Here's a look at the history of bus service on Staten Island:

Trains haven't rolled on Staten Island's North Shore rail line in more than 50 years, and the tracks left behind are a mess. But just over the Bayonne Bridge, a sleek light rail is carrying commuters to and from work in Jersey City and PATH trains to Manhattan -- a link the borough could enjoy, too, if rail plans become a reality.

A ride on the Staten Island Expressway during rush hour is enough to drive motorists to exhaustion before they even get to work in the morning.

That's the reality for thousands of commuters who creep and crawl this way every day. And it's only going to get worse unless changes are made soon.

To see for yourself, check out our video and take a ride with Advance transportation reporter Maura Yates. Trust us: It's better than the real thing.

Believe it: At one time, it was smooth sailing on the Staten Island Expressway.

But it didn't last long. Take a look at our photo gallery from the Advance archives for some rarely seen images taken over the decades.

The pictures tell the story. From the time it opened in 1964 through the 1970s, traffic flowed fairly well on the Staten Island Expressway. By the 1980s, it was crowded.

Today, it's a parking lot much of the day.