Tottenville is the southern end of the Staten Island Railway and as such is technically the southernmost and westernmost subway station on the system. It’s also a rather wealthy neighborhood on Staten Island.
The station, while technically accessible, is questionably so as it lacks many features of a standard accessible station. I mean, yes, you have step-free access to the platform. However, the platform is rather narrow and there isn’t really any tactile strip. But, given this is hardcore MAGA country, I can’t say I expected anything more. You do have countdown clocks that are dubiously accurate, and there are stairs to street level on both Ellis and Utah/Main Streets, while the southern end of the platform has a ramp to Bentley Street. The ramp, however, does look to be wide enough for a mobility device like a wheelchair. Lastly, while there is parking, I suspect it’s for SI Railway operators only. But, if not, you have a park & ride here! (barely)
The good: It exists, and serves the neighborhood. It’s also technically accessible??? And there’s parking???
The bad: Accessibility is questionable. No tactile strips. Countdown clocks are dubious. The overpass is narrow as hell.
Nearby points of interest: There’s actually a few restaurants and shops on Main St. and Amboy Rd., if you want to walk the half-mile or so. There’s also a rather upscale Italian restaurant at the station itself, but it gives off more the kind of energy one’s grandparents would bring their family to for a night out, and everyone is expected to show up in something formal. Yeah, you know what I’m talking about. Also, a lot of Italian MAGA supporters live around here, so if you happen to be a minority of any kind (socioeconomic or ethnic), do heed a degree of caution.
Transit connections:
SI Railway
MTA bus (S74, S78, both on Arthur Kill Rd.)
Overall, this station is weird. It exists, and it’s cool it serves such a “should not be NYC” part of NYC. But, also, it’s MAGA country. That stuff aside, this station is also dubiously accessible and somehow also manages to be, in straight-line distance, closer to the nearest NJCL stop than to the nearest SI Railway stop.
Rating: 4/10
One thought on “Tottenville (SI Railway)”