Transportation in NYC
The first public transportation route in New York City was created in 1827 by Abraham Brower. This route ran along Broadway from the Battery to Bleecker St. and the mode of transportation used was a 12-seat stagecoach named “Accommodation.” Soon after in 1831, two more stagecoaches were added the “Sociable” and the “Omnibus.” Then in 1832, John Mason produced the New York and Harlem Railroad. This was a street railway that used horse-drawn cars with metal wheels that ran on metal tracks. These modes of transportation continuously grew larger. Years later, electricity led to the creation of electric trolley cars. These trollies used overhead lines for power. The trollies were first used in Staten Island in the 1920s, and were used in Brooklyn for three decade beginning in 1930. Buses replaced the trollies by the late 1950s.
NYC Subway
New York City’s first official subway system opened in Manhattan on October 27, 1904. The Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) operated the 9.1-mile long subway line that consisted of 28 stations from City Hall to 145th Street and Broadway. This service expanded to the Bronx in 1905, Brooklyn in 1908, and Queens in 1915.
Subway Tokens
- "Small Y" Token
- 1953-1966 -15 cents
- 1966-1970: 20 cents
- "Large Y" Token
- 1970-1972: 30 cents
- 1972-1975: 35 cents
- 1975-1980: 50 cents
- "Diamond Jubilee" Token
- 1979-1980: 50 cents
- "Solid Brass NYC" Token
- 1980-1981: 60 cents
- 1981-12/31/1983: 75 cents
- 1/1/1984-12/31/1985: 90 cents
- "Bullseye" Token
- 1/1/1986-1990: $1.00
- 1990-1992: $1.15
- 1992-11/12/1995: $1.25
- "Five Boroughs" Pentagram Token
- 11/13/1995-4/13/2003: $1.50
Changes to the NYC Subway
The Second Avenue Subway will be New York City’s first major expansion of the subway system in over 50 years. When fully completed, the line will stretch 8.5 miles along the length of Manhattan's East Side, from 125th Street in Harlem to Hanover Square in Lower Manhattan. In addition, a track connection to the existing 63rd Street and Broadway Lines will allow a second subway line to provide direct service from East Harlem and the Upper East Side to West Midtown via the Broadway express tracks.In all, 16 new stations will be built, serving communities in Harlem, the Upper East Side, East Midtown, Gramercy Park, East Village, the Lower East Side, Chinatown and Lower Manhattan. The new stations will also provide transfers to other subway and commuter rail lines.All of the stations will have escalator and elevator access including access for the disabled, and will feature climate control features to maximize customer comfort.
Bridges
Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
The Bronx-Whitestone Bridge connects the Bronx and Queens. The first proposal to build this bridge occurred as early as 1905; however the project was abandoned until 1930 when Robert Moses reintroduced this idea. Even though it faced opposition, the plans were approved. Moses appointed architect Othmar Ammann to design it. They planned to have it completed before the opening of the 1939 World’s Fair. In just 23 months the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge was completed.
Henry Hudson Bridge
The Henry Hudson Bridge connects Manhattan and the Bronx. It was built in 1936. When it opened, it was the longest plate girder arch and fixed arch bridge in the world. Originally built with only one level, another was added once traffic increased. The upper level goes northbound, while the lower goes southbound.
Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge
The Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge connects Brooklyn with Rockaway, Queens. It was opened in 1937. When it was built, its vertical lift span was the longest in the world. In 1978, Gil Hodges’ name was added to the bridge to honor the Brooklyn Dodgers’ first baseman and Mets manager.
Throgs Neck Bridge
The Throgs Neck Bridge connects Queens and the Bronx. It was opened in 1961 to help ease the traffic on the Bronx Whitestone Bridge.
Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
The Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, formerly the Triborough Bridge, connects Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx. It was opened in 1936, and consists of three bridges, a viaduct, and 14 miles of approach roads connecting the three boroughs.
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge connects Brooklyn and Staten Island. It was opened in 1964, and when built it was the world’s longest suspension span. Its towers are 693 feet tall with a 4,260 foot distance between them. Each tower weighs 27,000 tons and is held together with three million rivets and one million bolts.
Bayonne Bridge
The Bayonne Bridge connects Staten Island with New Jersey, and it was completed in November 1931. When completed, the American Institute of Steel Construction named it the most beautiful steel bridge to open to traffic in 1931. For 45 years, this bridge was the world’s longest steel-arch bridge.
George Washington Bridge
The George Washington Bridge connects Manhattan with New Jersey. It was opened in 1931. Designed by Othmar Ammann, it was twice as long as any suspension bridge built before this time.
Goethals Bridge
The Goethals Bridge connects Staten Island and New Jersey. It was opened on June 29, 1928, which was the same day as the Outerbridge Crossing. Its 140 foot channel allows the passage of deep sea vessels.
Outerbridge Crossing
The Outerbridge Crossing connects Staten Island and New Jersey. It was opened on June 29, 1928, and was designed by John Alexander Low Waddell. It was built to accommodate the automobile traffic after World War I. It was originally named the Arthur Kill Bridge, but was renamed to honor the Port Authority’s first chairman Eugenius H. Outerbridge.
Tunnels
Holland Tunnel
The Holland Tunnel connects Manhattan and New Jersey, and it opened in 1927. The bridge’s first engineer was Clifford M. Holland, who died before completion, so Milton Freeman took over. However, he died five months after taking the job, and Ole Singstad took over. The challenge of the tunnel was deciding how to ventilate it. The Holland Tunnel became the first mechanically ventilated underwater vehicular tunnel.
Lincoln Tunnel
The Lincoln Tunnel connects Manhattan to New Jersey. The center tube was completed in 1937, the north tube was completed in 1945, and the south tube was completed in 1957. The workers who dug out the tunnels, named sandhogs, worked in dangerous conditions.
Queens Midtown Tunnel
The Queens Midtown Tunnel connects Manhattan and Queens. It was opened in 1940, and was designed by Ole Singstad.
Hugh L. Carrey Tunnel
The Hugh L. Carrey Tunnel, previously the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel) connects Brooklyn and Manhattan, and was opened in 1950. It is the longest continuous underwater vehicular tunnel in North America.
Apps That Has Made Transportation Easier
Public transportation can irritate some people. Getting a personal driver has become so easy thanks to the apps that were created these past couple of years.
Uber
For riders, Uber is a convenient, inexpensive and safe taxi service. Hire a private driver to pick you up & take you to your destination with the tap of a button on your phone - and they'll arrive within minutes. Not only is it an on-demand car service, but you can see exactly where the driver is as they come to pick you up. Depending on availability, Uber also offers several different levels of service. The service’s lowest-cost option, UberX, runs in everyday cars like the Toyota Prius. Uber Black is the company’s original service, costing a bit more but running in high-end town cars with professional drivers. Uber SUV is precisely what it sounds like, charging a premium for a larger vehicle. Uber LUX is the top-of-the-line option, operating in posh rides like Porsche Panameras and BMW 7 series sedans.
Lyft
Ridesharing matches you with a nearby driver who will pick you up and take you where you want to go. Lyft is the app you use to get a ride in minutes. Just tap request and a driver's there.
References:
New York City Transit - History and Chronology New York City Subway Tokens [1] Baruch College - NYC Infrastructure The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey - Bridges and Tunnels