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Last week, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the city acquired the third and final section of the High Line from CSX Corp. The transaction is a major step toward preserving the entire historic elevated railway and transforming it into public open space, Bloomberg said in a prepared statement.

The transfer of ownership clears the way for design and construction on the final stretch of the elevated rail viaduct to extend the High Line park to West 34th Street. Design of the rail yards section is under way and construction is expected to begin later this year.

The High Line is a section of a former elevated New York Central Railroad spur running along the lower west side of Manhattan. The line is recognized as a significant contributor to the revitalization of the west side, according to city officials.

“We view the donation of the High Line as not simply a transfer of ownership, but a contribution to the vitality of the area, and we are thrilled that the entire length of this iconic rail structure will be available for the public to enjoy,” said CSX Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Ward.
 
In 1999, CSX commissioned a study on re-purposing the High Line that included the possibility of enrolling the viaduct in the federal “Rails to Trails” program. In 2005, CSX and the city entered into a trail use agreement for the High Line and the Class I donated the line south of West 30th Street.