We all know the L train could face up to a three-year closure as authorities work to repair damages sustained to the transit system during Hurricane Sandy, but not all New Yorkers are taking the news sitting down. The Van Alen Institute held a design charrette last weekend, offering $1,000 to the team with the best plan to help commuters deal with the closure. The winners were also offered a chance to refine their proposal with experts at the institute. Some ideas reportedly included:
An inflatable tunnel — featuring a psychedelic multimedia light show — that would span the East River.
Shutting down 14th Street to car traffic and recreating it as a pedestrian walkway.
Creating an app with real-time travel conditions that would help commuters select their mode of transportation.
Providing an all-access pass to buses, car share services, ferries and bike shares.
The $1,000 winning proposal? A Venice-style series of high-frequency shuttle boats that would transport riders between the two boroughs, along with a new train service on the Long Island Rail Road that would connect travelers with the new mode of transportation. You can read more of Gothamist’s take on the event here.
Designers propose wild ideas for L train replacement
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