Urbitran Associates selected as lead consultant for S.I. West Shore study

New York City Economic Development Corporation and the Department of City Planning recently selected Urbitran Associates as the lead consultant to advance the West Shore Study. An advisory committee of local stakeholders, city and state agencies has also been convened to inform the study and counsel the study framework. Urbitran will provide professional land use and transportation planning, market analysis and feasibility, coordinate public discussion and outreach efforts and work with the private-public Advisory Committee to develop a community based planning framework that will guide the West Shore's future transportation and land use needs.  The consultant team includes Phillips Preiss Shapiro Associates, Economic Research Associates, Halcrow, SMWM, Amy S. Greene Environmental Consultants, Zetlin Strategic Communications and Historical Perspectives. Robert Lieber, deputy mayor for economic development, said, "Urbitran Assocs., along with the advisory committee, will ensure that any future growth is both responsible and sustainable and the plans meet the needs of a growing and thriving Staten Island, while protecting the natural environment." Amanda Burden, commissioner of the Department of City Planning, said, "Staten Islanders have called for comprehensive planning, and the city has heeded their call with this ambitious initiative. This large and complex area requires a consensus-based, sustainable blueprint for balancing the protection of open space and wetlands with the need for new job opportunities as well as identifying where transportation improvements will be necessary.  We look forward to working with local and state agencies, business owners, civic groups and elected officials who have committed to make this important planning initiative a success." Running the length of the Arthur Kill, the study area encompasses nearly 5,700 acres. Nearly half includes the future Fresh Kills Park which is the subject of a separate planning effort. Nearly 10 square miles in size and covering approximately 12 miles of shoreline along the Arthur Kill, the study area consists of maritime, industrial, and commercial uses with pockets of residential use, along with open space, brownfields and wetlands. Today, more than half of the area is dormant, including vacant, dilapidated, or under-utilized properties. At the recommendation of the mayor's Staten Island Growth Management and Transportation Task Forces, the committee was convened to advise the planning effort. This effort will create a framework and long-term vision and planning implementation strategy to assure thoughtful and sustainable development for this large area of private and publicly-owned property. The project will also examine transportation amenities seeking to improve connectivity and safety while reducing travel times. This phase of the West Shore Study is expected to last approximately 12-15 months. In parallel with the West Shore Study, the city has allocated funding to allow the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation (SIEDC) to further study the feasibility of light rail passenger service along the West Shore.