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^ It's large, but it's by no means the largest in the world.
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Unless I'm wrong doesn't it have the most miles of track?
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If by "largest and most extensive mass transit system in the world", he is referring only to the subway, then yes, the NYC Subway has more track-miles than any other subway in the world, largely due to the widespread use of express tracks in the subway.
But "mass transit system" generally refers to the entire system of public transportation in a city, so in New York, this would include the LIRR, MNRR, NJT, PATH, SIR, and the various bus systems in the area. Here, Tokyo is probably the largest by far with extensive subway as well as a very extensive above ground rail network. And London's is probably larger, with its extensive Tube network as well as its South East rail network, and perhaps even Paris with its Metro, RER as well as Transilien commuter trains. |
NY1
Updated 11:56 PM MTA To Restore Three Bus Lines, Subway Line http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/5122/76155354.jpg Some subway and bus commuters in Manhattan and Queens are being saved from service cuts, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced Friday via its website. The agency says it now plans to keep the Z line. In addition, the M10, which runs on Eighth Avenue, will no longer be eliminated, and overnight service will continue on the crosstown M79 and M96buses through Central Park. Other service changes, including the elimination of the W line, are still planned, as the MTA looks to make up a $400 million shortfall. Straphangers will be able to weigh in on the cuts at public hearings in March. Online registration will begin next month. For more information, visit mta.info. |
i wish they would get rid of all of the redundant lines.
E, V, W, Z, 3, 5, etc |
^Hmmmmmm
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NY1
01/27/2010 09:06 AM Report: MTA Cannot Afford High-Tech Security Measures By: NY1 News http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/3221/13513344.jpg The state comptroller says the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's post-September 11th security plan for the city's transit system is behind schedule and millions of dollars overbudget. Thomas DiNapoli's report says the MTA's costs to install a high-tech security system ballooned from $591 million to $833 million. That leaves just $59 million in capital spending to finish the project. DiNapoli says that is not enough to install the state-of-the-art network of digital cameras and motion detectors throughout the subway system. Yet MTA officials vow they will finish the project as planned. Lockheed Martin, the contractor in charge of the system, sued the MTA last year, blaming the agency for delays. The MTA filed a countersuit. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
NY1
01/25/2010 05:40 PM MTA Unveils Text Alerts For LIRR By: Bobby Cuza http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/3972/77984737.jpg Even as it moves forward with major service cuts, the MTA says it's following through on a promise to communicate better with its riders -- including a new program that delivers information via text message. NY1's Bobby Cuza filed the following report. It's as simple as sending a text message. Long Island Rail Road riders can now text a station-to-station request, like "Penn to Huntington," to 266266. That spells CooCoo -- the text engine company that operates the new service. Within seconds, CooCoo will text you back with the next five trains, including any delays. "What’s beautiful about this is it’s right there. All five are listed and stored. The customer can look at it as many times as they want and make a decision about their commute," said Long Island Rail Road President Helena Williams. The service works on any phone. No Internet access is needed, and the only cost is your phone carrier's standard texting fee. The pilot program also comes at no cost to the MTA. "You don’t have to subscribe. You don’t have to sign up. It’s just a free service available to our customers," Williams said. "We’re reducing our cost, but actually providing a greater level of customer service than we were able to do before," said MTA Chairman & CEO Jay Walder. Currently, there are no plans to provide this particular service to subway riders, who of course rely less on posted schedules anyway. In any case, transit riders are likely more concerned with the fact that they will soon have less service thanks to major planned cuts to subways and buses. MTA officials, however, say the revised list of service changes released Friday results in less pain for riders. "What you've seen us do is to mitigate impacts," Walder said. "We’ve tried to restructure routes. We’ve tried to do things to be able to continue to provide services to communities so that we're not cutting communities off." The plan will still cut subway service and eliminate or reroute dozens of bus routes. In addition, Access-a-Ride vans will now, in some cases, no longer take riders to their destination, but instead drop them off at a subway or bus stop. The MTA also plans to move ahead with the elimination of student MetroCard discounts. Walder said the information posted on the MTA website sets a new standard for transparency. "This is not a black box anymore," Walder said. "I think in December, you know, people saw a package of cuts, and it was largely pulled out of somewhere else. All of the data's out there, in a way that I think it's never been out there before." The service cuts must still be approved by the MTA board following public hearings scheduled to take place in March. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
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Correct - the W & Z are about the only services remaining on the system that don't serve their own exclusive routes at some point, philvia. Especially getting rid of the E - good luck trying to get in from Queens with that one.
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NY1
01/29/2010 09:56 AM Man On 6 Train Wrestles Chicken By: NY1 News http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/9140/32218051.jpg Riders on the Number 6 train had an odd commute Tuesday night as they ran into a man rolling around on the floor with a live chicken. A passenger managed to capture the scene and the video has since been posted on YouTube. In true New York City fashion, most passengers simply ignored him, while others laughed and took pictures. New York City Transit Authority rules prohibit passengers from bringing animals onto trains or buses – unless they are in enclosed containers. Service animals are exempt. The TA says it is investigating the incident. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
NY1
Updated 01/29/2010 12:54 PM LIRR Sees Drop In Ridership By: NY1 News http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/3746/87738999.jpg The weak economy is being blamed for a big drop in ridership on the Long Island Rail Road. Ridership dropped to about 83 million in 2009 from 87 million the year before. It's the biggest decrease in four decades, and comes on the heels of a year when ridership was at its highest since 1949. Railroad officials say the loss of 84,000 jobs in the city last year could be to blame for some of the drop off. The drop in ridership is costing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority millions in revenue. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
NY1
Updated 01/29/2010 02:57 PM Cab Drivers Face Cell Phone Crackdown By: Vivian Lee http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/7057/44561504.jpg A series of new penalties take effect today to crackdown on taxi drivers who talk on cell phones. The Taxi and Limousine Commission’s new rules prohibit taxi and livery cab drivers from using phones or any electronic devices while driving – even if they are using a hands-free device. Even just wearing a Bluetooth device, in or near a driver's ear, is now be a violation. Some cab drivers are furious, saying their long shifts require mobile communication, sometimes even to get the job done. “Lots of new drivers, they don't know how to get to a place, so they need to get directions,” said one driver. “That's crazy,” said another. “We spend 12 hours in here.” Many passengers, meanwhile, say they are thrilled. “You're on the job. We don't pick up our phone in the office, and just chat with people,” said a passenger. “It's very dangerous, especially in Manhattan,” concurred another. “They don't seem to pay attention at all on that Bluetooth. It makes me a little nervous, too.” Still others say they're fine with a chatty cabbie. “I think a Bluetooth is okay, because you can focus while you're driving, and you can maneuver,” said a third. According to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there has been no significant reduction in the number of car crashes after hand-held bans were introduced in New York, Connecticut, California, and the District of Columbia. The study examined insurance claims involving texting or talking while driving. Despite the study’s finding, there are taxi drivers who do not mind the new law, which is the first in the country for cab drivers, just so their passengers feel more at ease. “I agree with the TLC,” said a driver. “So I'm happy.” "If that's what it takes to save life, it's alright,” said another. “It’s no problem at all." "If you are talking on the phone, it means you lose your concentration. It happens a lot,” said another. “People get into accidents." According to the TLC Commissioner, the regulations are necessary because many drivers ignored the previous rules. “Fifty percent of the summons that we issue when we go undercover, when you look at all the bill of rights that we are trying to enforce in the cabs, are cell phones,” said Commissioner Matthew Daus. “It's clearly a problem. You don't have to have your head in the sand. You go talk to passengers. It's the number one issue if you talk to passengers. Daus also cites federal statistics showing that upwards of 500,000 accidents and thousands of fatalities a year across this country are attributed to some kind of mobile device use while driving. Drivers will face a $200 penalty and three penalty points on their license for each of the first and second violations. After the second strike, they will also be required to take a distracted-driver training course. Those caught three times within 15 months will have their taxi license revoked. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
NY1
01/29/2010 10:03 PM Transit Advocates Inform Riders About MTA Cuts By: NY1 News http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/8141/87066874.jpg Transit advocates rallied against the MTA's plan to reduce service Friday. The Straphangers Campaign handed out leaflets in Times Square, informing riders of the agency's proposals. If the MTA doomsday budget holds, more than a dozen bus routes will be eliminated and many others will see a reduction in service. Some subway lines are also being cut, including the entire W and M trains. The Straphangers Campaign says they hope the leaflets will spur the riders to take action. "We hope a significant portion of them, when they get to the office, will either call or send an e-mail to Governor Paterson, Mayor Bloomberg, or the MTA, and we'll find out as the day goes on how successful we've been on activating the riding public," said Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers Campaign. The MTA also proposed eliminating discounts on student MetroCards. Students are planning a protest outside the MTA headquarters in Manhattan to demand restored funding for those cards. Public hearings on the proposals will be held in March. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
NY1
01/29/2010 07:15 PM MTA Alters 7 Train Weekend Service By: NY1 News http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/3212/34504107.jpg Commuters who use the 7 subway line are in for a rough ride starting this weekend. Because of construction, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority plans to suspend service from Queensboro Plaza to Times Square for seven weekends. Riders heading to Manhattan from northwest Queens will have to take a shuttle bus to Queensboro Plaza and then transfer to the N train. There will be no service at Queensboro Plaza, 45th Road-Court House Square, Hunters Point Avenue and Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue. The MTA says workers have a short window to finish the necessary system upgrades, and they are doing it now to avoid doing work during the peak summer sports season, when the 7 line is used heavily by Mets fans and U.S. Open spectators. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
NY1
01/29/2010 08:16 PM Au Bon Pain Opens In St. George Ferry Terminal By: Amanda Farinacci http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/8293/53897785.jpg After years of struggling to find tenants to move into the recently-renovated Staten Island Ferry Terminal, a new Au Bon Pain restaurant opened on Friday. Borough Reporter Amanda Farinacci filed the following report. With more than 20,000 square feet and 21 million commuters passing through its doors last year, the Staten Island Ferry Terminal would seem to be an easy place to attract retailers. But tough economic times have kept most of the dozen available retail spaces vacant since the terminal was renovated five years ago. Yet the logjam broke on Friday, the terminal welcomed its newest tenant, Au Bon Pain. "This 1,120-square-feet cafe is not only the first new retail tenant at the terminal in years, it's also Au Bon Pain's first outlet on Staten Island," said Seth Pinsky of the Economic Development Corporation. The rush to open the new terminal meant some infrastructure work was not completed inside the retail space. The city's Economic Development Corporation took over in 2007, promising to finish the job. But it wasn't until late last year that the storefronts were ready for tenants after the borough president's office paid for the final work. Au Bon Pain brings 35 new jobs to Staten Island, with 31 of them filled by residents. "Today is a day that we all looked forward to, and it was said by many that it would never happen, but it's happening and it's here and we're moving forward," said Borough President James Molinaro. The terminal has signed agreements with eight other tenants -- including a deli, pretzel shop, juice and ice cream shop and a Subway Sandwich shop -- to open in the next six months. The EDC is still looking for tenants to fill the last three spaces. Local leaders had hoped mom-and-pop shops from Staten Island would move in but that has not happened. "I guess the rents were still a little too high, or the costs for the utilities. However, it didn't work out, so this was the next best step," said Congressman Michael McMahon. Ferry riders told NY1 that filling the retail space inside the terminal has been a long time coming, and they are happy to finally see some progress. "There's a lot of business around here to be made, so it's good they got this Au Bon Pain," said resident Mike Parker. "All of this, this is good, I love this. This is good, it looks like Manhattan a little bit over here. When all of the retail space is fully-rented, the EDC expects they will bring the city about $1.5 million a year. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
NY1
Updated 01/29/2010 09:23 PM Newark Flight Diverted Over No-Fly Passenger List Scare By: NY1 News http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/4318/15512253.jpg Government officials say a Continental Airlines flight originating at Newark Liberty Airport was diverted mid-flight because the name of one of the passengers was a false match with somebody on the terror watch list. After Flight 881 landed in Jacksonville, Fla., a law enforcement officials said the passenger was not a match to the no-fly list. The passenger was cleared by the FBI and the flight continued on to Bogota, Colombia, its final destination. Airlines are not supposed to issue a boarding pass to a person on the no-fly list. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
Some updated photos of construction progress on the new LIRR station below Grand Central from the MTA, via Second Avenue Sagas:
http://secondavenuesagas.com/wp-cont...01/Cavern1.jpg http://secondavenuesagas.com/wp-cont...01/Cavern2.jpg http://secondavenuesagas.com/wp-cont...01/Cavern3.jpg http://secondavenuesagas.com/wp-cont.../01/Tunnel.jpg And here's a video of the tunnel boring machine breaking through the end of the tunnel for the 7 train extension, via gothamist: |
New M-8 cars for Metro North will soon begin testing and should be put in service starting this summer.
From the MTA: Quote:
http://www.mta.info/news/stories/ima...%20in%20NH.jpg http://www.mta.info/news/stories/ima...20interior.jpg A bit aesthetically challenged, IMHO, but better looking than anything NJT puts on the rails. |
They wouldn't look so bad without those rooftop HVAC protrusions and a little finessing of the front end. At least they tried to go bold with the NH livery.
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It's gonna be sad to see the old M2 Cosmos be phased out...
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These are long overdue
02/01/2010 05:56 PM
MTA Expands Arrival Alerts In The Bronx By: NY1 News http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/540/85511490.jpg Subway riders in the Bronx now know exactly when the next train will arrive. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has added countdown clocks to the Buhre Avenue and Middletown Road stations on the 6 line. The clocks show the number of minutes until the next two trains arrive, and give real-time messages about delays and other transit information. Signs are located on the platforms and outside of the turnstiles. Countdown clocks were installed in five other stations along the 6 line late last year. The MTA says it hopes to have the clocks installed in 152 stations by early 2011. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
Updated 4:30 PM
Local Leaders: MTA Can Take Action To Prevent Service Cuts By: NY1 News http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/3851/64508511.jpg Elected officials, labor leaders and transit advocates said today that there are ways to prevent the massive service cuts the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has planned, a day after the agency unveiled that its financial situation is even worse than before. The group gathered with straphangers this morning in Lower Manhattan to call for people to vent their frustration and demand action. They met at the Broad Street station where the M train stops, but possibly not for much longer. The M line is one of two lines on the chopping block, along with several bus routes and free student MetroCards. But community leaders say the agency can lessen the severity of cuts by redirecting stimulus funds to operating costs. "Boarding up and shutting down the M line doesn't make sense," said Transit Workers Union President John Samuelsen. "Making our children pay bus and subway fares to go to school doesn't make sense. Subjecting four-million New Yorkers to significantly longer waits at bus and subway stops doesn't make sense." "When the stimulus federal money was distributed, the federal government realized that New York and other jurisdictions would unfortunately most likely have operating shortfalls. That's why the law explicitly allows this, in a transparent way, to happen," said City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. Despite the calls to move the money to the operating budget, MTA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jay Walder has said money in the capital budget would remain there. The agency announced yesterday it is facing a $400 million budget gap this year, as the payroll tax that was supposed to help pay transit bills came up short. That tax was implemented as part of the state Legislature's MTA bailout last year. Meanwhile, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said all this could have been avoided if the state had adopted his congestion pricing plan to put tolls on East River bridges and charge drivers for coming into Manhattan during peak periods, with the money raised going to mass transit. "We could have improved the safety and the quality and the frequency and reliability of mass transit in the city while at the same time unclogging our streets. That didn’t fly," said the mayor. "Maybe the state will take it up and adopt it as their own and that’s fine with me. But they have to come up with some ways to fund the MTA or the MTA will have to raise rates dramatically or cut service dramatically or more likely some combination of the two." Riders say they have had enough. "It's the same old story over and over again," said one straphanger. "They bring out the same threats and then they do some of them, they don't do some of them. You can't take them seriously, but at the same time, we're worried about the cuts." "We thought we were going to get better service and we're not," said another rider. "I don't know what to say anymore. It's just disgusting." The agency has said it does not plan to raise fares this year, but is planning to raise fares by 7.5 percent next year. Meanwhile, the state's economic projections are growing even bleaker. Governor David Paterson says the projected deficit for the next fiscal year has jumped from $7.4 billion to more than $8 billion since he unveiled his budget last month. He blames the widening gap on the recession, which has caused tax revenues to dip and demand for Medicaid to rise. Paterson will unveil a proposal to make up the new gap next week. In a separate report, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says the governor's budget relies on unrealistic revenue projections and savings assumptions. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
Crain's
February 16, 2010 3:52 PM Outcry emerges for 41st St. stop on new 7-line Construction industry and powerful real estate group launch effort, including Web-based petition, to support the construction of the once-proposed station. The real estate and construction industries have started a full-court press, including a Web-based petition, to resurrect plans to build a stop at West 41st and Ninth Avenue for the extension of the No. 7 train line. Over the weekend, the Real Estate Board of New York launched a Web site http://www.BuildTheStation.com so people could sign a petition to encourage elected officials to finance the stop. Currently, the line will only include one new stop, at West 34th Street. This week, both residential and commercial brokers are expected to ask tenants in buildings on the far West side near West 42nd Street to sign petitions. There were plans to build a shell for a station on West 41st Street and then go back and build out the stop. However, a couple of months ago, plans to build the shell were abandoned. Steven Spinola, president of REBNY, says a lot of area residents don't even know the plan to build the shell have been abandoned so the petition is an attempt to raise awareness and spur people to contact local officials. “We've been told it would cost a lot more money to go back and build the station later,” Mr. Spinola said. |
Is this group planning to do fundraising as well? As far as I can tell, the 41st St station was axed because of funding limitations, not out of caprice or malice.
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This is a case where the industry is actually pushing for something in the common good. I urge everyone to sign the petition. A 7 line extension with only the one station is a waste of taxpayer money. |
I posted this info in the Hudson Yards forum but I think it should go here too. I signed the petition and very much believe the decision to not even build the station shell is stupid and shortsighted, but I wonder if it's already too late. The TBMs are scheduled to finish digging by this summer and the station entrance site has a new building going up on it. If anything, the amount of money it would take to now build the station is probably much higher than the estimate from a few years ago.
From the NY Times: Quote:
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NY1
Updated 03/01/2010 06:45 PM Roosevelt Island Tram Shuts Down For Renovation Roosevelt Island residents will have to use alternate transportation to get across the East River for the next six months. The Roosevelt Island tram shut down early Monday morning for major repairs. The $25 million project will replace the tram cabins and cables and will run on a "dual-haul" system, which allows each tram to operate independently in case of malfunction or maintenance. Currently, they both must travel at the same time. Officials say the work is long overdue. "It works fine, and we haven't had a problem since April 2006 when the tram got stuck over the river, but it's an aging machine, it's harder and harder to get parts, more parts break down, and pieces of it are showing big signs of wear," said Steve Shane, vice president of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. "It's been in operation since 1976 and after 33.5 years, it really needs to be overhauled like any complicated piece of machinery." The incident in 2006 stranded dozens of riders over the East River for hours. That mechanical failure sparked the talk for this new set of renovations. Some Roosevelt Island residents said they still question the need for the overhaul. "There is no need to replace the tram, spend $25 million of the state's money on a project that is essentially a boondoggle,” said Frank Farance of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association. While the F train does stop on the island for its 14,000 residents, they say they expect more crowded trains and longer commute times. The four-minute tram ride carries two-million people a year. "It's going to be terrible. It's going to be awful,” said a Roosevelt Island resident. “It's going to add at least a half hour to my commute, which is already long." "We hope it's only six months and not, you know, nine months or a year before it comes back,” said another. “I have doubts.” In addition to the F train and the Q102 bus, shuttle service to Manhattan and Queens Plaza has been added. As for the old tram cabins, an official from the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation says one may stay on the island as a historical exhibit. The other could wind up at a museum. For more information on the repair work, go to RIOC.com. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
Associated Press
JFK runway closure to rattle nerves, wallets NEW YORK – One runway, a whole lot of problems. The main runway at New York's John F. Kennedy International will be closed for four months starting March 1. Millions of travelers will experience delays — including some not flying anywhere near the Big Apple. With about one-third of JFK's traffic and half of its departures being diverted to three smaller runways, planes will wait on longer lines on the ground for takeoffs and in the air for landings. Delays at one of the nation's largest airports will ripple to cities across the U.S., including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Orlando. Passengers using JFK also face another headache — higher ticket prices. JetBlue, American, Delta and other airlines have cut their schedules by about 10 percent for the shutdown period. They can raise prices because there will be a smaller number of seats to meet demand. JFK's Bay Runway, at 14,572 feet, is one of the longest commercial runways in the world. It's a backup landing spot for the space shuttle, which has its next mission in April. The runway is being repaved with concrete instead of less-durable asphalt and widened to accommodate today's bigger planes. The project will affect at least the first month of the peak travel season, which officially starts on Memorial Day. But the chosen four-month period was picked because it's the driest in the New York area, making weather-related construction delays less likely. Of course, prompt completion isn't certain. A similar runway repair in Minneapolis last year created thousands of delays when it was slowed by unseasonably wet weather. JFK is already one of the nation's most delay-plagued airports. It ranked 28th out of 31 major airports in 2009 in on-time performance, according to the Department of Transportation. A delay at JFK, especially one early in the morning, can push back flights across the U.S. The longest delays occur at peak hours — from about 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. ET and between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. The airlines and the airport are making adjustments. Besides cutting flights, airlines are adding time into their schedules. So although flights may take longer, more won't necessarily be considered late. Still, Mike Sammartino of the Federal Aviation Administration expects delays at JFK will be about 50 minutes during peak times and 29 minutes on average — similar to busy summer days. Sammartino also says JFK officials have added new taxi ways at angles that allow planes to go from terminal to takeoff more quickly. He noted that the FAA and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which are financing the $376 million project, began planning the shutdown in early 2009. JetBlue, the biggest carrier at the airport, said it expects some "operational challenges," but that its reduced flight schedule should help alleviate congestion. However, for passengers on network carriers like Delta and American the delays will likely be worse, said Lance Sherry, executive director for the Center for Air Transportation Systems Research at George Mason University. JetBlue already tends to avoid the rush hours at JFK. And it has fewer connecting flights, which push delays across the country. Even if you avoid big delays, you could face higher fares. George Hobica of Airfarewatchdog.com said some fares are up significantly for the March-June period. For example, the lowest published fares for flights between JFK and Los Angeles International Airport through June 20 range between $278 and $298 roundtrip. That's up from $198 to $218 recently. Delays and higher fares will affect Los Angeles travelers the most because the city is the most popular domestic destination from JFK, followed by San Francisco and Orlando. Airfares usually rise as spring approaches. But the lowest published fare from LaGuardia, just 8 miles west of JFK, is $100 cheaper for a connecting flight in the same time period — a more significant gap than normal. Nonstop flights to the West Coast aren't available from LaGuardia. The shutdown also affects the coordination of flights, and the people who make sure the planes take off and land safely. Steve Abraham says he and his fellow JFK air traffic controllers must learn how to move aircraft efficiently without the use of their biggest runway. That could add more time to takeoffs and landing, at least initially. Fifty percent of the controllers at JFK have less than 4 years of experience. "It's like renting a car in England — you know how to drive but you're driving on the other of the road," Abraham said. "I know how to say 'clear for take off' but I'm just doing it in a configuration that I'm not used to." JFK airport officials opted for the four-month total shutdown rather than a construction schedule that included overnight work for 2 to 3 years. That's a move Abraham says air traffic controllers support. "I'd much rather inconvenience people for four months than for two years." |
WNBC-TV
Double Trouble: Two Children Took to JFK Controls Two kids directed air traffic on consecutive days in February By JENNIFER BROCKMAN and TIM MINTON Updated 7:37 PM EST, Wed, Mar 3, 2010 The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating why two children were allowed to direct air traffic at John F. Kennedy airport, one of the busiest airports in the country. The FAA says a controller brought children to work on two occasions last month -- on Feb. 16th and 17th -- and allowed them to talk to pilots. The controller and a supervisor have since been suspended. "Pending the outcome of our investigation, the employees involved in this incident are not controlling air traffic," the FAA said in a statement. "This behavior is not acceptable and does not demonstrate the kind of professionalism expected from all FAA employees." The agency declined to comment beyond the statement. The recordings — made during a weeklong winter break for many New York schoolchildren — were posted last month on a Web site for air traffic control-listening aficionados. In audio recordings captured by www.liveatc.net, the young kid could be heard clearing planes for take off and landing. At one point the child even has fun with an Air Mexico flight, saying, "Adios." (listen to the entire exchange above or here) The adult controller accompanying the child, and the controller's supervisor have both been suspended while authorities investigate. Neither employee has been identified and the child's age has not been revealed. Below is a transcript of an excerpt of the audio recordings as the child talks to different pilots: Child: "171 cleared for take off." Pilot: "Clear for take off JetBlue 171" Child: "Let's see your Air Mexico 403 Kennedy, runway through left position and hold." Pilot: "Going to hold Air Mexico 403." Unknown: "This is what you get guys when the kids are out of school." Unknown: "Wish I could bring my kid to work." Child: "JetBlue 171 contact departure." Unknown: "Over to departure JetBlue 171, awesome job." Child: "03 clear for take off." Early this morning, Dough Church with the Air Traffic Controllers' National Union released a statement saying, "We do not condone this type of behavior in any way. It is not indicative of the highest professional standards that controllers set for themselves and exceed each and every day in the advancement of aviation safety." First Published: Mar 3, 2010 7:25 AM EST © 2010 NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. |
NY1
03/09/2010 11:05 AM Repairs On 7 Train Finish Ahead Of Schedule By: NY1 News Long Island City residents will be happy to hear that the Number 7 train will be back on track this weekend. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has finished repairs on the subway line earlier than expected. It was initially estimated the work would last until next month. The project to replace tracks and switches had shut down weekend service between Queens and Manhattan. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
NY1
Updated 03/11/2010 08:26 PM Woman Crushed By 6 Train On Upper East Side By: NY1 News A 48-year-old woman was struck and killed Thursday by a northbound 6 train on the Upper East Side. It happened around 3:45 p.m. inside the 77th Street station at Lexington Avenue. Police say the unidentified woman apparently climbed down to the tracks to retrieve a bag. Witnesses say as the train came rolling into the station, people waiting on the platform began yelling at the woman to lie down. Instead, the victim became trapped between the wall and the train. "According to the signs that are in the subway, they ask you, if you drop an item onto the tracks, do not try to retrieve it. You go to the station agent and then they'll try to retrieve the item that you drop. You just shouldn't do it," said one witness. Police say the conductor blew the train's horn when entering the station. A passenger onboard also pulled the emergency break. Service on the 6 line was disrupted for a time during rush hour, but has since been restored. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
NY1
03/13/2010 11:11 AM MTA Reportedly Considers Wireless Internet For Trains By: NY1 News Wireless Internet may soon be coming to commuters on Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road. According to the New York Post, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is asking developers to submit plans on how the service would be installed and operated. The MTA is also reportedly looking to make Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station wireless, but it is unclear whether the service would be fee based. The LIRR waiting room at Pennsylvania Station is already equipped with Wi-Fi access. Documents obtained by the Post show the agency does not intend to pay for the service, opting instead to have the company chosen for the project decide whether or not to charge commuters for the service. A source told the paper that officials would like to have the service up and running by the end of the year. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
NY1
Updated 12:32 PM TLC Officials Uncover Cab Drivers' Alleged Price-Gouging Scheme By: NY1 News http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/4599/87311155.jpg The Taxi and Limousine Commission has discovered that some city cab drivers bilked passengers out of more than $8 million over the last two years. The TLC said some cab drivers were switching the rate code for trips within the city to a higher code that is only supposed to be used for trips outside the five boroughs. When the higher code is used, the rate doubles from 40 cents per one-fifth of a mile to 80 cents. The TLC made the discovery using Global Positioning System technology and said the scam was primarily done by a small number of drivers who did it repeatedly. City officials said more than 35,000 drivers illegally charged a rider at least once and 3,000 drivers were found to have doubled the meter rate more than 100 times. The mayor said on Friday that the drivers could face serious charges. However, the New York Taxi Workers Alliance blamed the same GPS technology, calling it a "systematic failure" with no actual witnesses to the allegations. "It is so bad for the driver. It is more stressful and it is more ticketing for the driver and sometimes it's the technology that fails and it's not the drivers fault," said Javaid Tariq, the co-founder of the Taxi Workers Alliance. The difference amounted to between $4 to $5 more per trip. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
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Updated 1:25 PM TLC Equips Cabs With New Fare Setting Alert By: Vivian Lee http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/9793/79024110.jpg The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission has equipped more than 5,000 cabs with a new system to alert riders if they are being charged an out of town rate. The move comes after the TLC announced thousands of drivers bilked passengers out of more than $8 million over the last two years. They say some cabbies were switching the rate code for trips within the city to a higher code that's only supposed to be used for trips outside the five boroughs. When the higher code is used, the rate doubles from 40 cents per one fifth of a mile to 80 cents. The large red-lettered alert will appear on the in-taxi television screen when the rate changes to the out-of-town rate. The rate box will also read "4" instead of the "1" displayed in the city. Passengers traveling within the city who see this alert are asked to report the incident to 311. Those who spoke with NY1 said they support the new warning. "I'm wondering why it wasn't done before," said one traveler. "It's a good idea because it will help you from getting overcharged," said another. "But at the same time, the cabbie should be putting the right rate up there in the first place." Some cab drivers said they favor the alert as well, because they sometimes accidentally hit the wrong button on the meter and activate the wrong rate. "Unfortunately sometimes you press the higher rate and it jumps straight to four," said a taxi driver. "And there is no way you can reverse that." The rest of the city's 13,000 cabs are expected to be equipped with the warning system over the next few days. In addition, the TLC is working on an audio component to warn riders of the fare hike. A longer-term solution that would keep drivers from manually changing the meter is also said to be in the works. However, a spokesperson for the New York Taxi Workers Alliance says no problem existed until the city required the installation of the new TV screens and meters. "By not acknowledging the malfunctions and failures of the meter, the TLC is continuing to just scapegoat the drivers and not offer the public a real solution," said NY Taxi Workers Alliance Executive Director Bhairavi Desai. ". . . These problems started only with the new meters which were overloaded by the TV screens, credit card reader, text message box and GPS tracking software. Basically, it wasn't broke until they fixed it." Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
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Updated 03/17/2010 11:37 PM MTA To Postpone Vote On Student MetroCards By: NY1 News The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has decided to postpone a vote on whether to eliminate free and discounted MetroCards for city students. MTA Chairman Jay Walder made the announcement Wednesday night while meeting with dozens of students at the agency's headquarters in Midtown. "I also want to take away any confusion about whether or not this will be dealt with at the board meeting on March 24th. There is no need to deal with it at the board meeting on March 24th," Walder said. "We'd like to leave additional time, as much time as possible for discussion with the city and the state." Many students who attended the meeting say they cannot afford to pay for MetroCards and want the city, state and MTA to come up with a solution. "We want the state and the city to bring new revenue sources that can keep flowing in and this is for the broader budget," said one student. "President Obama has stated that by the year 2020 he wants the U.S. to have the highest graduation rates in the world. How will be achieve that goal if the largest school district in the country will prevent low income students the opportunity to travel to the schools that give them the best opportunity to graduate?" asked another student. The agency says it's struggling to close a nearly $800 million budget gap and simply can't afford the $214 million it costs to give students free MetroCards. "We can no longer cover for the state and the city in regard to these free student fares. Free student fares should be a city and a state responsibility," Walder said. When asked about the fate of student MetroCards Wednesday, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the city is already doing it's part. "The state cut back the subsidies and cut back the monies they give to the MTA. The MTA, Jay Walder -- I'm sympathetic. He's got to balance his budget," said the mayor. The MTA plan not only calls for cutting the free MetroCards, but to charge students half fare. "We would start to collect revenue from the students. That would, in fact, reduce the shortfall," Walder said. Walder says he was impressed with the students and that a vote on the MetroCard program is not likely until at least June. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
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Updated 03/19/2010 11:19 PM MTA Revises Plans To Cut Transit Service http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/7275/24899372.jpg By: NY1 News The Metropolitan Transportation Authority proposed Friday to take 11 bus lines off the budget chopping block and extend the M train to replace the discontinued V subway line. MTA officials said while their agency has a $758 million deficit, they proposed eliminating $8 million in service cuts in response to the large public outcry raised at nine statewide budget hearings. In the Bronx, the Bx18 bus, which has the borough's fourth-highest ridership, is no longer going to be eliminated. In Brooklyn, the partial elimination of the B4 and B13 bus routes have been scrapped. The M22 bus in Manhattan will not have its weekend service nor its service west of City Hall eliminated. In Queens, service will be partially restored on the Q14 and Q42 buses. On Staten Island, the S52 bus will cover much of the S42 route, and the S66 bus will pick up some of the route of the discontinued S60. The M subway train will change from the brown line to the orange line and will be extended to replace part of the discontinued V train. Originally, the MTA had proposed keeping and extending the V train. However, the restored services carry a price. The Bx18 bus will cost $1.2 million to run a year, the M22 bus will cost $1 million a year, the B4 and Q42 buses will each cost $800,000 a year and the S52 bus will cost $200,000 a year. Commuters across the five boroughs expressed gratitude Friday when they heard about the modified service cuts. "It's cool that people fought for the bus because without it, elderly people can't commute to work. We have little kids that need to get to school. Without it, it wouldn't be possible," said one transit user. "I'm ecstatic. Can you imagine walking down that hill in the snow, Much less going up?" said another. "It's unbelievable. It's really the right decision." "They should keep every line they can. Without buses and mass transit, people have to scramble," said a third. As of late Friday, the MTA would not say where the money for the service restorations would come from. The MTA Board would still need to approve the proposed changes and $93 million in proposed cuts during an upcoming meeting on Wednesday. Modified MTA Service Reductions Brooklyn Buses • B4 – Service between Sheepshead Bay and Coney Island Hospital reduced to 6-9 a.m., 2-7 p.m. • B13 – Service west of Wyckoff Hospital discontinued. Bronx Buses • Bx14 – Discontinued, Bx8 goes along path to Pelham Bay Park subway station. • Bx18 – Cut service restored. • Bx33 – Cut service restored. Manhattan Buses • M22 – Service unchanged weekdays, reduced on weekends, discontinued overnight. Queens Buses • Q14 – Discontinued, serviced by two-branch service on Q15 • Q42 – Service only during peak hours. Staten Island Buses • S42 – Discontinued, S52 to cover majority of route, including service along Clyde Place branch from 5-8:45 a.m., 3 p.m.-12 a.m. • S60 – Discontinued, S66 to service route only on weekdays • X1 – Reduced peak-hour service retained, all peak-hour service to terminate at 23rd Street. • X6 – Discontinued. • X9 – Service retained during peak periods. • X2, X3, X4, X5, X7, X8 – Revised service to accommodate former X1 and X6 riders. Subway • M line – Service between Forest Hills-71st Avenue to Metropolitan Avenue would be designated the “M” line, instead of the “V.” The MTA will represent the M line as orange, as it’s a Sixth Avenue route in Manhattan. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
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Updated 12:35 PM MTA Board Passes Transit Service Cuts By: NY1 News Despite vocal public opposition, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board approved a series of proposed service cuts in a Midtown meeting, which will end the W and V subway lines and more than 20 bus lines. By the 11-2 vote, the MTA Board passed what they deemed to be necessary cuts to help the agency reduce a budget deficit of nearly $800 million and achieve a balanced budget by the new fiscal year in summer, as required by law. "Nobody likes this vote. It's obviously a very painful vote, and I don't think there's anyone sitting around this table that would take it likely. It's a vote that affects a lot of people's lives," said MTA Vice Chairman Andrew Saul. "But we must also be realistic here. There will be no outside help from the city, the state and from the counties, and therefore we must squeeze every nickel that we can out of our own resources." Other board members, including Norman Seabrook and Allen Cappelli, said the MTA has not yet explored all options to cut spending. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn told the MTA Board that a petition signed by 40,000 people that she presented two weeks ago represented a "drop in the bucket" of the number of city straphangers who are opposed to the proposed cuts. To alleviate some of the effects of the loss of the W line, the Q train would be extended to Astoria, Queens. The M train will be merged with the V line, but M service in southern Brooklyn and lower Manhattan will be eliminated. Service would also be reduced on several other lines as a cost saver. Bus riders in all five boroughs will be affected, with more than 20 lines set for complete elimination and many others facing shortened routes. Some lines are being extended to make up the difference. The rebate for Queens residents for the Cross Bay Bridge has also been eliminated. Of the 34 members of the public who spoke at the meeting, most expressed objections to MTA staff layoffs, service cuts and fare increases. Republican Brooklyn-Queens State Senator Martin Golden noted how fare jumpers tax the MTA's resources and how seniors in his district would be affected by bus service cuts. Another speaker, a former MTA station agent who was laid off two years ago said she could not understand why the agency did not use capital funds to maintain staff. "I see you all have it made. You cannot relate to me," she said. Yet another MTA staff member asked all current and former station agents attending the meeting to raise their hands if they had helped save a life, to show the board the importance of staffed subway stations. Riders got some good news last week when the MTA announced service cuts were being scaled back, but the decision will cost the agency $8 million in savings. MTA officials said the ideas to scale back the cuts came from public hearings held in the five boroughs. A controversial proposal to cut student MetroCards will be dealt with in June, to allow the city and state more time to find funding. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
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Updated 1:11 PM Subway Security Increased After Moscow Bombings http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/3732/76858615.jpg By: NY1 News The New York City Police Department ramped up its security underground this morning following news of a deadly suicide bombing inside the Moscow subway system. At least 36 were killed and dozens more injured in the rush hour attacks in Russia's capital city. Officials say they believe the attacks were carried out by two female bombers from the Caucasus region. The twin attacks were carried out 45 minutes apart. The first station hit is located underneath the offices of a main KGB agency. Russian immigrants living in the Brighton Beach section of Brooklyn say they are frantically trying to get in touch with friends and family back home. "It's very close to my former home, it's a wonderful area, populated. I mean, I'm horrified, what else can I say? It's very sad," said one Russian immigrant. "It's terrible. Now I'm rushing from Brighton Beach to Manhattan to my office to call Moscow to find out if all of my friends and relatives are still alive," said another. Meanwhile, the New York City Police Department says it is beefing up subway security with special units wearing helmets and body armor as a precaution. Straphangers who spoke with NY1 say it is better safe than sorry. "I think it's good that we're stepping it up, I hope it doesn't slow anything down because it's kind of ridiculous, with traveling to the airport and all the security they have there, hope it doesn't become like that in the subway," said one straphanger. "We should have more security. I mean we still have our threats, and I think they're doing a great job and I hope they keep doing it, and don't take them for granted," said another. This is the first terrorist attack in Moscow since 2004. Those attacks were also linked to Islamic separatists from the Caucasus region. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
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Updated 12:38 PM Multi-Agency Training Exercise Held At Transit Hubs By: Vivian Lee http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/406/24621208.jpg Commuter hubs in Manhattan were packed with a heavy police presence this morning, as part of a multi-agency training exercise. Approximately 100 New York City Police Department officers joined members of the Amtrak, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Port Authority and New Jersey Transit Police forces, as well as members of the National Guard and the Transportation Security Administration for the drill. The exercise took place at Penn Station, Grand Central Terminal and Herald Square. The aim was to coordinate a highly-visible police presence in transit hubs. “We're coordinating all of our efforts, using baggage teams, canine teams, plainclothes in counter surveillance,” explained NYPD Inspector Martin Conway. The officers say it’s a good way to get to know the other agencies they may be working with. "Working together it develops a real working relationship with the other agencies so that God forbid there was another attack, we would have that working relationship already in effect; we wouldn't be getting to know each other at an event,” said Conway. Officials say the drill was scheduled prior to the Moscow and Dagestan subway bombings. But commuters say in light of the recent incident, they feel more comfortable having the increased police presence. "It may happen here, right?" said one traveler. "It actually calms me down because I know they're here," said another. "It's more safe when they're here. It's more commotion when they're not." This was the second training exercise this month and the 42nd of this kind since 2008. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
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Updated 1:14 PM MTA Vows To Fix Subway Surveillance Cameras By: NY1 News http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/7206/90997546.jpg In the wake of Sunday's fatal double subway stabbing, Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials say they are working on almost doubling the number of functional cameras in subway stations. In a statement issued Tuesday, MTA officials said that there are 2,270 operating cameras in the subway and that another 910 will be working by June. Eventually, the MTA plans to have 4,313 working cameras in the subway system, and the agency says funding will come from its capital program. "A lot of those cameras don't work and someday maybe we're going to get very badly hurt because of it," said one city straphanger. The MTA says its top priority is the safety and security of its riders. Meanwhile, police have posted fliers at Manhattan's Christopher Street station requesting help from the public. Investigators believe the attacker or attackers got off a Brooklyn-bound 2 train at the station after stabbing three men during a fight, killing Darnell Morel, 24, and Ricardo Williams, 24. MTA officials say the token booth on the southbound side of the station was closed last year because of budget cuts, meaning there were no station agents who might have caught a glimpse of the killer. The Christopher Street Station does not have working security cameras. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
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03/31/2010 06:21 PM Feud Erupts Over Subway Ad Campaign By: NY1 News http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/1889/89465462.jpg A fight is brewing between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Working Families Party over a subway ad campaign criticizing City Hall. The suggestive parody signs featuring edgy acronyms mimic official service-change bulletins. The ads slam Mayor Michael Bloomberg for not stepping up for straphangers through the MTA's ongoing fiscal crisis. The Working Families Party was hoping to post them throughout the transit system, but officials have refused to display the signs on subways and buses. However, the agency says the posters are a great example of the exposure the New York City transit system can give to its advertisers. The party is mulling a lawsuit challenging the agency's decision on the grounds it violates free speech. A spokesman for the mayor's office says the Working Families Party should be directing their anger toward state lawmakers who haven't been able to come up with a successful source of funding for the MTA. The authority is battling a nearly $800 million budget gap. Service cuts are set to go into affect this summer. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
:previous: I think it's somewhat coy of the WFP to complain about subway costs when they basically are a front party for the municipal unions and would scream bloody murder if the MTA were to even contemplate cutting one single job/benefit. Gov Chris Christie in NJ basically outlined how municipal workers benefits are sinking the state and it's services, and NY's in the same boat.
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NY1
04/05/2010 09:39 PM MTA Opens New UWS Subway Entrance Quote:
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04/14/2010 10:44 AM MTA Vendors Agree To Rate Reductions By: NY1 News Looking for ways to save money, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has asked many of its top vendors if they could get a break. And of the 50 vendors they asked, 43 agreed, either by lowering rates or altering contracts to save the MTA some money. The reworked deals are expected to save the MTA about $70 million over five years. The approach was suggested by a team of consultants from Accenture, which told the MTA that companies are more likely to agree to concessions in exchange for more business when the economy improves. The MTA had been faced with a shortfall of almost $800 million, a number nearly cut in half with recent layoffs and service cuts. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
Updated 11:22 AM
MTA Supervisor Electrocuted In Rockaways By: NY1 News A Metropolitan Transportation Authority track supervisor was electrocuted on the Beach 90th Street Station in the Rockaways this morning. MTA officials said 13-year transit veteran James Knell, 45, came in contact with an electrified third rail around 4:30 a.m. while working on a station rehabilitation project. “We lost one of our own this morning and labeling this incident a tragedy is a painful statement of the obvious,” said MTA NYC Transit President Thomas F. Prendergast in a statement. Knell, an East Rockaway resident, is survived by a wife and two children, according to the MTA. Police and the MTA's Office of System Safety and Department of Subways are investigating the incident. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
04/27/2010 01:23 PM
City Officials Seek Federal Assistance For 7 Subway Extension By: NY1 News http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/3608/19556533.jpg Some New York officials will be traveling to Washington, D.C. tomorrow to try and get the federal government to cover the cost of another station for the 7 subway line extension. Members of the Real Estate Board of New York will meet with Vice President Joe Biden's staff tomorrow to ask the White House to provide $500 million to build a stop at 41st Street and 10th Avenue. The city is funding the $2 billion project but is only paying for a station at 34th Street and 11th Avenue. The 41st Street station was in the original plan, but was eliminated when costs escalated. Copyright © 2010 NY1 News. All rights reserved. |
04/29/2010 09:13 AM
Subway Operator Dies At The Controls Of G Train By: NY1 News Quote:
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04/30/2010 10:47 AM
City Looks To Expand Shared Taxi Program By: NY1 News http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/9270/73835286.jpg Quote:
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