Despite widespread support, the vision42 plan for an auto-free light rail boulevard on 42nd Street will nonetheless cost close to 500 million dollars for a 2.5 mile, river-to-river line. As MTA and city and state legislators debate how to meet the serious shortfalls in MTA's capital and operating budget, it is not realistic to expect vision42 to push aside other, much-needed projects, like keeping the subways and buses in a good state of repair. The answer is to devise a financing plan that captures the value created by vision42 -- a value that would not occur unless this project is completed.

Plan to join us at the next Auto-Free New York meeting to hear a highlights of a detailed financing plan, just completed by the well-respected firm Urbanomics.

The marvelous Vision 42 website lays out the case for restoring light rail to 42nd Street (and for a historical perspective, we lay out four roller-coaster years of late '90's newsclips about the trolley proposal). Finally, with more than 800 million cars bearing down on our planet, and multi-national corporations buying up governments in order to double that number, it's time to get active! The organization Carbusters hosts a World Car-Free Day every year.