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St. George Terminal

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St. George Terminal is a ferry, railway, bus, and park and ride transit center in the St. George neighborhood of Staten Island, New York City. It is located at the intersection of Richmond Terrace and Bay Street, near Staten Island Borough Hall, SIUH Community Park and Richmond County Supreme Court. St. George is a rare example of a rail-boat connection in the United States.[a]

St. George Terminal
Intermodal transit center
Main concourse
General information
LocationOne Bay Street
Staten Island, New York
United States
Coordinates40°38′36″N 74°4′27″W / 40.64333°N 74.07417°W / 40.64333; -74.07417 (St. George station)
Operated byNYCDOT
Line(s)Staten Island Ferry
Connections
Construction
AccessibleYes
Ferry services
Preceding station NYCDOT Following station
Terminus Staten Island Ferry Whitehall Terminal
Terminus
Preceding station NYC Ferry Following station
Terminus St. George Battery Park City
toward West Midtown
Location
Map

History

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The arch gate above the terminal, constructed during the 2000s renovations.

A ferry and rail terminal at the St. George site (then called St. George's Landing)[1] and an extension of the Staten Island Railway (then called Staten Island Rapid Transit) north from Vanderbilt's Landing (today's Clifton Station) had been proposed in the 1870s by the owners of the Staten Island Railroad, George Law, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and Erastus Wiman, to replace the various ferry sites on the north and east shores of Staten Island.[2][3] St. George was selected due to it being the closest point from Staten Island to Manhattan, about a 5-mile (8.0 km) distance.[2][4] The terminal and the local neighborhood were renamed to St. George in honor of Law, allegedly as a concession by Wiman in order to build the terminal and connecting tunnel on land owned by Law.[5][6][7] An extension of the line to Tompkinsville was opened in 1884, and the tunnel between Tompkinsville and the terminal was constructed from 1884 to 1885.[8] The ferry terminal was opened in early 1886, while the rail terminal opened in March of that year.[9][1][10] The terminal's entrance building would be opened in 1897.[4]

The St. George rail terminal as originally built was constructed of wood, with no overhead obstructions.[11] Adjacent to the station was a large freight terminal called the St. George Yard, where the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's freight operations exchanged with car floats to other terminals in the New York Harbor.[8] The B&O also operated the Staten Island Rapid Transit and ferries under a 99-year lease signed in 1885.[4] A trolley terminal for the Staten Island Electric Company was formerly located above the ferryhouse.[11][12]

After the Municipal takeover of the Staten Island Ferry service, a new St. George Ferry Terminal Complex was designed by Carrère and Hastings and opened in 1905.[13] As part of this construction, the St. George tunnel was lengthened.[8] It was built with two portals at its north end; one on the geographic east side currently in use by the Staten Island Railway, and an additional western portal intended for the Staten Island Tunnel, which would have traveled across the Narrows and connected to the New York City Subway's BMT Fourth Avenue Line in Brooklyn.[8] In 1923 an excavation shaft for the Narrows tunnel was constructed at the south end of the terminal near Shore Road, though construction was halted in 1925.[4][11][14] In 1930, civic leaders proposed a $2.5 million ferry terminal to replace the existing complex, with an underground train terminal below a 26-story office development. However, this plan was never carried out.[15]

On June 25, 1946, a large fire destroyed both the wooden ferry and rail terminals, killing three people.[16][13] Full service was restored in July of that year.[2][4][11] A new facility was built by the city, opening on June 8, 1951, which led the tunneling shaft to be filled in.[2][4][11][17] The new facility cost $21 million.[17] The former freight yard was replaced by a New York City Department of Transportation municipal parking lot when the new terminal opened; the parking lot has since been replaced by Richmond County Bank Ballpark.[2][5][17][18][19]

The station served as the northern (eastern) terminus for the Staten Island Railway North Shore Branch to Arlington and Port Ivory until its closure in 1953. The line used tracks 11 and 12 on the north end of the terminal, which are currently unused.[20][8][4]

Plans for a renovation of the ferry terminal were announced in March 1997,[21] and it received renovations in the 2000s as part of a $300 million renovation of several ferry terminals in the area, including the St. George and Whitehall Terminals.[22][23] St. George's direct rail-boat connection is one of a few remaining in the United States.[20]

The MTA announced in late 2022 that it would open customer service centers at 15 stations; the centers would provide services such as travel information and OMNY farecards. The first six customer service centers, including one at St. George Terminal, were to open in early 2023.[24][25] St. George Terminal's customer service center opened at the beginning of March 2023.[26][27]

Ferry terminal

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Entrance to the ferry portion of the St. George Terminal

St. George Terminal is the southern terminal of the Staten Island Ferry; it runs only to Whitehall Terminal, on the southern tip of Manhattan near Battery Park. The Staten Island Ferry runs a 24-hour service between the terminals. Ferries usually run at 15-to-20-minute intervals during rush hours and every 30 minutes at other times.[28][29]

In January 2019, NYC Ferry announced that it would start operating its St. George route in 2020. The route was originally supposed to run from the St. George Terminal to Battery Park City Ferry Terminal and West Midtown Ferry Terminal in Manhattan.[30][31][32][33] However, due to concerns that the massive Staten Island Ferry boats and the small NYC Ferry craft might not be able to share a dock, the New York City Economic Development Corporation announced in January 2020 that a NYC Ferry dock would instead be built close to the existing terminal, on the opposite side of Empire Outlets closer to the Richmond County Bank Ballpark.[34] NYC Ferry service began operating in August 2021.[35][36]

Staten Island Railway station

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St. George
  Staten Island Railway station (rapid transit)
 
Staten Island Railway station platform in St. George Terminal.
General information
LocationOne Bay Street
St. George, Staten Island
Coordinates40°38′36″N 74°4′27″W / 40.64333°N 74.07417°W / 40.64333; -74.07417
Platforms6 island platforms (5 in regular service)
Tracks12 (10 in regular service)
Connections
Construction
Structure typeOpen-cut[37]
AccessibleYes
Other information
Station code501
History
OpenedMarch 7, 1886; 138 years ago (1886-03-07)[9]
Services
Preceding station   Staten Island Railway Following station
Terminus   Tompkinsville
toward Tottenville
Former services
Preceding station   Staten Island Railway Following station
Richmond County Bank Ballpark
Closed 2010
Terminus
   Tompkinsville
toward Tottenville
Preceding station Staten Island Railway Following station
Terminus Tottenville – St. George Tompkinsville
toward Tottenville
New Brighton
Closed 1953
toward Port Ivory
 North Shore Branch Terminus
Location
 

The railroad station, which is known as the St. George station, opened on March 7, 1886. It is the northern terminus of the main line of the Staten Island Railway, which operates 24/7. It is also one of two stations that require the US$2.90 fare on entry and exit, the other being Tompkinsville. This station is handicapped-accessible.[38][39]

 
Early 20th century

This station is situated in an open cut below street level, with a four-lane bus terminal and parking lot above it. The station has five active platforms and ten tracks, numbered 1 through 10 from east to west. All tracks end at bumper blocks at their railroad northern (geographic eastern) ends. There is also a sixth island platform with two additional tracks (11 and 12) to the west (geographic north) no longer in revenue service, which historically served the Staten Island Rapid Transit's North Shore Branch.[40] It currently acts as a passageway to the North Municipal Parking Field on Richmond Terrace, and towards Richmond County Bank Ballpark, one of two access points to this station. The track ballast is present through this construction zone. The mezzanine area has separate fare control areas: the east side for passengers entering, and the west side is for passengers exiting. Station booths and MetroCard and OMNY vending machines are located on both sides. Just before each platform bay are the old destination indicators to the left and right of each platform entrance, corresponding to each departing track. There are green bulbs above these displays that indicate where the next train will be leaving from. This station originally opened with nothing overhead; no bus bays and no ramps.[8] It was the site of a 1946 fire that nearly destroyed the terminal.[4][2]

Just south of the station towards Tompkinsville, the Staten Island Railway runs in the system's only tunnel, known as the St. George Tunnel.[8][41]

Station layout

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Station layout
G Street level Exit/entrance, buses, Staten Island Ferry
  North side elevator (Elevator PE-W) accesses bus/taxi, ferry, and SIR platform levels. South side elevator (Elevator PE-S) accesses passenger drop-off and ferry levels.
P
Platform level 		Track 12 No passenger service (Richmond County Bank Ballpark)
Island platform, not in service  
Track 11 No passenger service (Richmond County Bank Ballpark)
Track 10 No regular service
Island platform, not in service  
Track 9 No regular service
Track 8 No regular service
Island platform, not in service  
Track 7 No regular service
Track 6 ←   rush hours toward Tottenville (Great Kills)
Island platform  
Track 5 ←   rush hours toward Tottenville (Great Kills)
Track 4 ←   toward Great Kills rush hours, Tottenville other times (Tompkinsville)
Island platform  
Track 3 ←   toward Great Kills rush hours, Tottenville other times (Tompkinsville)
Track 2 ←   toward Great Kills rush hours, Tottenville other times (Tompkinsville)
Island platform  
Track 1 ←   toward Great Kills rush hours, Tottenville other times (Tompkinsville)

New York City Bus

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See also: List of bus routes in Staten Island

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority operates a number of bus routes in Staten Island, New York, United States. Some of them are the direct descendants of streetcar lines (see list of streetcar lines in Staten Island).

 
S51 bus at St. George Ferry Terminal
 
A bus parked at St. George

Departures are given below by loading bay.

Ramp Routes Destination Notes
A S61 Local
S91 Limited 		Staten Island Mall
  • S61 all times.
  • S91 PM rush-only limited-stop service.
S62 Local
S92 Limited 		Travis
via College of Staten Island
  • S62 all times.
  • S92 PM rush-only limited-stop service.
S66 Port Richmond
  • Weekdays only.
  • Via Grymes Hill.
B S51 Local
S81 Limited 		Grant City
via South Beach
  • S51 all times.
  • S81 PM rush-only limited-stop service.
S74 Local
S84 Limited 		Charleston
Bricktown Center Mall
  • S74 all times.
  • S84 PM rush-only limited-stop service.
S76 Local
S86 Limited 		Oakwood
  • S76 weekdays only.
  • S86 PM rush-only limited-stop service.
C S46 Local
S96 Limited 		Chelsea
West Shore Plaza
  • S46 all times.
  • S96 PM rush-only limited-stop service.
S48 Local
S98 Limited 		Arlington
  • S48 all times.
  • S98 PM rush-only limited-stop service.
S78 Charleston
Bricktown Center Mall
  • S78 all times.
  • Stopped at Ramp D prior to June 27, 2010 service reductions, then Ramp A.
D S40 Local
S90 Limited 		Bloomfield
via Goethals Homes
  • S40 all times.
  • S90 PM rush-only limited-stop service.
S42 New Brighton
  • Runs rush hours and evenings only.
  • Stopped at Ramp C prior to June 27, 2010 service reductions.
S44 Local
S94 Limited 		Staten Island Mall
via Port Richmond
  • S44 all times.
  • S94 PM rush-only limited-stop service.
S52 South Beach
Staten Island University Hospital
  • No overnight service.

Nearby attractions

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Notes

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  1. ^ On the west coast, Vallejo station is an example of a rail-boat connection, with another proposed to be built in neighboring Hercules, California.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Rapid Transit on Staten Island" (PDF). The New York Times. January 17, 1886. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Roger P. Roess; Gene Sansone (August 23, 2012). The Wheels That Drove New York: A History of the New York City Transit System. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 416–. ISBN 978-3-642-30484-2.
  3. ^ "Staten Islanders Worried: Anxious to Know Who Will Run the Ferryboats to This City" (PDF). The New York Times. May 25, 1893. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Leigh, Irvin; Matus, Paul (January 2002). "State Island Rapid Transit: The Essential History". thethirdrail.net. The Third Rail Online. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Minn, Michael (December 18, 2009). "History and Future of the North Shore Rail Line on Staten Island" (PDF). michaelminn.net. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 1, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  6. ^ "Staten Island Ferry Terminal Named to 'Canonize' George Law" (PDF). The New York Times. May 26, 1929. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  7. ^ Waite, Thomas L. (July 19, 1987). "If You're Thinking of Living in: St. George". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Pitanza, Marc (2015). Staten Island Rapid Transit Images of Rail. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4671-2338-9.
  9. ^ a b "Staten Island's Rapid Transit: The New System Which Lessens Time and Increases Facilities" (PDF). The New York Times. March 9, 1886. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  10. ^ Staten Island Advance (March 27, 2011). "For Erastus Wiman, St. George was a golden opportunity". SILive.com. Staten Island, New York: Staten Island Advance. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  11. ^ a b c d e "The City of New York Board of Estimate and Apportionment: The Narrows Tunnel" (PDF). brooklynrail.net. New York City Board of Estimate, Brooklyn Historic Railway Association. 1925. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  12. ^ "Two Fires on Staten Island: Ferryhouse at St. George and Overhead Trolley Structure Badly Damaged—Blaze at Cricket Club" (PDF). The New York Times. November 13, 1899. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  13. ^ a b "Terminal Death Toll 3; Ferries Using Pier Six", Staten Island Advance, June 26, 1946.
  14. ^ "Hylan Swings Pick at Shaft Opening; Formally Starts Work at the Staten Island End of Narrows Tunnel" (PDF). The New York Times. July 20, 1923. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  15. ^ "Staten Island Asks $2,500,000 Terminal – Commerce Chamber Presents Plan for 26-Story Ferry and Rail Station at St. George – Rentals Would Finance It – Upper Stories Designed as Borough Offices—Shops to Line 350 Foot Arcade". The New York Times. February 11, 1930. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  16. ^ Barron, James (December 5, 1983). "Fire at Staten I. Ferry Terminal". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  17. ^ a b c "New Ferry Depot Will 'Open' Today: Mayor to Dedicate Terminal at Staten Island That Has Been Used in Part for Year" (PDF). The New York Times. June 8, 1951. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  18. ^ Matteo, Thomas (November 12, 2014). "Our Changing Island: Site of former B&O rail yards, St. George". SILive.com. Staten Island, New York: Staten Island Advance. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  19. ^ "Municipal Parking Facilities". New York City Department of Transportation.
  20. ^ a b Office of Diane J. Savino (2013). "State Senator Diane J. Savino's 2013 Staten Island Railway Rider Report" (PDF). nysenate.gov. New York State Senate. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  21. ^ Chen, David W. (March 20, 1997). "Sleeker Design for Staten Island Ferry Terminal Is Unveiled". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  22. ^ Dunlap, David W. (April 7, 2002). "Launching a Flotilla of Ferry Terminals". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  23. ^ "St. George, Staten Island: The Borough's Transit, Civic and Cultural Hub" (PDF). nyc.gov. New York City Economic Development Corporation. August 2011. p. 2.
  24. ^ Garcia, Deanna (December 14, 2022). "'Customer Service Centers' to open at 15 subway stations". Spectrum News NY1 New York City. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  25. ^ Chasan, Aliza (December 15, 2022). "MTA opening subway customer service centers". PIX11. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  26. ^ Bascome, Erik (March 1, 2023). "New MTA Customer Service Center opens at St. George Ferry Terminal". silive. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  27. ^ Parry, Bill (March 7, 2023). "MTA opens new customer service center at Main Street-Flushing transit hub". QNS.com. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  28. ^ Sanders, Anna (May 6, 2015). "Staten Island Ferry expected to run at least every 30 minutes starting this fall". SILive.com. Archived from the original on May 8, 2015. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  29. ^ Fitzsimmons, Emma G. (April 1, 2015). "Staten Island Ferry to Add More Early Morning Trips". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  30. ^ "Routes and Schedules: St. George". NYC Ferry.
  31. ^ Barone, Vincent (January 10, 2019). "NYC Ferry is adding 2 new routes". am New York. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  32. ^ Plitt, Amy (January 10, 2019). "NYC Ferry will launch service to Staten Island, Coney Island". Curbed NY. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  33. ^ "2020–2021 Expansion". New York City Ferry Service. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  34. ^ Michel, Clifford (January 30, 2020). "NYC Ferry's a No-Go at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal". The City. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  35. ^ Gartland, Michael (August 23, 2021). "De Blasio touts NYC Ferry from Staten Island to Manhattan". New York Daily News. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  36. ^ Liotta, Paul (August 23, 2021). "NYC fast ferry is finally citywide as St. George route launches". silive. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  37. ^ "Main Line". Archived from the original on April 2, 2015.
  38. ^ "North Shore line". Archived from the original on July 24, 2011.
  39. ^ "MTA NYC Transit – Staten Island Railway Strip map (including bus transfers and parking)". Retrieved February 26, 2009.
  40. ^ "Feasibility Study of the North Shore Railroad Right-of-Way Project Assessment Report March 2004" (PDF). library.wagner.edu. Office of the Staten Island Borough President, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, URS, SYSTRA. March 2004. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  41. ^ "6.5: Transit and Railroad Open Cuts: Staten Island" (PDF). nyc.gov. New York City Department of City Planning. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 6, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
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