OnTrack
|
|
Template:Railroad OnTrack is a Syracuse, New York commuter train line. Syracuse is the smallest city in the United States to have local train service. The line runs from Colvin Street on the city's south side via Syracuse University and Armory Square to the Carousel Center, using three Budd Rail Diesel Cars that were built in the 1950s. There is also a flag stop called 600 Eire Place, and seasonal service to Jamesville. Financing was finally approved in April 2004 to build a bridge that will allow OnTrack to reach the William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center, Regional Market, and Alliance Bank Stadium. These stations have already been built, and most of the track has been laid, with simply the bridge link missing.
It is an extreme money-losing operation. In order to be profitable, OnTrack would have to have about 500 riders a day, but It draws about 60. About eight million dollars of taxpayer money has been pumped into the line since it began in 1994. Currently there are two hopes for a future for OnTrack:
- The Completion of the bridge mentioned above that would make the line much more useful as many people arrive in Syracuse through the transportation center and do not have a car with them or someone to pick them up.
- The construction of DestiNY USA, a multi-billion dollar tourism attraction, which is supposed to draw millions of tourists a year.
OnTrack also runs the "Orange Express" shuttle during Syracuse University Carrier Dome events. This shuttle is much more successful.
Stops
From north to south:
- Central New York Regional Market (Planned): Regional Produce Market
- Alliance Bank Stadium (Planned): Formerly P&C Stadium, home of the Syracuse Skychiefs AAA Baseball team.
- William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center (Planned): Syracuse's Amtrak, Greyhound and Trailways terminal.
- Carousel Center: Syracuse's largest shopping mall, future site of DestiNY USA.
- 600 Eire Place (Flag Stop): Close to Automobile Row.
- Armory Square - Downtown Syracuse: Downtown station, on Armory Square, a major nightlife area that also has many small shops and restaurants.
- Syracuse University - Carrier Dome: Station for the University Hill neighborhood, close to the Carrier Dome.
- Colvin Street (flag stop): Serves the South Valley and Outer Comstock neighborhoods.
- Rock Cut Road (flag stop and seasonal destination)
- Jamesville Village (flag stop and seasonal destination)
- Jamesville Beach (seasonal destination)
For pickup at flag stops call 315-424-1212 or 1-800-FOR-TRAIN.
External links
- OnTrack (http://www.syracuseontrack.com/)
- Syracuse in Focus OnTrack Photo Gallery (http://www.sif.net/ontrack.htm)
- OnTrack's 10th Anniversary Photo Gallery (http://www.rrhistorical-2.com/cnynrhs/Photos/OnTrack2004)
- Article Containing a Short Video Clip of OnTrack (http://news10now.com/content/all_news/central_new_york/?SecID=86&ArID=19760)