The Highline NYC

The High Line is a 1.45-mile-long elevated, steel structure built in the 1930s to carry freight trains. It currently runs from Gansevoort Street, in the Meatpacking District, through the West Chelsea gallery neighborhood, ending at 34th Street, next to the Jacob Javits Convention Center. The last train ran on it in 1980.


Who owns the High Line?
South of 30th Street, the High Line is owned by the City of New York and is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks & Recreation. This section was donated to the City by CSX Transportation, Inc., which still owns the northernmost section (30th Street to 34th Street). The land beneath the High Line is owned in parcels by New York State, New York City, and more than 20 private property owners.
Over on the west side of Manhattan is a $170M plaground.

Why preserve and reuse the High Line?
The High Line is a monument to the industrial history of New York's West Side. It offers an opportunity to create an innovative new public space, raised above the city streets, with views of the Hudson River and the city skyline. Its conversion is a global model for the reuse of transportation infrastructure, offering greening opportunities, alternative transportation options, and social and economic benefits to meet changing needs in post-industrial urban environments.


Does the High Line project have political support?
Yes. Elected officials supporting the project include Mayor Michael Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kristen Gillibrand, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Governor David Paterson, New York State Senator Thomas Duane, New York State Assembly Members Deborah Glick and Richard Gottfried.


When will it open to the public?
Construction began in April 2006. Section 1 (Gansevoort Street to 20th Street) is projected to open in June, 2009. Section 2 (20th Street to 30th Street) is projected to open in 2010.


Has an elevated rail structure been made into a park before?
The city of Paris successfully converted a similar rail viaduct into an elevated park called the Promenade Plantée. It is lavishly planted and offers both stairs and elevators for access. Projects similar to the High Line are in early stages in St. Louis, Philadelphia, Jersey City, Chicago, and Rotterdam, among others.


Is the High Line structurally sound?
Yes. It was built to hold two loaded freight trains, and it is still structurally sound. As part of the construction process for its reuse, the structure is being fully rehabilitated, including concrete repair, repainting, and drainage improvements.


How will people access the High Line from the street?
Access points will be built every 2 to 3 blocks, and will meet guidelines established by the Americans with Disabilities Act.


How will the public space atop the High Line be made safe and secure?
Safety and security are of the utmost important for the success of any public space, and is the top priority for the High Line, both in design and daily operations. Access points will be securely locked, well-lit, and monitored when the public space is closed. Areas under the High Line will be well-illuminated. Windows in adjacent buildings will offer "eyes on the park." Security officers will monitor the public space. Most important, the High Line will attract a large numbers of visitors, contributing to overall safety.


What will the public space on the High Line look like?
The design team, led by landscape architects James Corner Field Operations with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro, has sought to capture the quiet, contemplative nature of the High Line after the trains stopped running, creating a world apart from the bustling streets of Manhattan. Concrete is cast in long, textured planks, forming a smooth, linear, virtually seamless walking surface. Tapered into surrounding naturalistic plantings, they will allow plant life to push up through the seams. Fixed and movable seating, an integrated LED lighting system, and other special features will complete the High Line's signature landscape, creating a one-of-a-kind public space 30 feet above the ground. 


What will happen to the High Line at the West Side Rail Yards?
While the High Line's future is secure below 30th Street, and construction on the park is underway, the future of the rail yards section depends on plans now being developed by the State-run MTA and the Related Companies, a private developer. This section of the High Line (30th Street to 34th Street) makes up about one-third of the Line. http://www.thehighline.org/about/faq
High Line (Part 1)