Safe and Seamless Access Between Staten Island and Elizabeth for Pedestrians and Cyclists
Shared Use Path Part of $1.5 Billion Project for New, Modernized and Safer Goethals Bridge
“We are committed to creating more ways to link communities throughout our region. This new shared use path on the Goethals Bridge opens up dedicated and safe access for residents who want greener recreational and commuting options or those looking for a way to appreciate the scenic views as they cross this impressive span,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “We thank NYC DOT, NJ DOT and the City of Elizabeth for sharing our commitment to safety and green uses of shared space.”
“For the first time in its history, the Goethals Bridge has a shared use path dedicated to cyclists and pedestrians,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “Cycling and walking are environmentally friendly ways to get around and we want to expand these opportunities at our facilities whenever possible.”
The new 10-foot-wide shared use path was part of the Port Authority’s $1.5 billion project to build a new and wider Goethals Bridge – the agency’s first new bridge in 87 years. The original Goethals Bridge, which opened in June 1928, did not have a shared use path or shoulders. The new bridge has been updated to modern highway standards, with three 12-foot-wide lanes in each direction, 12-foot-wide outer shoulders and 5-foot-wide inner shoulders.
On the Staten Island side, the bridge’s new shared use path links to a clearly designated shared path separate from vehicle traffic, creating an accessible pedestrian path that previously did not exist in the Howland Hook neighborhood. NYC DOT and the Port Authority worked jointly to expedite construction, which began in the fall 2019. NYC DOT also plans to add a sidewalk on the north side of Goethals Road North.
“We’re excited about the opening of the new Goethals Bridge shared use path, and the new connections it will create for cyclists and pedestrians between Staten Island and Elizabeth,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “On foot or on two wheels, traveling between our two states has historically been a big challenge – so we thank the Port Authority for working with us to make the bridge and the New York City approaches more accessible. Those traveling across the state line on bike or by foot can now enjoy a great and sustainable trip complete with views for miles – never mind a trip free of all tolls.”
The Port Authority also worked with the City of Elizabeth and NJ DOT to extend safe access to and from the bridge, creating a temporary cyclist path at the intersection of Cole Place and Clifton Street near the entrance of the Elizabeth River Trail and extending to Trenton Avenue and Bayway. The agency is working with the City of Elizabeth to add pedestrian access off the bridge in the near future.
“The City of Elizabeth is excited to announce the opening of the bike path, connecting the Goethals Bridge to our River Trail,” said Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage. “A three-mile bike ride along the scenic Elizabeth River Trail will now connect residents, workers and visitors between Midtown Elizabeth and Staten Island.”
"We applaud the much-anticipated completion of the Goethals Bridge bicycle and pedestrian path, which provides a new mobility option for people travelling between Union County and Staten Island,” said Ed Goodell, Executive Director of the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition. “We support the Port Authority’s investment in the bridge’s shared use path and encourage the development of a more robust bike and pedestrian infrastructure along corridors leading to the City of Elizabeth.”
"We commend the Port Authority for finally making the new Goethals Bridge fully inclusive for all New Yorkers,” said Transportation Alternatives Staten Island Organizer Rose Uscianowski. “The Goethals Bridge is a crucial link between Staten Island and New Jersey.”
The new Goethals Bridge opened in May 2018 using an innovative public-private partnership – the first in the Northeast – with the goal of building a replacement crossing to ease congestion and improve safety and emergency response times. The Port Authority also upgraded the span’s tolling system in September 2019 by implementing cashless tolling, which eliminated the need for motorists to change lanes or merge to accommodate traditional tolling configurations. Cashless tolling and the improvements in traffic flow on the bridge have led to a dramatic 57 percent drop in accident rates on the bridge from 5.37 per million vehicles in 2014 on the old Goethals Bridge down to 2.29 per million vehicles in 2019 on the new bridge.
Map of new shared use paths. Credit: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
ABOUT THE NEW GOETHALS BRIDGE
- Length of new shared use path: 7,300 feet
- Hours of new shared use path: 6 a.m. to midnight daily
- Number of lanes per direction: 3
- Width of roadways: 53 feet in each direction
- Monthly volume, as of December 2019: 1.5 million vehicles
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Founded in 1921, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey builds, operates, and maintains many of the most important transportation and trade infrastructure assets in the country. The agency’s network of aviation, ground, rail, and seaport facilities is among the busiest in the country, supports more than 550,000 regional jobs, and generates more than $23 billion in annual wages and $80 billion in annual economic activity. The Port Authority also owns and manages the 16-acre World Trade Center site, where the 1,776-foot-tall One World Trade Center is now the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. The Port Authority receives no tax revenue from either the State of New York or New Jersey or from the City of New York. The agency raises the necessary funds for the improvement, construction or acquisition of its facilities primarily on its own credit. For more information, please visit http://www.panynj.gov.NOTICE: THIS E-MAIL AND ANY ATTACHMENTS CONTAIN INFORMATION FROM THE PORT AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY AND AFFILIATES. IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE RECEIVED THIS E-MAIL IN ERROR, PLEASE NOTIFY THE SENDER IMMEDIATELY, PERMANENTLY DELETE THIS E-MAIL (ALONG WITH ANY ATTACHMENTS), AND DESTROY ANY PRINTOUTS.
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