OnTrack
- This article is about the New York commuter train line. For the New Zealand company, see ONTRACK.
| File:Ontrack Logo.gif | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Syracuse, NY |
| Locale | Syracuse, New York |
| Dates of operation | 1994–2007 |
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OnTrack was a Syracuse, New York Regional rail line. During its operation, Syracuse was the smallest city in the United States to have regional train service. The line ran 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 was also a flag stop called 600 Erie Place, and seasonal service to Jamesville. Financing was approved in April 2004 to build a bridge that would 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.
When service began in 1994, the trains ran between Syracuse University, Armory Square and Carousel Center 10 times a day, seven days a week. In 2005, service was limited to only Saturdays. The fare was $1.50.
OnTrack was heavily subsidized with roughly 8 million dollars of state money spent on the system. In order to be profitable, OnTrack needed 500 riders a day; at its height it received only 75. In July 2007, OnTrack ended service indefinitely. It is not yet known whether service will be resumed in the future (or what form resumed service might take).
Ambitious plans for the future of OnTrack included:
- Completion of the bridge mentioned above that would have made the line much more useful as many people arrive in Syracuse through the Transportation Center and may need public transportation to travel further into the city. This plan was plagued by construction problems.
- Increased ridership from the long overdue construction of Destiny USA, a multi-billion dollar tourism attraction, which is supposed to draw millions of tourists a year.
- Increased ridership as a result of more strategically-placed stations. All but one of the stations, Colvin Street, were in non-residential neighborhoods, although the line ran through several residential areas. [However, the Colvin Street station itself mostly failed to attract ridership. This could be attributed to OnTrack's operating hours, which did not include morning rush hour service.]
OnTrack also ran the "Orange Express" shuttle during Syracuse University Carrier Dome events. This shuttle was more successful.
OnTrack was the subject of criticism for failing to re-paint its railroad bridges over Erie Boulevard and South Geddes, West Fayette and West Genesee Streets. Congressman Jim Walsh appropriated $3 million in 2002 for Ontrack, although the company insisted the money was earmarked for structural rather than cosmetic improvements. [1]
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 Chiefs minor league baseball team.
- William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center (Planned): Syracuse's Amtrak, Greyhound and Trailways station.
- Carousel Center: Syracuse's largest shopping mall, future site of Destiny USA.
- 600 Erie Place (Flag Stop): Serves the Westside Neighborhood.
- 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 (seasonal flag stop)
- Jamesville Village (seasonal flag stop)
- Jamesville Beach (seasonal destination)
Stations planned for an expanded Salvation Army facility downtown were cancelled when the Syracuse Salvation Army received word in January 2006 that they had not been selected as one of the recipients of a grant from the Kroc Foundation, run by Joan B. Kroc. The foundation had donated $1.6 billion to be used for 48 new community centers nationwide. The grant proposal had requested $36 million for a facility offering recreation, arts, education and work force development.
External links
- Syracuse in Focus OnTrack Photo Gallery
- OnTrack's 10th Anniversary Photo Gallery
- Article Containing a Short Video Clip of OnTrack
References
- Brieaddy, Frank (17 September 2005). "Salvation Army center plan grows". The Post-Standard.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "OnTrack is lacking passengers in Syracuse". News 10 Now. 2004-05-24.
- "No grant for Syracuse Salvation Army". News 10 Now. 1/6/2006.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "$400,000 for a train that never came". The Post-Standard. 2007-11-11.
- ^ "$3 Million Set Aside for Bridges Sits Unused" Sean Kirst, Syracuse Post-Standard. August 8, 2005