Letters
The Rector Street Bridge
Rector Street Bridge
To the editor:
I couldn’t agree more with the idea that we need to do everything we can as a community to keep this extremely important passage intact.
Unless there is a compelling reason presented by the appropriate authorities (safety issue with existing structure), I can’t fathom why we would consider removing such a useful and potentially lifesaving element of our community.
If all is okay with the existing structure, what a potential waste we are facing! Look at how long it took to build the West Thames Bridge and look at the astronomical amount of money it cost.
It would be mind-boggling to remove the Rector passage only to later realize how useful it was to the community. I venture to say we will never get another above-highway passage completed in our lifetimes and perhaps our children’s. We should be looking for more safe passages across the highway and not less.
Can Bob or the Broadsheet present suggestions on how we can create a common voice to communicate with the appropriate officials/powers that be?
Editor’s note:
The email for the Community Board is:
Man01@cb.nyc.gov
The email for the Battery Park City Authority is:
info.bpc@bpca.ny.govJohn A. Zaro
To the editor,
Re: Preservation of the Rector Street Bridge
More than a decade and a half ago with many fewer residents, workers and tourists in Battery Park City, there was no World Trade Center 1, 3, 4, or 7, no 911 Memorial, no Fulton Center, or Oculus, no World Financial ferry, Goldman Sachs headquarters, no Westfield, no bike-way, e-bikes or e-scooters, and no PS 276. At that time, it was decided to build two bridges across the West Street highway: a permanent bridge at West Thames and a temporary one at Rector Street. For whatever reasons, it was decided that the temporary bridge would be removed upon the completion of the new bridge. This was a potentially fateful decision.
Eighteen years of delays and $45+ million for the West Thames Bridge, the Rector Bridge is facing demolition. Over those years, the Rector Bridge has proven its usefulness to many.
Since there are no official surveys to record the use and users of the bridge, I have undertaken one.
Thus far I have counted 535 persons crossing the bridge and received 76 survey responses. 73.7% of the persons crossing the bridge are residents, 64.5% of whom had no knowledge that the bridge was scheduled for destruction. 74 out of 76 responders believed that crossing West Street at grade is more dangerous, but only 14.9% would use the West Thames Bridge. 85.1% would be crossing at Albany Street and exposing themselves and their children to increased danger.
The Rector Street Bridge is a vital commute path and time-saver for so many… there is no need to remove it on the basis of a much-dated understanding. Even one injury at on the bike-way or the highway would be a grave loss to our city and our community. With few bridges, underpasses and no sidewalk barriers, we need as many safety measures and bridges across the West Side Highway for the safety of the public as possible.
For health reasons, I have been slow and delayed in conducting this survey. I hope and intend to continue to record the interests of the bridge-crossers and to respond to their requests to prepare a petition for them to sign. I plan to be sitting on the bridge in a chair with a sign: “If you want to keep crossing this bridge // You’ll have to help save it.”
Bob Schneck
I completely agree with the need to keep the Rector St Pedestrian Bridge.
While I am sure the new West Thames Pedestrian Bridge will be of great benefit for other Battery Park City residents, the new bridge is significantly out of the way for many Battery Park City residents. I also do not like being directed to the busy West Thames / West St intersection and having to cross over to the south side of West Thames St just to access the bridge. To the contrary, Rector Place has very little traffic and I feel far safer accessing the Rector St Pedestrian Bridge. (the new traffic signals at Rector Pl and South End Avenue also greatly help)
I use the Rector St bridge on a daily basis, especially in the winter, in inclement weather and at night when safety is critical. For me, the next best alternative for accessing the Financial District would be to cross at the Albany St / West St intersection, which is also quite busy with car and truck traffic and the bike path. Other alternatives include walking through the poorly lit Battery Park at night, or I might use Citibike more in inclement weather. Another option is the Downtown Connection, but the hours are limited and I am often heading to work earlier or coming home later.
The Liberty St Pedestrian Bridge is also out of my way and will not be an adequate alternative. Also, there are ongoing renovations at 200 Liberty St building at Brookfield Place, limiting access to the building and the pedestrian bridge.
None of the alternatives provide near the level of safety and convenience of the existing Rector St Pedestrian Bridge. I strongly urge the city and Battery Park City Authority to not remove the bridge and continue to maintain it.