^^actually I have a bunch of pictures I'll try to post very soon. Was never in the Metro, but certainly the new stations are a vast improvement over what's been there for the past century!

It took many trips to New York before I saw a rat in the subway.  Then when I did I was like...damn. 

^ that's because it depends when you ride. i see them every day. rats are very much crepuscular animals, meaning they are mostly active at dawn and dusk.

 

i have pics from opening day for second ave, but photobucket is acting up for me lately, so i will post when i can.

 

but to answer the question, yes the new stations are much closer to dc metro than anything else in nyc system. a lot more bright though.

Yeah photobucket was misbehaving for me as well about two weeks ago.  The upload button kept kicking me out and I had to keep logging back in.  You need to go to the individual folder and login from there, not from the main screen. 

I once saw at least a dozen, probably closer to 20 rats run up from the end of the platform, and under a door into some sort of closet or utility room in the 14th Street/Union Square N/W station. They went one at a time and it went on for a couple minutes.

^ ha if thats your big rat story consider yourself lucky. wait until you catch the wave someday. meaning, the rat wave of nightmares. rats as far as the eye can see. thousands. it looks like ocean waves. yes they all get together like that on occasion. a rat convention? ive seen it a couple times, once years ago in union sq and once on the les, both at like 5am.

 

also, i saw a rat a big as a damn middle size dog shuffling across the platform at the foot of the steps one morning in the subway station. that woke us all up.

 

we have rats and mice running around in the trash area in our building too, which creeps me out. yeesh.

 

i dont have a problem with the winged rats though. the pidgeons. in fact i admire them. i guess i grudgingly admire the real rats too in a way. ha.

^ I wonder if some sort of predator spooks them and they end up fleeing as a herd, sort of like when some lions start heading towards an antelope. Maybe one of the famed NYC sewer alligators was nearby?

 

Come to think of it, the only times in my life I've seen rats were when I lived in NYC, and 99% of the time it was in the subway. I've never seen one in Cincinnati.

There's a particular way that a stray cat moves about and stares at you that isn't totally unlike a rat. 

its funny that you say that, because i was going to mention cats. like how they sometimes get together in a circle and stare at each other in the middle of the night under a neighborhood traffic light? creepy as hell. maybe the rats get together like that to discuss rat matters and to go on wilding rampages to air their grievances against us? ha.

 

actually regarding the rats yeah probably they got spooked and likely it has at least something to do with major construction nearby. as for the cats, maybe its a staredown over a kill or something? and godzilla sized rats, steriods+nuclear waste+??? who knows whats in those sewers.

What do the 2nd Ave subway street entrances look like?

^ ha if thats your big rat story consider yourself lucky. wait until you catch the wave someday. meaning, the rat wave of nightmares. rats as far as the eye can see. thousands. it looks like ocean waves. yes they all get together like that on occasion. a rat convention? ive seen it a couple times, once years ago in union sq and once on the les, both at like 5am.

 

I've totally walked down the stairs into an empty station at around that time leaving a bar and saw what you're describing and turned back around and gotten an Uber instead. I don't want to be a part of whatever was going on down there.

 

What do the 2nd Ave subway street entrances look like?

 

They're glass canopies I believe, not dissimilar to the new Hudson Yards station entrance on the 7. I need to go check it out this weekend. Before they get too gross.

^so no more classic MTA narrow street corner stairs with the big green or red ball on the top of the pillars.  Another New York tradition bites the dust... (of course the ADA isn't having that)

What do the 2nd Ave subway street entrances look like?

like this. But not all of them. I got on at 72nd st and used a bank of elevators. I didn't see an escalator entrance there. There was another building on the other side of the street but it looked like it housed equipment or a mechanism of some sort (I'm probably wrong as usual) These are in the reverse order that I took them as I exited at 86th (but saw the 96th st station. More pictures to follow)

 

 

 

 

 

this is looking up from inside the 72nd st station as I exited the elevator--

^so no more classic MTA narrow street corner stairs with the big green or red ball on the top of the pillars.  Another New York tradition bites the dust... (of course the ADA isn't having that)

 

Beyond just new station entrances being a world of difference away from the old ones, they're creating a new "renovated station" entrance design schematic which will also be completely different but will replace the old green entrances (and the ball lights) when major station renovations occur. This in conjunction with other "tech-focused" station upgrades.

 

See here.

 

http://ny.curbed.com/2016/7/18/12214868/nyc-subway-upgrades-wifi-usb-charging

some shots of the upper (non-train) and lower platforms

 

 

 

 

 

 

Artist Vik Muniz's work in the 72nd St. Station

 

 

 

 

 

and Chuck Close at 86th St

 

 

 

 

not sure if this is a Chuck Close--there are a couple of other artists represented (duh...)

Chuck Close...again (I wonder how he got this commission. Not saying he's not a great artist, but really  :roll:)

 

 

96 St

 

 

 

 

another lirr crash, with the snow patrol train, but it was minor:

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/lirr-snow-patrol-train-hits-car-tracks-queens-article-1.2939071

 

i just saw this -- the long awaited path train extension to newark airport was approved by the port authority and good play by newark to land a new station:

 

 

 

Former Newark Seth Boyden Housing Project Complex to Become PATH Station Village

 

Jan 5 2017 - 4:34pm

 

 

A vote early this morning by Port Authority Officials to add an extention to its rail lines that will include the former Newark Seth Boyden Housing Projects Complex had been approved.

 

This is a message from Newark's Mayor:

 

“I applaud the vote by the Port Authority Board this morning to include funding for extending the PATH rail-line from Newark Penn Station to Newark Liberty Airport and Newark’s South Ward.

 

More below:

https://www.rlsmedia.com/article/former-newark-seth-boyden-housing-projects-become-path-station-village

 

^what's going on with the commuter engineers overshooting their end-bump barriers a la the movie "Silver Streak" in the 70s?  We have MTA Hoboken last summer and now LIRR Atlantic Ave/Brooklyn... 2 similar accidents, too close for comfort.

Too bad Cleveland doesn’t have leaders and innovative thinkers. And with the City of Cleveland closing Public Square to RTA bus traffic on Superior Avenue, I think the feds would have a difficult time approving another discretionary grant for a new multi-modal Amtrak/Greyhound/GCRTA station....

 

https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cdot/provdrs/future_projects_andconcepts/news/2017/january/mayor-emanuel--amtrak-and-other-union-station-partners-announce-.html

 

January 12, 2017

Mayor Emanuel, Amtrak And Other Union Station Partners Announce Redevelopment Plan Designated As USDOT Emerging Project

Agreement Creates Path to Federal Backing for West Loop

 

CHICAGO – The City of Chicago’s ambitious plans to modernize and transform Chicago Union Station and the surrounding West Loop area received a major boost today with the announcement by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Amtrak, Metra and the RTA that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Build America Bureau and the City of Chicago are entering into an Emerging Projects Agreement (EmPA), under which Chicago can work closely with USDOT with the ultimate goal of seeking up to $1 billion in federal funding for the project.

 

“Today marks a major step forward both in the future of Union Station, and in the economic life of our city,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. “This modernization effort will improve the experience for everyone who travels through Union Station and tap the potential that the station has to serve as an anchor for further economic development of the West Loop and surrounding neighborhoods. I want to thank Secretary Foxx and the Build America Bureau for acknowledging the significance of this project and for all of our partners who have been working for the past several years to help get us to this point today.”

 

“The Build America Bureau makes it easier for big multimodal projects like Chicago’s

 

Union Station to move forward. This project will serve as a vital hub for rail and transit and connect the entire region,” said Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx. “I’m confident that the Bureau will continue to be a great partner for Chicago and cities across the country to build seamless, modern transportation networks in the years ahead.”

 

“Union Station is a key transportation hub and vital economic driver for the City of Chicago and region. Yet, for too long the station has been operating at or near capacity, threatening its ability to sustain ridership and economic growth,” U.S. Senator Dick Durbin said. “The Emerging Project Agreement announced today moves us closer to a 21st century Union Station – one with an improved passenger experience and less congestion. I’m pleased to see Chicago, Amtrak, and Metra working together to ensure this project succeeds, and I will continue to provide federal support for improvements that will impact commuters and visitors for decades to come.”

 

“Union Station’s master plan and surrounding commercial development will play a critical role in increasing capacity, efficiency, and accessibility, while reinforcing Chicago’s place as an important regional and national crossroads,” said Rep. Quigley, who serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development. “I applaud today’s announcement that confirms the Department of Transportation’s commitment to the rehabilitation of Union Station, and I look forward to working in Congress to ensure DOT has the resources it needs to properly assist in the planning of the Redevelopment project, which will spur increased economic activity in the region.”

 

“This is another milestone in all of our efforts to improve Union Station to make it a world-class transportation facility for a world-class city,” said Ray Lang, Amtrak Senior Director, National State Relations. “All of this is happening because all of us are working together as partners.”

 

The EmPA allows USDOT to offer enhanced technical assistance on complex, large scale projects seeking low-cost federal credit through the Build America Bureau’s innovative programs, including TIFIA (Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act) Program and RRIF (Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing). TIFIA has provided more than $26 billion in credit assistance around the country, including loans for the CTA and Chicago’s acclaimed Riverwalk; RRIF has provided $5 billion in loans for projects around the country.

 

The EmPA announcement comes as the City and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) are working with Amtrak, Metra, the RTA and the Illinois Department of Transportation on the design of near term improvements that will upgrade passenger capacity by renovating and expanding the concourse and platforms. Also addressed in a Master Plan process are service, safety/environmental, accessibility and mobility issues around the station. Amtrak is also in the final stages of evaluating proposals for a Master Developer to lead the redevelopment of Union Station and surrounding Amtrak-owned property and air rights.

 

The Union Station Redevelopment plans envision a public-private partnership to

 

implement both transportation-related improvements as well as transit-oriented developments surrounding the station. The three main goals are:

 

1. To expand and renovate the station to be an architecturally significant transportation terminal that both preserves and builds upon its existing architectural heritage.

 

2. To allow a growing number of passengers and other visitors to use the station facilities in the most efficient, safe, and pleasant manner possible.

 

3. To create a vibrant commercial center and civic asset that welcomes and serves travelers, neighborhood residents, and downtown workers alike, while further enhancing the economic vitality of the City of Chicago and the region.

 

Among the improvements that could be funded under the agreement are the following:

 

* Renovation of the Canal Street Union Station Lobby.

 

* Rehabilitation of the Great Hall skylight and dome structure.

 

* Renovation and expansion of the Adams Street and Jackson Street entrances.

 

* Expansion of the Union Station Concourse.

 

* Widening of platforms.

 

* Improvement of ADA accessibility throughout the station, including installation of an elevator at the Canal Street Headhouse.

 

* Reconstruction of the Canal Street and Harrison Street viaducts.

 

* Construction of pedestrian tunnels connecting Union Station to Metra’s Ogilvie Station and to the CTA Blue Line stop at Clinton Street.

 

* Transit-oriented development, including commercial/residential development of the air rights over the Headhouse and commercial/office/retail uses surrounding Union Station.

 

“CDOT is looking forward to working with USDOT to line up financing for this critically important project,” CDOT Commissioner Rebekah Scheinfeld said. “The EmPA Agreement is another example of how the administration of Mayor Emanuel is using all the means at our disposal to fund the type of infrastructure improvements that are needed to keep Chicago’s economy moving AND thriving in the 21st Century.”

 

“Metra is excited by this important step in the redevelopment of Chicago Union Station,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno. “This Emerging Project Agreement puts the

 

redevelopment of the station in position for financing opportunities that could allow the work to proceed more quickly and at a lower cost. These improvements will provide relief to the 55,000 Metra riders who use Union Station each weekday and allow the station to accommodate growth in the future.”

 

“I understand the critical nature of work on Union Station as both RTA Chairman and as a rider,” said RTA Chairman Kirk Dillard. “I take Metra in and out of Union Station daily so I understand its importance as a key transit site for regional riders. We are pleased this agreement will help restore this iconic building to its former glory and to assure the safety and comfort of our customers and tourists. Chicago is the nation's transportation center and Union Station is a vital, major and symbolic piece of America's infrastructure". Chicago Union Station (CUS) handles more than 300 trains per weekday carrying approximately 120,000 arriving and departing passengers, a level of passenger traffic that would rank it among the busiest airports in the nation.

 

CUS is a hub of the Amtrak national network, handling most of its long-distance trains, and more than 30 regional trains sponsored by state transportation departments. In addition to Amtrak service, Metra operates six commuter rail routes with 271 weekday arrivals or departures from Chicago Union Station. The station operates at or near capacity during peak periods, threatening its ability to sustain ridership and economic growth.

^what's going on with the commuter engineers overshooting their end-bump barriers a la the movie "Silver Streak" in the 70s?  We have MTA Hoboken last summer and now LIRR Atlantic Ave/Brooklyn... 2 similar accidents, too close for comfort.

 

 

 

looks like most or all of them, including the 2013 mnrr engineer crasher, are from the looks of them, older, out of shape guys claiming sleep apnea:

 

http://www.amny.com/transit/engineer-s-sleep-texts-diet-to-be-scrutinized-in-lirr-crash-1.12887509

Honestly, it's more concerning to me that something as simple as sleep apnea can lead to an accident. Why haven't we modernized to not allow this to happen? Plenty of rail has limiters that would make these issues completely avoidable. It's a shame that we have to rely on some dude in the front. Sure, they have the kill switch, but if you just fall asleep in place? Screwed. That shouldn't be all it takes.

^what's going on with the commuter engineers overshooting their end-bump barriers a la the movie "Silver Streak" in the 70s?  We have MTA Hoboken last summer and now LIRR Atlantic Ave/Brooklyn... 2 similar accidents, too close for comfort.

 

looks like most or all of them, including the 2013 mnrr engineer crasher, are from the looks of them, older, out of shape guys claiming sleep apnea:

 

http://www.amny.com/transit/engineer-s-sleep-texts-diet-to-be-scrutinized-in-lirr-crash-1.12887509

 

Interesting.  I would have thought passenger train engineers were subjected to tough physical scrutiny like (I believe) airline pilots are BEFORE THE FACT.  Certainly new rules need to be put in place as a preventive measure.

 

 

rfp's are out for the new airtrain connection from laguardia airport to willets point 7 train & the lirr:

 

 

 

LaGuardia AirTrain planning begins with request for proposals

 

By Vincent Barone  [email protected] February 6, 2017

 

Planning for an AirTrain to LaGuardia Airport has commenced.

 

The Port Authority on Monday announced it has issued a request for proposals for preliminary engineering and planning work for a new AirTrain connection to LaGuardia from Willets Point.

 

“The millions of passengers who travel through LaGuardia each year deserve a convenient and reliable mass transit option that connects this key transportation hub to the heart of Manhattan,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. “We are transforming LaGuardia into a world-class transportation gateway, and an essential piece of the puzzle is ensuring rail mass transit access to the airport. With this action, we’re taking the next major step toward making this a reality.”

 

The request for proposals closes in four weeks. The selected firm will be responsible for the planning of two AirTrain stations at new terminal buildings of the airport; an AirTrain station at Willets Point; and construction related to the right of way for the train between the airport and Willets Point.

 

The firm will also be responsible for conducting “a detailed ridership analysis and [to] begin analyzing public-private partnerships and other financing options to identify the most advantageous financing plan for the AirTrain,” according to a news release from the governor’s office.

 

The AirTrain station will complement a revamped No. 7 train station at Willets Point and new Long Island Rail Road station. Cuomo’s office expects the AirTrain to be a boon for both city commuters and Long Island drivers, who would be able to connect from the Long Island Rail Road at the Queens transit hub. A trip from Willets Point to the airport would take six minutes, the governor’s office estimates.

 

Others fear that the AirTrain is waste of resources, though an exact price tag for the project remains unclear. Port Authority Commissioner Ken Lipper said at a January board meeting that, by his own estimates, the AirTrain, as well as a proposed PATH extension to Newark Airport, wouldn’t generate enough riders to warrant the cost.

 

“I’d like to say that the two airport rail projects, one from Newark Airport to World Trade Center, the other from LaGuardia to Willets Point in Queens, are amongst the most ill-conceived projects that I’ve experienced in government,” said Lipper, a Cuomo appointee.

 

 

more:

http://www.amny.com/transit/laguardia-airtrain-planning-begins-with-request-for-proposals-1.13072720

 

 

 

^  Seems to me it would be better for Queens and for the LGA-bound passengers to extend the less-crowded N Train along Ditmars to LGA. Nothing in NYC is ever easy.

Well the air trains are operated by the port authority, right?  That avoids having to deal with the MTA. 

^ no, there is no way for the pa to avoid dealing with the mta, either if airtrain connected to the n/w el subway stub in astoria or with this plan, which connects it to the 7 train and lirr.

 

 

connecting to the mta astoria el train stub always seemed to be the best idea, but that was before airtrain. this plan is better for the long play, which could be to bridge this airtrain from willets to jamaica someday, thus creating a complete inter-airport and outer borough transit loop.

 

 

in advance of that dream, another piece of outer borough transit improvements also needs to be worked out to smooth the rides, the touchy issue of transfers. this a new pilot program for figuring that out, we will see how it goes:

 

 

 

Freedom Ticket pilot launching in Brooklyn, Queens this fall, Borough President Adams says

 

By Vincent Barone  [email protected] February 8, 2017

 

Residents living in the transit deserts of Brooklyn and southeast Queens are about to get a new commuting option.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will launch a pilot this fall that will bridge bus, subway and Long Island Rail Road service within New York City under one ticket, according to Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and two MTA board members, who will announce the news on Wednesday.

 

The test of the “Freedom Ticket,” as it’s been called by transit advocates, will be implemented along select LIRR stations, mostly along the Atlantic Branch, including Brooklyn’s Atlantic Terminal, East New York and Nostrand Avenue stations, as well as Queens’ Laurelton, Locust Manor, Rosedale and St. Albans stations.

 

“I thank the MTA for stepping up their commitment to underserved riders in central and eastern Brooklyn,” said Adams, an early proponent of the pilot, in a statement. “The Freedom Ticket promises a greater freedom of movement and a more intelligent use of our transit system, prioritizing the needs of commuters in need of a break. I look forward to seeing the results of this pilot program.”

 

By allowing riders to transfer seamlessly between the Long Island Railroad and the city’s bus and subway system, the Freedom Ticket could drastically cut hours from residents’ commutes every week while also tapping into underutilized LIRR service, according to the New York City Transit Riders Council (NYCTRC), which introduced the proposal in 2015.

 

“There is wonderful rail infrastructure running through Brooklyn and southeast Queens, but unfortunately it’s priced beyond the reach of many neighborhoods,” said Andrew Albert, an MTA board member and chair of the NYCTRC. “This will allow for a more direct ride for commuters while significantly cutting travel times.”

 

Under the pilot, riders will be able to buy single one-way tickets, weekly or monthly passes valid for both subway and LIRR trains. Fares will be more expensive than MetroCard rates, but likely significantly cheaper than the cost of purchasing both a MetroCard and LIRR ticket, according to estimates from the NYCTRC.

 

 

more:

http://www.amny.com/transit/freedom-ticket-pilot-launching-in-brooklyn-queens-this-fall-borough-president-adams-says-1.13078196

 

 

 

 

of course, not everybody thinks long-term, or that this airtrain is a good idea -- ie., it does not help long islanders who aren't on or near the port washington line of the lirr and it will certainly overburden the already overburdened 7 train with airport travelers & luggage:

 

 

Cuomo's LaGuardia AirTrain, Possibly NY’s Worst Transit Idea, Is Actually Happening

 

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2017 AT 4:44 P.M. BY MAX RIVLIN-NADLER

 

In theory, a rail connection to LaGuardia Airport is a no-brainer: 86 percent of passengers take cars to the airport, constantly battling construction and rush hour-related delays to have the opportunity to navigate LaGuardia’s battered and aging concourses (lucky for them, their flight is most likely delayed anyway). Still, it would be nice to have a way to get to the airport that doesn’t rest on the whims of the ever-mercurial Grand Central Parkway.

 

Enter Governor Andrew Cuomo, a man committed to making New York “New York” again, a place where we can build “something big and [say], ‘Geez, that’s us, boy. That’s New York at its best.’”

 

As part of Cuomo’s plan to build a completely new LaGuardia airport that he unveiled last year, he briefly mentioned an AirTrain from Willets Point, of a similar build as the JFK AirTrain. Transit advocates laughed at the idea. Why would he build its terminal at Willets Point, which is even further from the city than the airport itself? For a while, Cuomo barely mentioned the AirTrain.

 

Everyone thought it was dead. Then, the idea came back to life, and worse, it looks like it’s actually happening. Yesterday, the governor’s office issued an RFP for the design and engineering of the Willets Point to LaGuardia AirTrain. Brace yourself for a boondoggle.

 

 

more:

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/cuomos-laguardia-airtrain-possibly-ny-s-worst-transit-idea-is-actually-happening-9652923

 

 

Construction of the Oklahoma City Streetcar kicked off today.

i was just reading about that -- great news for them:

 

 

Streetcar work begins in Bricktown

 

Mayor Mick Cornett said Tuesday that the MAPS 3 streetcar system promises to be a transformative addition to Oklahoma City's transit landscape.

 

The future was on Mayor Mick Cornett's mind Tuesday as city leaders, merchants and others formally marked the beginning of two years of downtown streetcar line construction.

 

Cornett called the MAPS 3 streetcar a big advance for "a generation which raised its hand and said, 'We want to move Oklahoma City forward, faster than it's ever moved before.'"

 

In remarks to about 200 people in a construction zone on E Sheridan Avenue, Cornett said he'd been reflecting on the demise of Oklahoma City's previous streetcar system in the 1940s.

 

It was a day when America was moving in a new direction, he said.

 

"We were hitting the accelerator, moving toward a more car-centric economy," Cornett said.

 

 

more:

https://www.oklahoman.com/login?referer=/streetcar-work-begins-in-bricktown/article/5537265

i had to work upstate this afternoon -

 

here is more tod going up around the greystone station on the mnrr hudson valley line:

 

^what's going on with the commuter engineers overshooting their end-bump barriers a la the movie "Silver Streak" in the 70s?  We have MTA Hoboken last summer and now LIRR Atlantic Ave/Brooklyn... 2 similar accidents, too close for comfort.

 

looks like most or all of them, including the 2013 mnrr engineer crasher, are from the looks of them, older, out of shape guys claiming sleep apnea:

 

http://www.amny.com/transit/engineer-s-sleep-texts-diet-to-be-scrutinized-in-lirr-crash-1.12887509

 

Interesting.  I would have thought passenger train engineers were subjected to tough physical scrutiny like (I believe) airline pilots are BEFORE THE FACT.  Certainly new rules need to be put in place as a preventive measure.

 

 

 

 

MTA may become first transit agency to screen for, treat sleep apnea

 

NIKKI M. MASCALI

 

“We are not just working to implement industry best practices, the MTA is defining best practices,” its CEO said.

 

In the wake of recent commuter train crashes in which engineers were later diagnosed with sleep apnea, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority wants to intensify its efforts to combat the disorder within its workforce.

 

Under the proposal, the MTA’s sleep apnea program will thoroughly screen workers and provide specialized priority treatment to roughly 20,000 subway train operators and conductors, and bus drivers. The MTA assessed proposals from 13 health care companies for the program’s potential expansion.

 

The proposal is pending approval from the MTA board, which is expected to make its decision Wednesday. If it gets the green light, the program would become the first to be implemented by a public transportation agency.

 

RELATED: Schumer demands audit on railroad agencies' sleep apnea testing

 

more:

http://www.metro.us/new-york/mta-may-become-first-transit-agency-to-screen-for-treat-sleep-apnea/zsJqax---LODL6VqsbJFs/

Should probably cross-post in the Trump "presidency" thread, but figured it would get lost over there.

 

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HALTS $674M CALTRAIN IMPROVEMENT GRANT

http://abc7news.com/news/trump-administration-halts-$674m-caltrain-improvement-grant/1760998/

So much for the desire to make our train systems rival China's...

 

The fact that we, a first world country, still have diesel commuter trains at all is a sign that we've effed up along the way.

 

Hell, the fact that we have so few modern systems is a sign that we've messed up pretty royally. I love that I can get basically anywhere on the subway here in NYC, but it's a dirty, glitchy, overcrowded mess. The last few weeks have seen major weekend and evening changes on so many lines that getting around the city has become challenging on many occasions. Still far better than nothing, but what's normally a one seat ride becoming a three seat ride that takes twice as long is problematic.

 

And the way you avoid that? By funding upgrades like Caltrain's. You either stay on top of it or it becomes garbage over time. You can't at once complain about infrastructure not being competitive and cut funding to said infrastructure's upkeep and improvement.

Metro Board To Vote On “Link US” Union Station Run-Through Tracks

By Joe Linton Feb 22, 2017

 

Tomorrow, the Metro board will be voting on a recommended alternative for future run-through tracks at Union Station. The new loop tracks would extend Union Station’s existing stub-end tracks. The project will include tracks running on a new wide 101 Freeway bridge just east of the existing Gold Line bridge. The new L-shaped bridge will connect trains to existing tracks along the L.A. River.

 

The Union Station run-through tracks mega-project has been on Metro’s to-do list for many years. It has also gone by several names: L.A. Union Station Run-Through Tracks project, SCRIP – Southern California Regional Interconnector Project, and now the “Link Union Station” or “Link US” project. Do not confuse “Link US” with “Connect US;” the latter is Metro’s plan for improving walk/bike access to Union Station. These projects are part of Metro’s Union Station Master Plan, which is explained well in Metro’s 2015 fly-through video.

 

MORE:

http://la.streetsblog.org/2017/02/22/metro-board-to-vote-on-link-us-union-station-run-through-tracks/

 

And see the presentation at:

http://la.streetsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/02/Link-US-Board-Staff-Presentation_Draft_2017-02-9-2-slide-show.pdf

 

Tracks to the right of Union Station are proposed:

 

^This sounds great but, not to be Debbie Downer, do you really think these plans and other promising HSR projects will actually materialize in this era of Trump and the always vigilant anti-rail hitmen ... and women?

^Recently California HSR decided to shorten train lengths from 1,400 feet to 800 feet.  You can see that reflected in this design.  It saves some money here but it really saves money in San Francisco. 

http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-bullet-capacity-cutback-20161020-snap-story.html

 

The main issue constricting traffic between LA and SF is the relatively short Caltrans segment.  But there is a bit too much whining about LA>SF.  There are 10 other stops on this thing and it is all the smaller California cities located out in the middle of nowhere that are really going to benefit from this.  I have seen posts elsewhere about how LA>SF performance is being sacrificed for the benefit of Bakersfield, Merced, etc. and that it's simply going to turn into a fast regional rail system for the central valley.  If that's all that happens then it's still a project of profound benefit. 

^This sounds great but, not to be Debbie Downer, do you really think these plans and other promising HSR projects will actually materialize in this era of Trump and the always vigilant anti-rail hitmen ... and women?

 

The same thing was said in LA 30 years about the development of urban rail transit in the Basin. Opponents come and go, but a good idea is immortal.

^This sounds great but, not to be Debbie Downer, do you really think these plans and other promising HSR projects will actually materialize in this era of Trump and the always vigilant anti-rail hitmen ... and women?

 

It's hard to tell, but I don't think Trump (from New York, after all) is anti-rail.  Rail projects were specifically part of his infrastruction proposal.

We haven't seen any meaningful infrastructure "proposal" from Trump. His proposals are often a complete 180 from what he promised on the campaign trail.

the penn station farley post office addition:

 

 

 

Work to begin this spring on Penn Station-Moynihan Train Hall complex

 

 

This spring, the 650,000 commuters who travel through Penn Station daily may finally start to witness Governor Cuomo’s $1.6 billion plan to revamp what he called the “overcrowded, decrepit and claustrophobic” station into a more spacious and high-tech transit hub. As the Daily News reports, the first phase of the overall Moynihan Station Development Project will begin soon, extending Penn Station’s West End Concourse to reduce congestion.

 

The second phase will transform the James A. Farley Post Office into the new Moynihan Train Hall, which will hold more than 112,000 square feet of retail and 588,000 square feet of office space, in addition to new ticketing and waiting areas for Amtrak and Long Island Railroad passengers...

 

Read More:

https://www.6sqft.com/work-to-begin-...-hall-complex/

 

 

 

 

the penn station farley post office addition:

 

Work to begin this spring on Penn Station-Moynihan Train Hall complex

 

I can't get the link to work. Any completion date announced? I do the Amtrak-LIRR transfer regularly.

^ hmm, yeah it didnt work for me either -- this should:

 

 

 

Work to begin this spring on Penn Station-Moynihan Train Hall complex

 

https://www.6sqft.com/work-to-begin-this-spring-on-penn-station-moynihan-train-hall-complex/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^2020 is pretty quick, as these things go.  We'll see ...  8-)

the nj/brooklyn freight tunnel project is back in the mix:

 

 

 

Port Authority will study potential Brooklyn-New Jersey freight tunnel

 

The agency has issued a Request for Proposals and will grant up to $35 million for the study

 

BY AMEENA WALKER  MAY 9, 2017, 9:15AM EDT

 

 

After years of discussion, Port Authority has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to determine the feasibility of a Cross-Harbor Rail Freight Tunnel that would connect Brooklyn to New Jersey, reports the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

 

The tunnel would run between a rail yard in Jersey City’s Greenville neighborhood and would link with a rail yard along 65th Street in Bay Ridge.

 

For decades, the tunnel has been explored as a solution to alleviate traffic congestion in the city by removing 1,800 trucks carrying freight into Manhattan and Staten Island off the road each day all while improving air quality.

 

The project is already supported by local officials, including Governor Andrew Cuomo.

 

 

more:

https://ny.curbed.com/2017/5/9/15588252/port-authority-brooklyn-new-jersey-freight-tunnel

editorial about the frieght tunnel:

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/light-tunnels-cuomo-push-harbor-freight-t-article-1.3154292

 

Could this 'visionary' plan solve the area's transit woes? (VIDEO)

By Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

on May 11, 2017 at 4:28 PM, updated May 11, 2017 at 5:26 PM

 

With Penn Station's failing infrastructure at capacity, a plan to merge the area's train and bus service into one regional system is the cornerstone of an idea floated by a New York design firm as a solution to the region's commuting problems.

 

Called ReThink NYC Plan 2050, the centerpiece of the idea is a unified commuter rail that connects NJ Transit, Metro North and the Long Island Rail Road lines through a revamped Penn Station.

 

"To build a network, the rail lines are already there, we just need to connect them to build the ultimate suburban rapid transit," said Lane Rick, an architect and principal at ReThink Studios. "We're using existing trains on existing tracks to bring commuters to the core and through the core."

 

MORE:

http://www.nj.com/traffic/index.ssf/2017/05/could_this_visionary_plan_solve_the_areas_transit_woes_video.html

Here's an even larger version of the map above:

 

http://media.nj.com/traffic_impact/photo/rethink-plan-mapjpeg-0a99c8d9d3b95deb.jpeg

naturally, being nj dot com that is overly tilted toward commuters and ignores city-folk.

 

to help fix service for city people, it still needs the triboro rx plan, connecting up the airport airtrains in jamaica and jumpstarting the north shore staten island sir rail line to connect to the nj hudson-bergen lrt in bayonne. not to mention more second avenue.

 

the only city people to benefit from that plan would perhaps be eastern bronx residents. good news is some of that part is happening anyway with new mnrr stations to be added to the mix once east side access is completed. supposedly.

 

Could this 'visionary' plan solve the area's transit woes? (VIDEO)

 

I like the idea that regional Amtrak trains might stop at Sunnyside in Queens with LIRR connections.  Changing at Penn Staion is such a cattle call.

Same with Secaucus. Both stations will reduce the amount of dwell time for Amtrak trains at Penn Station, thus freeing up more capacity. Plus a connection at Port Morris to the MTA's Hudson and Harlem lines will great improve connectivity to the far northern suburbs.

My favorite part of it all is the whole "doesn't need to demolish an entire block and a half of Manhattan real estate" part that the current Penn South Annex plan requires which is such a non-starter.

 

This region deserves better than the crap it has to deal with now.