The No. 7 Secaucus Extension Feasibility Analysis Final Report, carried out by Parsons Brinckerhoff, states: "The extension of the No. 7 Subway would result in the first trans-Hudson tunnel connection that would provide direct rail access from New Jersey, not only to the West Side of Manhattan, but also to the East Side and multiple locations in Queens. It would provide needed capacity across the Hudson River and advance the broader goal of enhancing regional connectivity."

According to the report, the project meets many of the objectives of the Access to the Region's Core (ARC) commuter rail tunnel cancelled in October 2010 and would help to accommodate sustained growth in trans-Hudson traffic, which is forecast to increase by 38% by 2030.

The proposed Jersey extension would run 11th Avenue/West 34th Street, currently under construction as part of the extension from Times Square, through new tunnels under the Hudson and the Palisades to reach an interchange with NJ Transit and Amtrak Northeast Corridor services at Secaucus Junction, New Jersey. The journey time between Secaucus and 34th Street would be eight minutes, while Grand Central would be reached within 15 minutes.

The study suggests daily ridership on the extension would reach around 128,000 passengers in both directions in 2035. Some of these will be existing rail passengers although the line is also expected to attract significant traffic from ferries and cars.

No capital costs have been given for the project, and the study says these would be developed at the next stage of analysis, the advanced planning phase, together with a refined engineering design and construction schedule.

The study can be viewed in full at the New York City Economic Development Corporation website. Click here for the PDF.

7Subway-Jersey-map