Mike's new platform:
Backs W. Side MTA plan

By MICHAEL SAUL
DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU

Mayor Bloomberg offered qualified support yesterday for an MTA proposal to build a platform over the West Side railyards - paving the way for the city and the authority to forge a Plan B for the site of the rejected Jets stadium.

On his weekly radio show, Bloomberg said the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's top priority must be to ensure the security of its passengers, the reliability of its service and the long-term stability of its infrastructure.

With that in mind, Bloomberg said the MTA's preliminary plan to spend about half of its newfound $833 million surplus to build a platform over the railyards is "a very good deal for the MTA and a good deal for the city."

"Putting a roof over the yards will get them the ability to make a lot of money," he said. "They own a very valuable asset."

Bloomberg said Jets officials technically have until the end of August to resurrect their plan to purchase the site. But he does not believe the stadium will be built on the site.

The MTA awarded the property to the Jets on March 31. But last month a state panel rejected the team's stadium plan.

Bloomberg said the Giants are aggressively courting the Jets to be part of a new Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands. He said he hopes the Jets will consider alternative locations in the city.

"I'd love to see 'em find another place in New York City to build," Bloomberg said.

Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff, who is spearheading the mayor's effort to revitalize Manhattan's West Side, said the administration will be working with the MTA to develop an alternative plan for the railyards.

"There is no preferred alternative at this time," he said.