March 12, 20232 yr there are biggish complaints about the fuzzy led’s and minor complaints about the ugly cuomo blue/yellow nys colors stripes, but otherwise very nice — i look forward to riding and getting a whiff of new car smell — before it, err, all goes south lol: Latest subway cars roll into service, start their journey on the A line By Sarah Belle Lin Posted on March 10, 2023 Welcome the new, long-awaited R211 subway cars to the MTA family! The MTA held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the arrival of its latest subway cars, the first to enter the system in more than five years. The glistening and unspoiled R211 cars with signature blue-and-gold seats started their journey on the A line at the northernmost tip of the line at 207th Street station in upper Manhattan’s Inwood. The event was live-streamed and lucky members of the public jumped on board long before the train pulled out of the station. more: https://www.amny.com/news/new-mta-subway-cars-are-online-and-beginning-their-journey-on-the-a-line/ The inaugural ride of the first R211A subway train from 207th Street on the A Line on Friday, March 10, 2023. Photo taken by Marc A. Hermann/MTA.
March 12, 20232 yr more road dieting broadway northward from 23rd st (eventually to columbus circle and maybe beyond): NYC begins new phase of ‘Broadway Vision,’ street improvements from Madison Square to Herald Square Published: Mar. 12, 2023 By Jillian Delaney | [email protected] MANHATTAN, N.Y. — Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez have big plans for the streets from Madison Square to Herald Square. As per a press release, the mayor and commissioner began construction today in the next phase of the “Broadway Vision.” “Two years ago, the pandemic devastated Midtown and our business districts, but it gave us the opportunity to reimagine our public spaces,” said Mayor Adams. “Beginning this week, our Broadway Vision will come to life with vibrant, new public spaces and safer streets from Madison Square to Herald Square. Midtown is back, and New York City is back.” more: https://www.silive.com/news/2023/03/nyc-begins-new-phase-of-broadway-vision-street-improvements-from-madison-square-to-herald-square.html Rendering of Greeley Square after capital construction work is completed. Credit: “New” New York Panel
March 12, 20232 yr ^as long as they don't get rid of this restroom! They need more of these in New York http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
March 18, 20232 yr a nice, early writeup of the ibx line — The neighborhoods the IBX would serve are over 70% non-white. Half of all residents in these areas don't own a car, and one in four have limited fluency in English. Several of the neighborhoods are considered transit deserts, and the MTA estimates the line would attract around 85,000 riders per day. more: https://www.thrillist.com/news/new-york/nyc-interborough-express-subway-train
March 18, 20232 yr What a great plan to connect all those lines together. Will it happen though? I heard the rail line to LGA just got dropped again--and that was a much shorter line.
March 18, 20232 yr 4 hours ago, mrnyc said: a nice, early writeup of the ibx line — The neighborhoods the IBX would serve are over 70% non-white. Half of all residents in these areas don't own a car, and one in four have limited fluency in English. Several of the neighborhoods are considered transit deserts, and the MTA estimates the line would attract around 85,000 riders per day. more: https://www.thrillist.com/news/new-york/nyc-interborough-express-subway-train It’s so frustrating that NYC can’t get costs under control. This line needs to be full heavy rail metro, like any new line in NYC, and yet they have to sacrifice capacity by dropping to light rail. There’s one section where the right of way isn’t wide enough for freight and passenger tracks, so they’re diverting to the street RoW for that section, thus necessitating light rail. If they had halfway decent cost structure, they could have done a tunnel or viaduct for that part and therefore been able to do heavy rail. Unlike here in Cleveland where capacity differences between heavy and light rail are generally irrelevant due to low usage, in NYC this capacity difference is REALLY important. This line will be overcrowded from Day 1 and it’ll be borderline impossible to correct in the future. Also the LaGuardia AirTran project was really poorly designed, so that’s not a big loss. Again though, the overall problem is NYC’s completely unreasonable cost structure. Even the BRT connector they are proposing is insanely expensive - over $1B! How is that even possible? When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
March 18, 20232 yr 2 minutes ago, Boomerang_Brian said: ..Unlike here in Cleveland where capacity differences between heavy annd light rail are generally irrelevant due to low usage, in NYC this capacity difference is REALLY important. This line will be overcrowded from Day 1 and it’ll be borderline impossible to correct in the future... How many people can you put on a light rail train vs a heavy one?
March 18, 20232 yr ibx is a stand alone crosstown service on old row that wont get more than 85k per day, if it gets that. so light rail is fine. especially if that gets it built quicker. also, it gives mta experience in light rail, for which they clearly see the nj transit hudson-bergen line has been a great success and is relatively easily expandable. ie., for a future bx crosstown light rail across tremont ave, pelham prkwy/fordham rd, or vc/gun hill rd someday, or something like that elsewhere that would never get a subway, etc..
March 19, 20232 yr 3 minutes ago, mrnyc said: ibx is a stand alone crosstown service on old row that wont get more than 85k per day, if it gets that. so light rail is fine. especially if that gets it built quicker. also, it gives mta experience in light rail, for which they clearly see the nj transit hudson-bergen line has been a great success and is relatively easily expandable. ie., for a future bx crosstown light rail across tremont ave, pelham prkwy/fordham rd, or vc/gun hill rd someday, or something like that elsewhere that would never get a subway, etc.. Strongly disagree on NYC needing experience with Light Rail. EVERYTHING in NYC should be heavy rail metro, and automated for that matter. The IBX is, as you said, going through a transit dessert. It is surrounded by great density. It connects a whole boatload of subway lines, bus lines, plus LIRR. It is a colossal failure on every level of government that NYC isn't even attempting to address its cost issues. NYC costs are 10x what they should be - 10x! A project that should cost $100M costs $1B in NYC. Or perhaps a better way to think about it - NYC should get ten times more transit for the amount of money they spend, compared to what they actually get. Imagine the IBX with those beautiful new Stadler heavy rail cars that MARTA is getting in Atlanta with the big open gangways. Transit Cost Project goes super deep into the cost issue and lays out recommendations for improvement: https://transitcosts.com/ When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
March 19, 20232 yr naah, the ibx is in an isolated row and projected ridership at best would put it 7th in usa light rail daily ridership, or on a par with the central link seattle line. also no way all of nyc should or even could be heavy rail. potential outer boro crosstown routes dont need heavy rail, like the examples i mentioned in the bx. in fact even more brt would help there, but for sure they would otherwise never even get service improvements. costs are of course another issue. so its time for mta to relook at varied and cheaper modes for some outer expansions, including light rail, a lot more brt and maybe even like waterfront trolleys.
March 19, 20232 yr 27 minutes ago, Jimmy Skinner said: Seems like the IBX could go a mile or so further north and get to Laguardia. No. IBX is a project because the right of way exists (and is currently used for occasional freight traffic). The RoW goes to Hells Gate Bridge and on to the Bronx. Which would be a great extension of the line, if NYC could get project costs under control. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
March 19, 20232 yr ^ ibx cant extend to the bx because mnrr will be using hellgate along with amtrak and it cant handle more traffic. they would have to build another bridge — and with relatively limited ibx ridership that seems far from economically wise. so its to be brooklyn-queens only for ibx.
March 19, 20232 yr good news today — NYC subway riderships hits pre-pandemic ridership numbers for first time since 2020 Published: Mar. 18, 2023 By David Luces | [email protected] STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York City subway ridership numbers recently broke a record with ridership numbers not seen since before the pandemic. Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Thursday, March 16, there were 3,946,310 paid rides on the subway -- numbers not seen since March 2020 when 4.1 million New Yorkers rode the subway. March 16h’s ridership broke the previous record set on December 8, 2022 by 11,000 rides, according to Hochul’s office. more: https://www.silive.com/news/2023/03/nyc-subway-riderships-hits-pre-pandemic-ridership-numbers-for-first-time-since-2020.html
March 23, 20232 yr fix’r upping: MTA has revamped 11 stations this year, plans to upgrade another 30 by year end By Christian Murray Posted on March 22, 2023 The MTA announced earlier this week that it has revamped 11 stations so far this year, with its crews conducting station repairs, deep cleanings and general upgrades. The renovations are part of the MTA’s “Station Re-NEW-vation Program” that was launched last year and saw nine stations on the D line upgraded in 2022. The MTA has now upgraded 20 stations, with a goal of revamping another 30 by the end of 2023. The upgrades are part of NYC Transit’s Faster, Cleaner, Safer plan that was announced in October that aims to improve customer experience. more: https://www.amny.com/news/mta-has-revamped-11-stations-this-year-plans-to-upgrade-another-30-by-year-end/ Crews perform Station ReNEWvation Program work at 8 Av on the L line on Saturday, Mar 18, 2023. (Marc A. Hermann / MTA)
March 24, 20232 yr caps are good — ok — Exclusive: City to begin community engagement for transformation of Cross Bronx Expressway By Aliya Schneider Posted on March 24, 2023 The city is launching a wave of public events to give Bronxites the opportunity to be heard as efforts to reimagine the Cross Bronx Expressway are underway. The city was awarded $2 million through a U.S. Department of Transportation Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) two-year grant to conduct a study of the expressway, which was announced in December. The study has not begun yet, and the public engagement process will guide its formation, a NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) spokesperson told the Bronx Times. According to Mayor Eric Adams, the study will look at ways to reduce pollution and noise, improve safety and sustainability and reconnect communities that had been torn apart by the expressway’s construction. More specifically, the government agencies will look at strategies for decking parts of the expressway — also known as capping — to create new public open space above the highway, according to Adams’ announcement. more: https://www.bxtimes.com/community-engagement-cross-bronx-expressway/ In a series of public meetings, Bronxites can give feedback on how they would like to see the Cross Bronx Expressway transformed. Photo Adrian Childress
April 13, 20232 yr interesting! City debuts new AI sensors to track street usage By Ben Brachfeld Posted on April 12, 2023 New York’s Department of Transportation has kicked off a pilot program to measure street usage with state-of-the-art digital sensors, which could ultimately replace costly and laborious manual counting. more: https://www.amny.com/transit/city-debuts-ai-sensors-track-street-usage/ Data collected by a Viva sensor at Berry and North 6th streets in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. NYC DOT
April 21, 20232 yr good news blazed by: 4/20 saw 4 million NYC subway riders roll underground for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began: MTA By Robert Pozarycki Posted on April 21, 2023 The MTA blazed into the post-pandemic record books on 4/20 Thursday as the New York City subway system saw more than 4 million riders in a single day for the first time since March 12, 2020. Approximately 4,002,961 paid rides were recorded in the subway turnstiles on April 20, 2023, the highest number in three years, the MTA and Governor Kathy Hochul announced Friday. It was also a record-setting day for the MTA’s OMNY contactless fare payment system, which set a single-day subway record of 1,699,914 taps, or 42.5% of all paid rides. more: https://www.amny.com/new-york/4-million-nyc-subway-riders-post-pandemic-mta/ New York City Transit recorded a post-pandemic record high of more than 4 million subway riders on April 20, 2023. (Marc A. Hermann / MTA)
April 24, 20232 yr mta is making moves for second ave subway expansion: MTA seeks to take over Harlem properties via eminent domain for Second Avenue Subway expansion By Jose Martinez, THE CITY Posted on April 21, 2023 This article was originally published on April 20 4:50pm EDT by THE CITY The MTA is pushing ahead on plans to extend the Second Avenue Subway north through East Harlem by making a move to acquire properties in the path of the project, court papers show. A petition filed in Manhattan Supreme Court on Wednesday reveals that the agency intends to use the state’s Eminent Domain Procedure Law to acquire several properties that are needed for the next stretch of the Q line from East 96th to 125th streets. more: https://www.amny.com/news/mta-harlem-eminent-domain-second-avenue-subway/ New York state claimed eminent domain over several buildings and a lot on Second Avenue between 119th and 120th Streets as part of the Q train expansion into East Harlem, April 20, 2023. Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
April 28, 20232 yr turns out mta arm wrestled a negociation with extell and did not use the cumbersome and drawn out eminent domain process. anyway, the deal is done. MTA approves East Harlem land deal for Second Ave Subway, pays nearly double appraisal value By Ben Brachfeld commentsPosted on April 27, 2023 The MTA on Wednesday approved spending $82 million to take over parcels of land in East Harlem for the next phase of Second Avenue Subway construction, paying nearly twice the value of the land according to an appraiser hired by the agency. Purchasing the land at East 125th Street and Lexington Avenue is required in order to build a brand-new station entrance for what will eventually be the Q train’s northern terminus, with transfers available to the 4/5/6 line, as well as “ancillary” facilities like ventilation and power. The land is also set to be used as a “staging ground” to get massive tunnel boring machines underground for the digging operation. The deal, at the site of a former Pathmark grocery store, would allow the existing landlord to lease part of the MTA property for commercial development. more: https://www.amny.com/transit/mta-eminent-domain-east-harlem-second-ave-subway-pays-double-lands-appraisal/ The Second Avenue Subway tunnel between 110th and 120th streets, dug in the 1970s. Marc A. Hermann / MTA
May 3, 20232 yr not so good — New Yorkers give low marks to city’s bike infrastructure in new ‘Cycling Census’ By Ben Brachfeld Posted on May 1, 2023 The city’s bicycling infrastructure has plenty of room for improvement, according to thousands of cyclists who responded to the first-ever New York Cycling Census. more: https://www.amny.com/transit/new-yorkers-give-low-marks-citys-bike-infrastructure-cycling-census/
May 4, 20232 yr i didn’t realize congestion pricing was pushed back until next year: NYC congestion pricing pushed back to 2024, costing $250M in revenue, MTA says Published: Feb. 27, 2023 By Erik Bascome | [email protected] STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The implementation of the nation’s first congestion pricing plan has been pushed back several months in a move that MTA officials anticipate will cost the agency roughly $250 million in expected revenue. Last week, the MTA released its February Financial Plan, which stated that revenue collection from congestion pricing is now expected to begin in the second quarter of 2024, meaning April 2024 would be the earliest that drivers are charged for driving into Manhattan’s Central Business District. more: https://www.silive.com/news/2023/02/nyc-congestion-pricing-pushed-back-to-2024-costing-250m-in-revenue-mta-says.html The MTA has pushed back the expected start of congestion pricing to the second quarter of 2024. (Aristide Economopoulos/The Star-Ledger)SL
May 12, 20232 yr i was wondering when this would happen — sounds like they have worked out many system kinks, like with the roosevelt island tram, airtrain, etc., but they say the big adoption problem is commuter rail as it could replace ticket taker jobs: OMNY machines rolling out at subway stations this summer as phase-out of MetroCard delayed indefinitely By Ben Brachfeld Posted on April 24, 2023 The Metropolitan Transportation Authority plans to roll out brand new OMNY vending machines throughout the subway system this summer, but the agency’s planned phase-out of the MetroCard is now delayed indefinitely with the contactless payment project still years away from completion. The OMNY card machine looks a bit like the MetroCard machines ubiquitous at the city’s 472 subway stations, and has similar functionalities: it dispenses or refills an OMNY card — of a similar thickness to a credit card, compared to the flimsier MetroCard — in exchange for a cash or card payment. But the MTA has been rolling out OMNY since 2019, and the payment system is already used for about 40% of trips on subways and buses, with higher rates of adoption on subways, said MTA construction chief Jamie Torres-Springer at the MTA Board’s Capital Program Committee on Monday. OMNY machines will be present in every station, but unlike MetroCards, OMNY doesn’t need to be filled at a machine, as users can also just use debit cards or digital wallets on their phones. Tapping an OMNY card will be another option for getting into the transit system. more: https://www.amny.com/transit/omny-machines-rollout/ The MTA will roll out these new OMNY card vending machines across the subway system this summer. Photo by Ben Brachfeld
May 12, 20232 yr well gee that didn't take long --- here come the first of the givebacks. let's see where this goes and if in the end there is anything left to congestion tax! 😂 MTA commits to discounts for low-income drivers, toll cap for taxis under congestion pricing program By Ben Brachfeld Posted on May 12, 2023 The MTA will provide tolling discounts to some low-income drivers, cap daily tolls for taxis, and invest more than $200 million to mitigate localized increases in traffic and air pollution under an agreement with the federal government allowing it to implement congestion pricing, the agency announced on Friday. more: https://www.amny.com/transit/mta-commits-to-discounts-for-low-income-drivers-toll-cap-for-taxis-under-congestion-pricing-program/ The Manhattan end of the Queensboro Bridge. Photo via Getty Images
May 19, 20232 yr o rilly? ya don’t say …?! Fare evasion cost MTA nearly $700M last year, panel says, recommending new turnstile design By Ben Brachfeld commentsPosted on May 17, 2023 The MTA lost nearly $700 million to fare evasion last year and should replace subway turnstiles with glass doors, an agency panel said in a long-awaited report. The agency’s estimated losses from farebeating have climbed considerably in just a few years, from about $200-300 million before the pandemic, to $500 million last year, and now $690 million, said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber on Wednesday, including $315 million on city buses and $285 million on subways. more: https://www.amny.com/transit/fare-evasion-cost-mta-nearly-700m-last-year-panel-says-recommending-new-turnstile-design/ A prototype fare array built by Conduent Transportation, with middle-out doors and wheelchair accessible entry. Marc A. Hermann / MTA
May 21, 20232 yr and the new record is … New record set for fastest trip through entirety of NYC subway By Stephen Nessen Published May 18, 2023 New York City’s subway has 472 stations laid out across 665 miles of track. For decades, transit enthusiasts have jockeyed to set the record for the fastest time to travel through the whole system. Last month, Kate Jones, a New Yorker now living in Switzerland, set a new standard. She completed the journey in 22 hours, 14 minutes and 10 seconds. Her time was certified last week by Guinness World Records. more: https://gothamist.com/news/new-record-set-for-fastest-trip-through-entirety-of-nyc-subway
May 28, 20232 yr ask the mta — Q: I’m a train enthusiast and want to know which line has the longest distance between stops? Phil T., Chelsea A: The longest distance in the subway system between consecutive stations, at 3.5 miles, can be found on the A line between Howard Beach-JFK Airport and Broad Channel across Jamaica Bay in Queens. The longest ride between stops measured by time, however, is on the A and D lines between 59 St-Columbus Circle and 125 St in Manhattan – a nonstop stretch lasting eight minutes. – Bill Amarosa, Vice President – Operations Support, New York City Transit
June 5, 20232 yr waste of money -- hopefully its just a demo. NYC set to install protective platform doors at select subway stations in ‘coming months’ By Giulia Heyward Published Jun 4, 2023 ... The protective platform doors are set to be installed at the Times Square 7 train, the Third Avenue L train and the Sutphin Boulevard-Archer Avenue E train stop. The Platform Screen Door Pilot Installation program is estimated to cost more than $100 million, according to one report. The MTA declined to share a specific date for when the construction would begin. The program is coming despite previous concerns over whether this technology could actually be installed at certain older subway stations, MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said at a meeting in May. more: https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-set-to-install-protective-platform-doors-at-select-subway-stations-in-coming-months
June 29, 20231 yr yeeow — the humungous mta fleet of new kawasaki r211s is tested out and streadily going into full service now — almost 2k brand new subway cars!!! MTA rolls out more modern trains on NYC subway By Stephen Nessen Published Jun 29, 2023 More modern trains are hitting the city’s subway tracks, MTA officials announced Thursday. Since March, just one train made up of the agency’s newest subway cars — called R211s — has operated on the A line. The MTA said a second new train has hit the tracks, making it easier for straphangers to take a ride in one of the modern cars. And starting in August, the MTA said it will deploy at least two new modern trains into service each month. more: https://gothamist.com/news/mta-rolls-out-more-modern-trains-on-nyc-subway
July 5, 20231 yr well, let’s hope — MTA’s congestion pricing plan means big upgrades for NYC transit By Stephen Nessen Published Jul 5, 2023 … The money makes it possible for the MTA to pay for its planned $7.7 billion extension of the Second Avenue subway with three new stops in East Harlem. It enables the MTA to complete its Penn Access project, which aims to bring Metro-North trains into Penn Station and add four new stations in the Bronx. And it helps pay for work to make 70 subway stations and 12 Long Island Rail Road stations accessible with ramps and elevators. more: https://gothamist.com/news/mtas-congestion-pricing-plan-means-big-upgrades-for-nyc-transit
July 5, 20231 yr On 6/4/2023 at 8:22 PM, mrnyc said: waste of money -- hopefully its just a demo. NYC set to install protective platform doors at select subway stations in ‘coming months’ By Giulia Heyward Published Jun 4, 2023 ... The protective platform doors are set to be installed at the Times Square 7 train, the Third Avenue L train and the Sutphin Boulevard-Archer Avenue E train stop. The Platform Screen Door Pilot Installation program is estimated to cost more than $100 million, according to one report. The MTA declined to share a specific date for when the construction would begin. The program is coming despite previous concerns over whether this technology could actually be installed at certain older subway stations, MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said at a meeting in May. more: https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-set-to-install-protective-platform-doors-at-select-subway-stations-in-coming-months They do it in Paris at some of the major connecting stations. It seems to work ok. The trains are very good at lining up their doors with the doors in the platform barrier. There, the threat seems to be periodically swelling crowds, not nut-cases. Remember: It's the Year of the Snake
July 5, 20231 yr On 6/4/2023 at 8:22 PM, mrnyc said: waste of money -- hopefully its just a demo. NYC set to install protective platform doors at select subway stations in ‘coming months’ By Giulia Heyward Published Jun 4, 2023 ... The protective platform doors are set to be installed at the Times Square 7 train, the Third Avenue L train and the Sutphin Boulevard-Archer Avenue E train stop. The Platform Screen Door Pilot Installation program is estimated to cost more than $100 million, according to one report. The MTA declined to share a specific date for when the construction would begin. The program is coming despite previous concerns over whether this technology could actually be installed at certain older subway stations, MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said at a meeting in May. more: https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-set-to-install-protective-platform-doors-at-select-subway-stations-in-coming-months 1 hour ago, Dougal said: They do it in Paris at some of the major connecting stations. It seems to work ok. The trains are very good at lining up their doors with the doors in the platform barrier. There, the threat seems to be periodically swelling crowds, not nut-cases. Platform doors and automating metro lines are both good policies that increase capacity and throughput. The English speaking world’s incompetence with relation to costs, especially in NYC, are the problem. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
July 5, 20231 yr ^ well, in fact they are doing it in nyc at two stations as a test. so we will see. the problem here with them is not only are they not needed, but if they build them everywhere what would you propose mta not do instead? i’d prefer gateway (a failure there will kill more people than all subway injuries ever, and there will be a failure), 2nd ave extension, ibx, penn south, the new penn access bx stations, etc.. so maybe if all goes well with the trial gates a compromise will be a few will be built in busier and high profile stations, i could see that happening, but i would rather they don’t. also, i would disagree they are needed to improve faster access. the massive fleet of new r211 subway cars being steadily rolled out now will do that, they have wider doors.
July 5, 20231 yr also, as far as automation, the mta is doing it. cbt automation is now on the canarsie line and the flushing line. the problem isnt money so much as service. they had to shut the lines down for a long time to do it and naturally everybody whines about that. they will continue to do it as older signal failures and repairs on certain lines mount. ok i looked and see the old ind lines are next — and it looks like they are actually doing the 8av/fulton line right now on nights and weekends in sections, i hardly noticed, so they must be getting good at it now. this blurb was from last year: The next CBTC re-signaling is coming to the following lines: Fulton Line: A and C trains, from High Street to Euclid Avenue in Brooklyn 6th Avenue Line: F trains, from York Street in Brooklyn along 6th Avenue in Manhattan, to north of 21 St-Queensbridge in Queens Crosstown Line: G train, between Court Square in Queens through Hoyt-Schermerhorn in Brooklyn
July 6, 20231 yr the first second ave phase two renders — SEE IT: First-Ever Rendering Of 2nd Ave East Harlem Subway Extension Phase two of the 2nd Avenue subway extension will move forward to find its first construction contract, Gov. Hochul announced Wednesday. Gus Saltonstall, Patch Staff Posted Wed, Jul 5, 2023 EAST HARLEM, NY — The second phase of the long-stalled Second Avenue Subway extension into East Harlem is taking its next step, and the first renderings of the exterior and interior of the newly planned 125th Street Station were revealed, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday morning. more: https://patch.com/new-york/harlem/see-it-first-ever-rendering-revealed-2nd-ave-east-harlem-extension?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=Patch%2Fmagazine%2FNew%2BYork%2BCity%2C%2BNY%2BPatch
July 8, 20231 yr On 7/5/2023 at 5:22 PM, mrnyc said: ^ well, in fact they are doing it in nyc at two stations as a test. so we will see. the problem here with them is not only are they not needed, but if they build them everywhere what would you propose mta not do instead? i’d prefer gateway (a failure there will kill more people than all subway injuries ever, and there will be a failure), 2nd ave extension, ibx, penn south, the new penn access bx stations, etc.. so maybe if all goes well with the trial gates a compromise will be a few will be built in busier and high profile stations, i could see that happening, but i would rather they don’t. also, i would disagree they are needed to improve faster access. the massive fleet of new r211 subway cars being steadily rolled out now will do that, they have wider doors. On 7/5/2023 at 5:40 PM, mrnyc said: also, as far as automation, the mta is doing it. cbt automation is now on the canarsie line and the flushing line. the problem isnt money so much as service. they had to shut the lines down for a long time to do it and naturally everybody whines about that. they will continue to do it as older signal failures and repairs on certain lines mount. ok i looked and see the old ind lines are next — and it looks like they are actually doing the 8av/fulton line right now on nights and weekends in sections, i hardly noticed, so they must be getting good at it now. this blurb was from last year: The next CBTC re-signaling is coming to the following lines: Fulton Line: A and C trains, from High Street to Euclid Avenue in Brooklyn 6th Avenue Line: F trains, from York Street in Brooklyn along 6th Avenue in Manhattan, to north of 21 St-Queensbridge in Queens Crosstown Line: G train, between Court Square in Queens through Hoyt-Schermerhorn in Brooklyn Generally speaking, I agree with the prioritization you listed. NYC MUST fixed its cost problems so that they can achieve those projects. The political and transit authority leadership's arrogance and refusal to address the cost issue is one of the most pressing issues there is and continues to be a massive headwind impeding what NYC could be. The proper prioritization would look something like this: 1. Aggressively address cost issues. Reference Transit Cost Project ( https://transitcosts.com/ ) for guidance 2. Gateway, with a focus on expanding capacity, not just replacing status quo 3. Upzoning neighborhoods on Long Island within walking distance of LIRR. East Side access was a massive (and wasteful) investment - NY State must see a return on that project. 4. Electrifying all commuter rail, increasing frequency, and adding infill stations (e.g. the Bronx station projects are great) 5. Penn South, with a focus on adding additional trough-running capabilities 6. Inter-borough Express as a full metro or EMU trains (not light rail), which would be possible if NYC fixed its cost issues 7. 2nd Avenue Subway extension (And I'm extremely envious that many of these things are likely to get done, even if it costs 10x what it should. In CLE we'll be lucky to get any of the rail transit proposals we're dreaming of.) When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
July 12, 20231 yr it’s baaaaaack! 2av work to start by end of the year — 👍 Construction set to begin by end of year on Phase 2 of Second Avenue Subway By Ben Brachfeld Posted on July 5, 2023 Construction is set to begin by the end of this year on Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway, extending the Q line between 96th and 125th streets on Manhattan’s East Side. The project will add three stations to the Q line in some of the city’s most densely populated transit deserts, such as 106th Street and Second Avenue, 116th Street and Second Avenue, and 125th Street and Lexington Avenue, where the Q train will terminate at a transfer station with the 4, 5, and 6 lines. The MTA says the line’s extension will eventually serve more than 100,000 riders each day. more: https://www.amny.com/transit/construction-set-to-begin-by-end-of-year-on-phase-2-of-second-avenue-subway/ A draft rendering of the planned 125th Street terminal for the Q train, part of Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway project. MTA
July 17, 20231 yr "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 31, 20231 yr while we wait for news, take a tour of the ibx route — SEE THE FREIGHT TRACKS THAT COULD BECOME THE INTERBOROUGH EXPRESS MAX SCOTT Winding its way through a dozen neighborhoods across Brooklyn and Queens is a 14-mile freight rail corridor. From above, this forested right-of-way makes the shape of a backwards letter C as it curves from its terminus in Bay Ridge through southeast Brooklyn and up into Jackson Heights, Queens. While proposals to reuse and modernize this quiet section of railway have existed for decades, the idea has recently gained more traction with the backing of Governor Hochul and the January 2022 release of the MTA’s feasibility study for the so-called Interborough Express. The tracks that are set to become New York’s newest rapid transit link have spent decades in a state of slow decay. Nate Dorr, an award-winning photographer and documentarian, has spent years documenting this semi-abandoned freight rail corridor and has watched the natural and built environments along the tracks change from season to season and year to year. His photos offer a glimpse into the world of New York’s often-overlooked freight lines. more: https://untappedcities.com/2022/05/31/the-interborough-express-brooklyn-and-queens/
August 2, 20231 yr omny is a nice success — 👍 i prefer the omny card over using my phone — i top up online, but i think omny card machines are on the way — MTA records billionth tap into transit system using OMNY The MTA announced Wednesday that it has recorded its billionth entry into the city’s transit system using OMNY, the contactless payment method set to replace the MetroCard. The lucky billionth rider was home health worker Candida Alfonso, who tapped into the 74th Street-Broadway station in Jackson Heights, Queens Wednesday morning intending to catch a 7 train to Court Square, as she usually does. An essential worker, she has used OMNY since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. more: https://www.amny.com/transit/mta-billionth-tap-transit-omny/ The billionth tapper, Candida Alfonso, shakes hands with MTA Chair Janno Lieber. Marc A. Hermann / MTA
August 11, 20231 yr here’s something i caught that you dont see often if ever — an mta bus tow truck:
August 13, 20231 yr ALL IN !!!! 🤡 https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cviqb44JkMh/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
August 14, 20231 yr ONE FOR THE QUITTERS !! 😂 https://www.instagram.com/reel/CtbuvR3MPj4/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
August 16, 20231 yr well alrighty now — 👍 MTA to host town hall Wednesday on Interborough Express rail line from Brooklyn to Queens By Aidan Graham Posted on August 15, 2023 The MTA is gearing up to host a virtual public town hall on the Interborough Express project on Wednesday, where it will update the community about the progress being made on the plan that would connect the underserved areas of Brooklyn and Queens. The meeting is scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. and last for an hour. Attendees will get the latest updates on the Interborough Express concept, including a critical Planning and Environmental Linkages study. more: https://www.amny.com/transit/mta-interborough-express-brooklyn-queens-train/ The MTA is moving forward with a light rail option on the Interborough Express project. Rendering courtesy of the MTA
August 21, 20231 yr shibuya scramble vs ny squeeze … 😅 https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvgMbNgRUaO/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
August 21, 20231 yr we’ll miss metrocards — they were useful. 😂 https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvTNfbNNKOq/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
August 22, 20231 yr no thanks — 😱 https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvSsSKLNIw3/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
August 23, 20231 yr Just got back from a few days in NYC. First time I’d been since right before Covid. We used the subway extensively the whole time. Never had a single issue and what a pleasure being somewhere with an extensive, frequent and reliable public transportation. My hovercraft is full of eels
August 26, 20231 yr omny was activated for the roosevelt island tram yesterday ... and thankfully its coming to the airtrain too: Get Excited: OMNY Is Coming to the JFK AirTrain in ‘Three or Four Months,’ Maybe Only of the many indignities experienced by travelers taking mass transit to JFK Airport will (maybe) be addressed this fall. 11:46 AM EDT on August 25, 2023 By Christopher Robbins Travelers attempting to take mass transit to JFK Airport have long been punished. First, they are confronted with comically massive lines for the (often broken) MetroCard machines, because the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the AirTrain, does not accept the MTA's OMNY tap-to-pay system. Then, these people are charged $8.25 for a one-way ticket on what is essentially a sad carnival ride, where they are then deposited to a place that has some of the most expensive cellophane-wrapped turkey sandwiches in the world. Only one of those indignities will be addressed this fall. At a press conference on Thursday, MTA CEO Janno Lieber said that OMNY will be available for AirTrain customers "in three or four months." more: https://hellgatenyc.com/airtrain-jfk-omny-finally-maybe Status quo ante at the Howard Beach AirTrain connection (Hell Gate)
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