CHELSEA — The owner of the defunct stretch of railroad slated to become the final section of the High Line has officially handed over the elevated structure to the city, clearing the way for construction of the park's much-anticipated third segment.
The announcement, made Tuesday by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Friends of the High Line, allows the city to take control of the section of railway looping around the West Side Rail Yards, from West 30th to 34th streets, until now owned by CSX Transportation.
“The transfer of ownership of the final section of the High Line marks a monumental step toward our goal of opening the entire elevated railway to the public,” Bloomberg said.
In November, the city, CSX, Friends of the High Line and the Related Companies, which is developing the Hudson Yards project, all agreed in principle to push the project forward.
Construction on the $90 million third section was originally set to begin in mid-July, but will now begin later this year, according to Mayor's Office said.