its moving along — :cheers:



Interborough Express light rail project moves to next phase, Hochul says

By Ben Brachfeld
Posted on January 9, 2024


The proposed Interborough Express (IBX) light rail between Brooklyn and Queens is inching forward, with officials hoping the project can be designed and engineering challenges resolved starting this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Tuesday.

The governor’s 2024 State of the State policy book, accompanying her big speech to a joint legislative session in Albany Tuesday, notes that the MTA will “initiate formal design and engineering” on the IBX, which aims to convert the underutilized Bay Ridge Branch rail spur, owned by the Long Island Rail Road and currently used by CSX freight rail, into a light rail line between Brooklyn and Queens, sharply reducing commute times between the two boroughs.

The line would run 14 miles between Bay Ridge and Jackson Heights, running through many neighborhoods with few transit options while also connecting to 17 other subway lines. The MTA estimates the line would see 120,000 daily riders by 2045, and cost $5.5 billion to construct.


more:
https://www.amny.com/transit/interbo...ct-next-phase/

https://www.amny.com/wp-content/uplo...-1200x675.jpeg
A rendering showing a light rail proposal for the Interborough Express at the Wilson Av L train stop in Bushwick, Brooklyn. MTA

I think Cuomo's Airtrain was so profoundly rejected that they won't make that demand for the N/W route either.

well it wasnt rejected by the pa, it was by the new gov, but i dont think it matters. what matters is that either way they do it. :shrug:

artwork for the newly rebuilt new dorp sir station in staten is unveiled —



New glass artwork transforms MTA Staten Island Railway station; Here’s what it looks like now

Updated: Jan. 16, 2024
By Toniann DiCostanzo | tdicostanzo@siadvance.com


STATEN ISLAND, N.Y — Keri Sheheen, a Staten Island native and multidisciplinary artist, played a pivotal role in the renovation of the New Dorp station of the Staten Island Railway.

The installation, titled “Creeping On Where Time Has Been,’' comprises around 350 square feet of glass and metal artwork fabricated by Mayer of Munich and Ferra Designs, Inc.


more:
https://www.silive.com/entertainment...-like-now.html

https://www.silive.com/resizer/SLpSG...RGMTNXBROE.jpg
Creeping On Where Time Has Been (2023) Keri Sheheen, SIR New Dorp Station. Commissioned by MTA Arts & Design. Photo: Courtesy of Keri Sheheen

the brooklyn bridge goes from brown to its original gray and gets new lighting as its spruce comes to an end this year —




THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE GETS A GLOW UP

The $2.4 million project bathes the bridge's newly cleaned towers in lights for the first time since 1983

By Brooklyn Magazine

Hey buddy, can we sell you a brighter bridge?

Fresh from having its stonework scrubbed (and vendors removed from its pedestrian planks), the Brooklyn Bridge has received a literal glow up. The 140-year-old landmark has been spruced up with an assist from new lighting — 56 energy efficient LED lights, to be exact, turned on for the first time on Thursday.


more:
https://www.bkmag.com/2024/01/16/the...ets-a-glow-up/

night drive on the fdr — 1973


https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2AtR...d4MjNoem1seA==

at long last it’s ON —
second ave phase two starts in march!



Construction set to start in March on next phase of Second Avenue Subway

By Ben Brachfeld
Posted on January 22, 2024


Construction is set to begin in March on phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway, which will ultimately bring the Q train through East Harlem to 125th Street, the MTA revealed on Monday.

The MTA has awarded its first contract for Second Avenue construction work, with a $182 million procurement awarded to C.A.C. Industries to relocate underground utility lines between 105th and 110th streets starting in coming weeks.


more:
https://www.amny.com/transit/constru...avenue-subway/


https://www.amny.com/wp-content/uplo...5-1200x745.png
The platform at 116th Street and Second Avenue could look something like this. MTA


https://www.amny.com/wp-content/uplo...7-1200x728.png
A rendering of the proposed station at 106th Street and Second Avenue. MTA

Also in this latest MTA press release is an extremely worrisome mention of the "value-engineering" elimination of the tunnel bellmouth that would allow a future Bronx extension. Unless they have something up their sleeve of saving on a paired down provision now but still leaving the possibility, it appears my worst suspicions of the MTA being incredibly inept are being confirmed. Without a bellmouth provision any future extension, even if that seems improbable in this current low-expectation environment, would be incredibly disruptive to service and wildly more expensive. Put simply the MTA appears to be fucking themselves long-term to save a relatively tiny amount upfront because there quit frankly is no long-term planning happening at MTA anymore. Extremely disheartening.

For anyone in the city this Thursday, try to participate in this free behind-the-scenes tour of Grand Central Madison:
https://www.nytransitmuseum.org/prog...entralmadison/

^ It's a webinar/virtual program. No need to be anywhere near the city for this event.

just get that drill bore across one two five to broadway so i can give my regards. :haha:

the new mta test project subway station platform barriers are up at 191st —

coming to clark st & the aquarium too —

plus one more station tbd —


https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2a30...Z6c2d3bXd1d250

good morning indeed wow! — :tup:


https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0RkR...5tOXZldXh5dQ==

My knees were shaking just looking at the video.

lol my favorite comment:

Where did they get these barriers Dollar General?

ha yeah and its true — i guess they backed off on the fancy versions :shrug:

https://media1.tenor.com/images/a3d2...temid=12034613

I'd imagine that the fancy doors only work with modern train cars that can stop at the exact spot in every single train station. It wouldn't work that well in NYC, with old trains, old stations with funky track geometries (like Union Sq for the 4/5/6), and train drivers of varying skills.

Speaking of the latter, I'm completely convinced that many veteran train drivers retired during the pandemic, and we now have to contend with a host of greenhorn train drivers of varying skill levels. I imagine that many have figured it out fairly quickly and their skill levels aren't much different than the veterans. But you definitely notice the greenness of others.

Some are unsure of how fast they can drive, so they often drive way too slow just to be safe. I always call them "sandbagging". The worst is when this sandbagging costs you a connecting transfer or two.

The worst rookies don't even know where to stop on the station platform. I've seen an N make a complete stop at a station for a 10 seconds, only for the train to lurch forward another 5-10 feet because the driver had initially stopped at the wrong place.

In an train system still largely reliant on antiquated signaling systems, making sure the trains travel at the right speed and on the right schedule is of upmost importance to maintaining proper headways during busy times. Unfortunately, this gets thrown out the window if you have too many rookie train drivers who drive too slow or make too many mistakes. Every bit of delay for one train compounds into additional delays for the trains running behind it. Basically a butterfly effect.

Bad conductors also compound delays. The worst ones will wait way too long to open and close doors, and spend way too long making announcements. Imagine them pulling this shit at every local stop. :hell:

As I said to many others: I won't steal fares by going through the gate or jumping turnstiles. I will pay my fare. But I will also choose not to use subway service if I can. Nowadays, my main commute to work relies on riding a Citibike over the bridge. If the MTA wants more of my money, they need to show me they can provide consistent good quality service. Plain and simple.

Haven't commented on the yellow barriers yet 'cause it's so miserably depressing, but I would back up the opinion that said this is just the MTA's way of saying they are doing something when in reality they do not desire to pursue platform door technology, nor have any money to do so beyond a fraction of the stations that would even allow for them. As it should be.

Also, I think that gif is Bogata TransMilenio.

There is always the risk that the extension won't be built for such a long time that some of the upcoming utility relocations prove to be unnecessary or incompatible with the future design.

There is always the potential for an express track for the number lines in The Bronx to be built beneath First Ave. and then integrate into the Second Ave. subway at the planned 55th St. station. So a four-track subway below 55th St. and a pair of two-track subways north of it, but the First Ave. line would have at most two stops in the five miles between 55th St. and 149th~ in The Bronx.

there is most definitely the issue of that extension not happening for a long time — because the bx is already getting four new mnrr stations that will provide local service and anyway i can think of a dozen other extensions just off the top that are much more of a priority or useful. not the least of which is including funding the completion of the station connections along 125 afterward — that is if mta is indeed smart enough to actually follow through and dig west to broadway during phase two as gov hochul is pushing. i dk how flexible those bore drills are, maybe they can drill a bit north for a starter tail or header, then back it up and head west to broadway? is that even possible with a big tunneling drill?? :shrug: