May 7, 2002
Mr. Andrew Berman
Executive Director
Greenwich Village Society
of Historical Preservation
232 East 11th Street
New York, NY
Subject: PATH- Christopher and 9th Streets Stations – New Entrances
Dear Mr. Berman:
Thank you for taking the time to hear our presentations and compile your concerns for our consideration. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (Port Authority) and the subsidiary, The Port Authority Trans Hudson Corporation (PATH) are eager to work with the community in this endeavor to provide a safer environment for all patrons and residents of the historic Greenwich Village district. We are aware of the concerns you have listed in your letter dated April 9, 2002, and will do our utmost to insure an expedited and safe construction period.
First and foremost, the Port Authority and PATH are concerned with the safety of its passengers. We also strive to enhance the ability of fire, police and emergency service personnel to access the stations and to rapidly respond when needed on the PATH trains traveling between New Jersey and Manhattan. Our review of the existing PATH stations, in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on our city and nation has made us keenly aware of a significant safety issue with the stations in the historic Greenwich Village district of New York. For this reason, we researched and planned to rectify the fact that these two stations have only one exit each which is unsatisfactory with all current standards and practices. These new proposed entrances enhance that safety which is the motivation in this project.
As we presented to the community, many locations have been considered for this entrance and we feel we have chosen a location that will provide a safer access and egress for PATH patrons and first response personnel, meet the requirements of the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) and also provide the least intrusion on the neighborhood by allowing the shortest construction period. The sidewalk extensions recommended by NYCDOT will allow the entrances to be constructed with minimal impact to the current pedestrian flow at these locations. The remaining one to two feet of existing sidewalk, which is to be occupied by the new stairs, is currently within the tree line of the sidewalk. The choice of locating the entrance on a 4’-0” strip of the road was carefully considered by NYCDOT with current conditions in mind. The remaining roadway, as per NYCDOT, is ample space to allow two lanes of moving vehicular traffic.
As discussed in our meeting with the Greenwich Village Society of Historical Preservation earlier this month, PATH looks forward to working with you and the community on the exterior design elements of the new entrances. We have presented our preliminary thoughts of having the entrance reflect the design of the existing subway entrances in the neighborhood, to conform to the existing standard. With your assistance and the assistance of the Community Board, we can develop an exterior for the new entrances that will reflect the needs and concerns of this area.
The Port Authority and PATH has devised a means to disseminate information relative to the construction of the entrance. We have posted the flyers handed out at the last Community Board meeting on our web site along with a telephone number to call with specific questions. We will continue to update the information contained in the site during construction of the entrances.
Again, thank you for the time you have taken to highlight your concerns with the project, and we hope that we can work together in making a sincere effect to provide a safer environment for all.
Sincerely,
William J. Fellini
Manager
PATH Capital Programs Division
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