Web Extra: College of Staten Island to include new transit center in upgrades

[IMAGE]StatenIslandCollegeTransportationFULL.jpg[/IMAGE] Recently, the board of trustees of the City University of New York (CUNY) approved a new master plan for the College of Staten Island (CSI), including the addition of a new transit center. The plan will provide an estimated $257 million in building projects.

The first major revision to the campus in more than 20 years is designed to address the college’s anticipated growth over the next 10 years, modernize campus facilities and meet the needs for additional research and classroom space, student support services and sustainable infrastructure.

“Enrollment at the College has increased to an all-time high and the ridership on the CSI Shuttle has dramatically increased over the last two years. By providing a transit center we will give our students, faculty and staff a more comfortable and convenient location to connect with the transit service they require,” said Ken Bach, director of communications.

In addition to new transit and welcome centers, the funding is also tabbed for upgrades to the Central Campus, including an expanded student service center, an interdisciplinary high performance computational center; expansion of the library; new campus housing and mixed use research and academic buildings.

Also included are several features intended to improve access and transportation to the college, as well as circulation within the campus. A new transit center will provide open shelter for 60 people and help support New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) bus service to the campus interior, said Tomas Morales, president. “Entrances and campus loop roads will be reconfigured to ease bottlenecks and improve traffic flow,” he added. Bicycle and pedestrian routes also will be marked throughout the campus.

“In an effort to improve MTA bus service to the campus core, the proposed new transit center would include pull-out space for two buses at a time and a three-sided shelter for 60 people. We would consolidate the Loop Road bus stop and the CSI Ferry Shuttle stop in this location to provide improved connectivity. The adjacent welcome center would provide access to restrooms and a waiting area in the event of inclement weather,” said Bach.

CSI’s current bus system is comprised of coach-style Loop buses that run throughout the day, stopping at bus stops around the College’s Loop Road, and three transit-style buses used for a shuttle that run between the College and the St. George Ferry.

The renovations necessary for the transit center include reconfiguration of West Loop Road, site work, utilities, parking, landscape and hardscape work, Bach explained.

Projected costs for the transit center and attendant renovations are approximately $10 million; a time frame for project completion has not yet been established.