MTA stats show more subway trains are late

December 16, 2014, 5:11 pm

≪ Previous: MTA Public Safety Announcements and Proposed Fare Hike

delays16n-1-web.jpg?enlarged

" subway punctuality is ‘an extraordinarily complex issues," says NYC Transit Division President Carmen Bianco.

When straphangers peer down the tracks, too often there is no light at the end of the tunnel, because an increasing number of subway trains are arriving late, new (MTA) statistics revealed.

About 25% of all subway trains run by New York City Transit from Oct. 2013 through Oct. 2014 were late, meaning they arrived at the end of the line at least five minutes behind schedule, according to Metropolitan Transportation Authority numbers released on Monday. That’s up 6% from the previous 12-month period.

And there was an average of 41,547 subway train delays a month during that time — a 51% increase from the 27,457 per month average over the previous 12 months. The overall number of trains that pulled in late did not increase as dramatically as delays because a train can arrive late at one or more stations but make up the time by the last stop, officials said.

“Every year seems worse than the next,” said Eileen Thomas, 58, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, who commutes via the train and said she’s had to wait as long as 30 minutes.

“There are days where I think it would be faster to walk to work,” she told the Daily News. “I’m glad the (MTA) is keeping track of these things, but I want to know what they’re going to do about it.”

(MTA) officials cited several reasons for the increase in lateness, including higher ridership, platform crowding, and more subway construction, maintenance and inspection projects.

“This is an extraordinarily complex issue,” NYC Transit Division President Carmen Bianco said at an (MTA) committee meeting on Monday.

Officials said some of the increase is attributable to more accurate reporting of train arrival and departure times at the end of lines. The (MTA) shifted to an electronic reporting system from one in which staffers put pen to paper.

Joe Leader, NYC Transit’s vice president of subways, said "Hurricane Sandy resulted in more repairs and construction being done along the tracks, which has affected timeliness." The (MTA) also streamlined the review and approval process for transit crews and contractors to schedule projects along the tracks, in an attempt to prevent delays...........

↧

MCI 7462 crashed on turnpike.

December 17, 2014, 12:23 pm

≫ Next: As MTA hunts for money, group touts support for plan to add tolls on East River bridges

≪ Previous: MTA stats show more subway trains are late

8 injuries reported, driver not hurt. 3 tractor trailers involved also. Near exit 13 on turnpike. Bus has heavy right rear side damage looks like a sideswipe .

↧

As MTA hunts for money, group touts support for plan to add tolls on East River bridges

December 17, 2014, 3:29 pm

≫ Next: Amtrak Empire trains and LIRR push pull trains in and out of Penn Station

≪ Previous: MCI 7462 crashed on turnpike.

As MTA hunts for money, group touts support for plan to add tolls on East River bridges
By DAN RIVOLI December 17, 2014

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISE HERE

As state and transit officials figure out how to pay for fixing and expanding the transportation system, a group says it's got the plan that will do the job and has the support of New Yorkers.

Move NY, a group pushing a congestion-pricing-style bridge toll plan from transit guru Gridlock Sam Schwartz, wants to raise $1.4 billion a year from new tolls on the city's four free East River bridges and Manhattan below 60th Street, as well as a surcharge on taxi rides.

In exchange, less-trafficked outerborough bridges that have large cash tolls, like the $15 to enter Staten Island on the Verrazzano Bridge or $7.50 per ride on the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, would get a substantial cut.

While past ideas for congestion pricing and East River bridge tolls have been politically toxic, Move NY said 45% of voters in the city and the surrounding counties back "balancing" bridge tolls, while support grew to 62% when details of the tolling plan and its benefits were provided, according to a memo for a Global Stategy Group poll done for the group and TransitCenter, a research organization.

"If New Yorkers are presented with a comprehensive, fair plan for improving our city's roads and bridges and transit system, they're going to be on board," said Move NY campaign director Alex Matthiessen.

City and MTA officials have said publicly they are aware of the Move NY plan from Schwartz, a former city transportation commissioner, but have never come out in support. But officials are now talking about the need to find new, consistent streams of revenue, while easing the burden on the riding public that funds about half of the cost to run the entire system -- the biggest share in the country compared to other cities' mass transit systems. Tolls and fares are already set to increase in 2015 and 2017.

"It takes the pressure off the MTA from having to raise those tolls and fares as much as they have in the past," Matthiessen said.

Drivers could benefit from a cut in traffic spurred by new tolls.

Outerborough resident Joseph Cuzzone, a 45-year-old IT worker, said the proposals sound fair and he'd be willing to pay to drive into Manhattan if traffic is reduced.

"I avoid the Brooklyn Bridge at all costs," he said. "I don't care that it's free."

Meanwhile, the state and MTA need to find a way to raise $15 billion to fully fund the agency's $32 billion plan to fix the transit system. On the list of projects are popular initiatives like countdown clocks for lettered lines, a modern signal system that can run more trains and major infrastructure works such as the new leg of the Second Avenue subway and Metro-North access to Penn Station that adds stops in the Bronx.

"We are always glad when people discuss how to best pay for the transit system that is essential to the region's economy and is an important part of the daily lives of millions of New Yorkers," MTA spokesman Adam Lisberg said.

Allen Cappelli, an MTA board member who heads the bridges and tunnels committee, called the Move NY plan a "starting point" to see where consensus could be reached on finding new ways to get money.

"The current way we fund the MTA is not sustainable," he said. "You can't just keep going back and hitting people over the head each year" with fare and toll increases.

Cappelli, a Staten Islander, said the Move NY plan addresses a"patently unfair" toll system that charges more to cross bridges in the city's periphery, like the Verrazano, but gives free access to drivers heading into transit-rich Manhattan.

"It recognizes," he said, "that the outer portions of the city ought to be the least expensive places to get to."

By the numbers:

Would raise $1.4 billion a year

$880M from adjusting tolls, including $770 million loss from reductions in outerboroughs

$295M from greater use of subway, bus and cheaper bridge tolls

$255M from 14% weekday and 7% weekend and holiday surcharge on certain cab rides with the “taxi zone” south of 96th Street

$10M from killing a Manhattan parking tax rebat

I think more balanced tolls would be nice.

↧

Amtrak Empire trains and LIRR push pull trains in and out of Penn Station

December 18, 2014, 6:52 am

≫ Next: Select Bus Service Will Make Woodhaven Worse

≪ Previous: As MTA hunts for money, group touts support for plan to add tolls on East River bridges

When the Amtrak Empire trains come out of Sunnyside Yard and go to Penn Station, they use a single P32ACDM unit. But when the LIRR trains come through with its Dual Mode trains, they have engines on both ends. I thought steep grades would be an issue in the tunnels for the Amtrak units. How do they run through?

↧

Select Bus Service Will Make Woodhaven Worse

December 18, 2014, 10:12 am

≫ Next: New Kosciuszko Bridge: DOT Project site

≪ Previous: Amtrak Empire trains and LIRR push pull trains in and out of Penn Station

http://www.qchron.com/editions/south/select-bus-service-will-make-woodhaven-worse/article_90ca0c3a-243a-5fce-b8ed-73b67ce96450.html

↧

New Kosciuszko Bridge: DOT Project site

December 18, 2014, 11:20 am

≫ Next: Sheepshead Bay Diner Prepares to Serve Last Meal

≪ Previous: Select Bus Service Will Make Woodhaven Worse

https://www.dot.ny.gov/kbridge

↧

Sheepshead Bay Diner Prepares to Serve Last Meal

December 18, 2014, 1:12 pm

≫ Next: Metro-North Riverdale Anniversary: Officials say Metro-North is safer

≪ Previous: New Kosciuszko Bridge: DOT Project site

Sheepshead Bay Diner Prepares to Serve Last Meal

By: Jeanine Ramirez 12/17/2014 10:29 PM

elgrecodinera9d912e4-6d28-4cc5-8ef0-5c1b

Sheepshead Bay Diner Prepares to Serve Last Meal

A Sheepshead Bay diner that's been a neighborhood institution since the 1970s is getting ready to serve its last meal. NY1's Jeanine Ramirez filed the following report.

For 40 years, the El Greco diner in Sheepshead Bay has been serving its customers around the clock. The only time it was forced to close was when a hurricane barreled through.

"We were closed by the storm, Sandy, but other than that, we were 24 hours a day, seven days a week for 40 years," said George Venetoklis, an owner of El Greco Diner.

Now, a sign in the window is saying goodbye to the neighborhood. El Greco closes its doors for good on Friday. The owners sold it to a developer to make way for a residential and retail project.

"I cannot say much because it's a bittersweet goodbye," said Anastasia Venetoklis, an owner of El Greco Diner.

Anastasia's husband, Milos, built the one-story structure in 1974. He died 20 years ago, but she and her sons kept the family business running. They sold the property just last week.

"We decided after doing 40 years of business here that it was time for us to move on," George Venetoklis said.

Longtime patrons said they can hardly believe the neighborhood institution will be gone.

"It was a shock," said one patron. "And it's still heartbreaking because I definitely will miss it."

"I basically grew up in this place. I lived in Sheepshead Bay almost all my life," said another. "Pretty devastated by the news."

"This is just the place that I grew up and I love," said a third.

With parking on site, the diner sits on more than 41,000 square feet, taking up an entire block along Emmons Avenue with waterfront views. The neighborhood website Sheepshead Bites said the property sold for $13 million.

Rybak Development said plans for the site include a public plaza. It said there's no construction timetable yet because plans still need to be approved.

The project is one of several new high-rises planned for the low-scale waterfront community. Some residents said they don't want more residential towers.

"Not another condo," said one

They all agreed that the diner will be missed. Anastasia said it's a new beginning in so many ways.

"I have to start cooking again. I forgot how to cook," she said.

El Greco plans to throw a final farewell party Friday.

Source: http://www.ny1.com/content/news/220590/sheepshead-bay-diner-prepares-to-serve-last-meal/

↧

Metro-North Riverdale Anniversary: Officials say Metro-North is safer

December 4, 2014, 2:39 pm

≫ Next: Remnants of the 1980s Subway: Stickers

≪ Previous: Sheepshead Bay Diner Prepares to Serve Last Meal

SPUYTEN DUYVIL ANNIVERSARY

Officials say Metro-North is safer

By Shant Shahrigian

Posted 12/4/14

Marisol Díaz/The Riverdale Press

Passengers walk across temporary ramps set up while track work is underway to reach a southbound train at the Riverdale station on Saturday.

PHOTO

One year after the derailment at Spuyten Duyvil Station that killed four and injured dozens of others, train officials, politicians and a commuter advocacy group say Metro-North riders can rest assured that a range of initiatives costing millions of dollars has made the line safer.

Two Riverdalians on the MTA board, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, Rep. Eliot Engel and the executive director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA (PCAC) lauded efforts including nearly $440 million for a next-generation train control system and widespread track improvements. But they emphasized that Metro-North has a long way to go before it can retake its spot as the best regarded rail line in the country.

“They are on their way to being safer — significantly on their way — is the bottom line,” said Chuck Moerdler, a Riverdalian who has been on MTA’s board since 2010. “We have voted for hundreds of millions of dollars [in safety improvements], but it’s going to take time. If it had not been for that accident, it would have been years.”

Action plan

After coming under severe criticism from politicians and regulatory agencies for the Dec. 1 crash at Spuyten Duyvil Station, the MTA in June launched a 100-day “action plan” to improve safety. It has also promised to follow wide-ranging recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Railroad Administration. The MTA’s safety measures include:

• A $34.6 million investment in inward- and outward-facing cameras for 2,064 cars and locomotives in the Metro-North and Long Island Railroad (LIRR) fleets. An October report from the NTSB found the probable cause of the Dec. 1 accident was that the driver took the train to 82 mph in a 30-mph zone near Spuyten Duyvil Station after falling asleep due to sleep apnea worsened by his work schedule.

A Nov. 17 MTA release said the inward-facing cameras are intended to deter behavior that could hinder train operation and provide a record in the event of future accidents. The outward-facing devices “will be used to record track and wayside activities.”

↧

Remnants of the 1980s Subway: Stickers

December 20, 2014, 10:39 pm

≫ Next: Beginner's Guide to the New York Subway

≪ Previous: Metro-North Riverdale Anniversary: Officials say Metro-North is safer

Most of the subway system today has been updated in the past year or two years--station signs are always replaced, strip maps get new stickers, and the MTA keeps things current. In the cars themselves, SMSs have replaced floors and painted seats, while various stickers have been replaced in past years for fleet uniformity. Almost every car in the fleet has post-1987 graphics on the interior, which tend to be white on black stickers in the Helvetica font. Not to mention, everything is in English.

In the 1970s and 1980s, however, signage looked a lot different. The common font was Akzidenz-Grotesk, the signs were black on white, and Spanish was used for a lot of the text around the cars. Almost all examples of this design language have been scrubbed from the system either in routine updates or GOHs (the oldest R32s and R42s actually have relatively modern interior signs thanks to their overhauls). But a few cars keep the original 1970s-1980s graphics, and these are the unmodified R62/As and R68s (68As came too late).

I try to catch a photo (on my phone or camera) of the cars I see that have kept their original stickers, as they're a nice throwback to a time when the whole system looked like this.

Starting with R62As, these English-Spanish Azkidenz-Grotesk "Do not use this door" stickers are still around on a few cars, namely the 42nd Street shuttle fleet.

The rarest of all are these "Prohibited" stickers, which are only on a handful of R62As at best. At one point in the 1980s, this was the sticker on the storm door of each car, whether R30 or R62. The font is pretty unique.

While talking R62As, a bunch of cars have retained their original number stickers, which are black on a clear background in the Azkidenz-Grotesk font. Here's 1907:

Closer up, here's 1787. This car also has its original Emergency Brake sticker in English and Spanish.

A few cars also have these original New York City Transit Authority stickers for priority seating, which have stuck

around on buses but not subways. These are in Azkidenz-Grotesk.

A few R68s also came with these stickers, but theirs are on a white background. I've only seen them in Helvetica, but the M logo is a nice throwback.

R68s and R62/As also came standard with these "Prohibited" stickers, which I've only seen remaining on R68s. They are in Azkidenz-Grotesk on white, while their bus counterparts are Helvetica.

R68s have also kept many of their original number stickers, which are either in Azkidenz-Grotesk or Helvetica in black on white. Next to these numbers are storm door stickers, which are also in either font.

A-G numbers and Helvetica sticker:

Helvetica numbers and an A-G sticker:

Helvetica closeup:

Akzidenz-Grotesk closeup:

One last piece of 1980s-styling which is more physical than graphic is flooring. A handful of R62As have kept their original beige flooring, like 1958:

And finally, one sign that's older than a bunch of these put together:

The details are easy to miss, but there's a lot of history hidden around the cars and the system.

↧

Beginner's Guide to the New York Subway

December 22, 2014, 11:26 am

≫ Next: What is a Transit Advocate?

≪ Previous: Remnants of the 1980s Subway: Stickers

Hey fellow straphangers,

A while ago, I've written an Absolute Beginner's Guide to the New York Subway that is mainly geared towards tourists and visitors to New York. I have turned this into a website this weekend complete with the book's entire content, pictures and directions from the airport. Feel free to use this to share with your many New York visitors:

www.nycsubwayguide.com

Cheers,

Minh T. Nguyen.

↧

What is a Transit Advocate?

December 22, 2014, 12:25 pm

≫ Next: New Reminders For The New Year

≪ Previous: Beginner's Guide to the New York Subway

http://www.sheepsheadbites.com/2014/12/commute-transit-advocate/

↧

New Reminders For The New Year

December 23, 2014, 6:09 pm

≫ Next: MTA Is Not Messing Around With New PSAs

≪ Previous: What is a Transit Advocate?

"Courtesy Counts, Manners Make a Better Ride" is the message the MTA is trying to get across to customers who ride the trains and buses. MTA NYC Transit is unveiling a new placard campaign which urges customers to be aware that just a few courteous actions can make the ride more efficient while creating an atmosphere that can make a daily commute more pleasant and less stressful.

In January, a series of placards will begin appearing inside subway cars and then buses and the commuter railroads in February. They will bear gentle, but firm reminders pointing out common courtesies that can make traveling by mass transit more enjoyable for everyone. The messages serve to remind the MTA’s 8.6 million daily customers that they can help make the trip quicker and more pleasant by demonstrating a personal, consistent commitment to courtesy.

“Courtesy is always important but it takes on an added significance as transit ridership continues to increase,” said NYC Transit President Carmen Bianco. “The simple act of stepping aside to let riders off the train before you board can trim valuable seconds from the time a train dwells in a station while removing a backpack makes more room for everyone. These acts serve to speed the trip while increasing the level of comfort.”

The new program, developed by MTA Corporate Communications, highlights behaviors that are both encouraged and discouraged for the benefit of everyone. The messaging largely reflects complaints and suggestions from riders.

The colorfully-designed placards employ simple graphics to illustrate behavioral “do” and “don’t” scenarios. The illustrations are reinforced with pithy statements.

They do this... Some line promotion posters would be nice.

↧

MTA Is Not Messing Around With New PSAs

December 23, 2014, 9:46 pm

≫ Next: MTA Bus Driver arrested after pedestrian struck and killed.

≪ Previous: New Reminders For The New Year

The

has unveiled its new "Courtesy Counts" campaign, and they are really covering the gamut of all the awful, annoying things people (note: never you!) do on the subway. While the anti-manspreader campaign has already gotten some attention, the (MTA)

will install many different placards "bearing gentle, but firm reminders" on how to be a decent human being on your morning commute.

subway-21.jpg?w=300

The campaign is broken down into "Do's" — give up your seat for a pregnant lady, take off your backpack — and "No No's" which are very gentle ways of telling riders to freaking stop doing certain things. The manspreader campaign (above) falls into this category, along with the dreaded, oft-smelly subway eater (below). Some of the other "No No's" include blocking the doors, hogging the pole, and doing things you should do in the privacy of your own bathroom, such as clipping your nails (Slogan: "Clipping? Primping?"). Subway dancers have also landed on this list, and shall be reminded: “Pole[s] Are For Your Safety, Not Your Latest Routine.”

subway-11.jpg?w=300

The

says the targets of the new manners campaign came largely from riders' complaints. Expect the signs to start appearing in January on the subways, followed by buses and commuter rails the following month. Of course, if these ads fail, there's always public shaming.

Source: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/12/mta-is-not-messing-around-with-new-psas.html

↧

MTA Bus Driver arrested after pedestrian struck and killed.

December 24, 2014, 4:41 am

≫ Next: Amtrak Phase 3 paint scheme returns

≪ Previous: MTA Is Not Messing Around With New PSAs

Updated 22 mins ago

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (WABC) --
Police said the New York City bus hit and killed a man on a Brooklyn street, and the bus driver has been arrested.

The MTA said bus #4228 on the B44 line was making a left turn at Farragut Road and New York Avenue in the East Flatbush section at about 6 p.m. Tuesday when it struck a man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Wednesday the 57-year-old driver was arrested on a charge of failing to yield, said police. He's awaiting arraignment, and his lawyer's name isn't immediately available.

Police said the bus was making a turn from Farragut Road onto New York Avenue when it hit 78-year Jean Bonne-Annee. He died at the scene.

There's no immediate information from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on the driver's status.

Source: http://7online.com/news/driver-arrested-after-pedestrian-struck-and-killed-by-bus-in-flatbush/448685/

↧

Amtrak Phase 3 paint scheme returns

December 25, 2014, 11:00 am

≫ Next: QM2, QM20 or QM3 stop at CitiField

≪ Previous: MTA Bus Driver arrested after pedestrian struck and killed.

With the delivery of the Viewliner 2 Baggage cars, Amtrak America has revived the Phase 3 paint scheme. However, they brought back the current logo to go with it (ugh)

↧

QM2, QM20 or QM3 stop at CitiField

December 25, 2014, 4:23 pm

≫ Next: Bridgeton man robs NJT bus driver

≪ Previous: Amtrak Phase 3 paint scheme returns

I've always wondered about this since I've seen express buses pass while watching Mets' games at the old stadium.... Why not have either the QM2, QM20 or QM3 make a stop near CitiField when there are games?

↧

Bridgeton man robs NJT bus driver

December 25, 2014, 8:08 pm

≫ Next: MTA Bus GPS Help

≪ Previous: QM2, QM20 or QM3 stop at CitiField

A Bridgeton man arrested Thursday is accused of robbing an NJ Transit bus driver at gunpoint and getting away with cash.

Read More: Source

↧

MTA Bus GPS Help

December 26, 2014, 2:55 pm

≫ Next: Official Subway FAIL Thread

≪ Previous: Bridgeton man robs NJT bus driver

Hi,

I'm working on an app that measures and reports MTA Bus performance based on data from the MTA Bus Time API. So far, I'm able to determine on-time performance. However, I'm now working on reporting headway variance - a much more involved process for which I need to account for buses having non-functioning GPS equipment.

To approximate the proportion of MTA buses with non-functioning equipment, I've been manually recording buses that I notice while walking around New York and later seeing how many weren't reported by the Bus Time API. However, my sample is limited to buses in Manhattan/my neighborhood and other places I frequent, which could skew the results if, for example, GPS equipment is repaired more often in some areas than others.

It would really help me out if I could have some samples from other parts of the city. So, if you're interested in supporting my project, you could make a note of a few buses you spot while going about your day. If I only get a few reports from a few people, that would help a lot.

Please send reports to mtagps@nathan9.com. I would prefer an inline (not an attachment), comma-separated list in the order date, time, bus, route. "Bus" is the four-digit number painted in blue on the front, back, sides, and top of each MTA bus. The time needn't be exact. For example:

12/26/14,17:40,1234,B6

12/26/14,17:45,2345,B15

12/26/14,18:00,3456,B35

I'd really appreciate any contributions and will, of course, report back on the results.

Thanks,

Nathan

↧