By Joseph Morales

   The Eltingville Transit Center is one of two transit hubs in Staten Island and is the only transit hub serving the southern and western parts of the borough. The hub serves many express bus routes to Manhattan and many local bus routes. The center also serves the S79-SBS to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, and the S89 to the 34th St Light Rail Station in Bayonne, NJ. The transit center is about a 10-minute bus ride from the Staten Island Mall and Eltingville SIR station.

            Despite the hub not including any rail services, it is still popular amongst Staten Island riders due to the bus services connecting to places in other boroughs, New Jersey, and throughout Staten Island itself. It is so popular that the parking lots at the hub are often filled close to or at capacity. 

            This is for several reasons, including that many Staten Island express buses to Manhattan begin/terminate at the transit center. Many who rely on these buses live across the South Shore of Staten Island and do not live within walking distance of the center. Even though most residents live within walking distance of an express bus route, not all express bus routes go to the same parts of Manhattan. Since most residents own cars, many opt to drive to the transit center and take a more direct express bus rather than completing their trip via local bus/subway once in Manhattan. Likely to a lesser extent, many drive to the center to get to certain local buses to avoid having to transfer should they take transit for their entire trip.

              Thus, according to Staten Island Advance, the MTA is working to increase the number of parking spaces in the center by 34%, from 437 to 586. This will significantly help to increase the parking capacity at the center. This project should be completed within weeks, as the MTA’s capital plan dashboard still has the project’s completion slated for this month. On my visit to the transit center on March 19th, 2023, the roadway where cars would be parked was paved, and to the naked eye appeared like cars could begin parking there immediately. The project is highly likely in its final stages before opening.

                 The MTA is also improving lighting at the transit center. This can go a long way toward improving accessibility and security at the transit center, given it is located in an area with a low activity density in the immediate vicinity. The MTA will also add a new sidewalk and curb to improve ADA accessibility at the hub to ensure that individuals with mobility disabilities have safe access to the transit center. Lastly, the MTA will add a new drainage system to the facility. 

              Modern drainage systems are essential for preventing damage and erosion to roadways, improving conditions for both cars and buses, resulting in an ideal driving environment and fewer bus delays.

              These systems are also critical to roadway safety as they prevent stormwater ponding, which can lead to drivers making a variety of maneuvers to try to avoid them. This can lead to accidents, especially in a parking lot as dense as the Eltingville Transit Center. In addition, a failure in a drainage system that results in stormwater ponding can lead to cars losing control and hydroplaning on the road, which results in a similar effect to cars skidding on ice, according to a report by a group of Professional Engineers from the Safety Division of the Federal Highway Administration.

              Through a plethora of improvements, big and small, the combined projects have a great potential to greatly improve conditions at one of Staten Island’s busiest transit hubs for years to come. Depending on this project’s success, the MTA and other transit agencies may use similar strategies to improve transit hubs and commuter rail stations throughout the region and the country.

Works Cited

Bascome, Erik. “$4.3M Eltingville Transit Center parking lot expansion underway, with nearly 150 new spots expected in spring.” SILive.com, 11 January 2023, https://www.silive.com/news/2023/01/43m-eltingville-transit-center-parking-lot-expansion-underway-with-nearly-150-new-spots-expected-in-spring.html. Accessed 22 April 2023.

McGee, P.E.,, FHugh W., et al. “Maintenance of Drainage Features for Safety – Safety | Federal Highway Administration.” FHWA Highway Safety Programs, July 2009, https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/local_rural/training/fhwasa09024/. Accessed 22 April 2023.