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Crazy Man Attacks MTA Worker In Harlem

Posted by
on June 17th, 2019 at 2:47 am

Early Saturday morning, a crazy man attacked a MTA worker on the Manhattan-bound platform at the 145th Street train station. The unidentified Hispanic male was standing on the Bronx-bound platform when he began to shout at workers on the closed Manhattan-bound platform. He proceeded to exit the station & cross the street to enter on the Manhattan-bound side where he went over the turnstile & punched one of the workers.

Here is the brief video caught on tape:

Sadly these incidents continue to be an issue for transit workers whether above or underground & many do not make it to the media. More needs to be done to protect these workers as even the increase in penalties for assaulting workers has not deterred these crimes. Hopefully a solution can be found as soon as possible as enough is enough!

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Crime, Manhattan, Subway
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Metro North Development At Harrison

Posted by
on June 6th, 2019 at 5:53 pm

The MTA Metro-North is continuing its attempts to upgrade its system. The latest plan sees it branching out even further by teaming up with AvalonBay Communities to built its first transit oriented development at the Harrison Station. Both agencies held a groundbreaking ceremony. Here are more details:

MTA Metro-North Railroad and AvalonBay Communities, one of the nation’s leading multifamily builders, held a groundbreaking ceremony at the Harrison station today to mark the start of construction of a mixed-use development project on the south side of the station.

This transit oriented development project will be the first of its kind in the railroad’s system, and it will include a garage for commuters and the public, housing complex with 143 apartment units (7 of which are affordable units), 27,000 square feet of retail space, as well as two pedestrian plazas at the station. The garage will increase commuter parking by at least 218 spaces. Metro-North reached an agreement on the sale of the parcel of property to AvalonBay in April, allowing construction to begin.

Housed on a 3.28-acre site on the south side of the station along Halstead Avenue, the development intends to spark a downtown rebirth, serving as a catalyst for the revitalization of the Town/Village of Harrison.  This previously underutilized parcel of property presently contains a surface parking lot that is too small to meet current commuter demand.

Under the design completed by the developer, and approved by the Town/Village with input from Metro-North and MTA, the surface parking lot will be replaced by a series of pedestrian-oriented, four-story buildings lined with retail stores on the ground floor and apartments on the upper floors, including seven affordable apartments that will be subsidized by Westchester County.

A mixed-use building at the eastern end of the site will create a vibrant streetscape with direct entry for several town home units and residential amenities at street level. Its interior and upper stories would provide 598 spaces of structured parking, of which at least 475 would be reserved for the public and commuters, an 85% increase over the 257 Metro-North-owned parking spaces that exist today.

An additional 187 parking spaces for residents and 96 for retail customers will be located in another parking structure behind the first floor of the mixed retail/residential buildings on the western end of the site.  The existing parking spaces owned by the Town/Village of Harrison on the north side of the station are preserved for customers and will not be affected by construction or the project.

There will be closures of part of the parking lot during the construction process. Alternate will be provided, and customers will be diverted to the other lots within walking distance from the station.

The start of construction of the transit oriented development is the culmination of an extensive public process that involved meeting with community stakeholders, a request for proposals to build on the site, a review of construction plans, an environmental review, as well as a series of approvals from the MTA Board.

“Transit oriented development is a quadruple win: it’s a win for downtown revitalization and economic progress, it’s a win for the environment, it provides a new choice in housing opportunities, and it reinforces the MTA’s bottom line, which is a win for the public,” said MTA Chief Development Officer Janno Lieber. “I’m pleased that the MTA and AvalonBay are moving forward on this marquee project that we hope will set the bar for future transit-oriented development efforts in our region.”

“We are delighted to be proceeding with what promises to be a transformative project for Metro-North commuters and for the Town and Village of Harrison,” said Catherine Rinaldi, President of Metro-North Railroad. “When it’s fully realized, this green project will create a vibrant, walkable community, both reducing a reliance on cars and   enhancing the existing village hub. Our customers will have a much easier time finding parking at the station, and Harrison residents can enjoy new shopping options and an enlivened downtown. We hope this type of suburban transit-oriented development becomes a model for communities throughout the MTA region.”

Matthew Whalen, AvalonBay Senior Vice President for Development, spoke at the reception, saying: “It took a great deal of persistence and patience to arrive at this day. I want to thank Mayor Belmont and the executives at Metro-North for their support and encouragement throughout the process. We understand the importance of genuine partnership not only during the pre-construction and construction phases but going forward as well. AvalonBay intends to be a good corporate citizen here in Harrison, as we have been everywhere else in the New York metro area.”

I am curious to see how the agency handles this project especially in terms of getting involved with housing. I can’t say I am surprised at the lack of affordable housing being offered at the development. Of the 143 units, only 7 will be affordable housing aka it is probably the base amount needed for tax breaks for the developer. However that is a different issue for a different time!

xoxo Transit Blogger

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0

NYC Transit Memorial Day 2019 Service Info

Posted by
on May 21st, 2019 at 5:15 pm

Just a short time ago, MTA NYC Transit asked me to share its service plan information for the upcoming Memorial Day 2019 holiday weekend:

New York City Subway

On Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, the New York City Subway will operate on a Sunday schedule. As a reminder, some subway lines do not run on weekends and some trains will be rerouted due to pre-scheduled maintenance and upgrade work in our efforts to maintain and upgrade tracks, signals, stations and other infrastructure throughout the subway system.

Customers are advised to allow additional travel time and use the MYmta app to plan trips, view planned and unplanned service change information and see real-time anticipated arrival times.

New York City Buses

On Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, New York City buses will operate on a Sunday schedule. For the real-time position of buses on all bus routes, visit MTA’s Bus Time.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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LIRR Memorial Day 2019 Service Info

Posted by
on May 21st, 2019 at 5:11 pm

Just a short time ago the MTA Long Island Rail Road asked me to share its service plan information for the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend:

Kicking off the unofficial start to summer, the Long Island Rail Road is adding 10 extra trains from Penn Station on Friday, May 24, 2019, for customers planning an early getaway for the upcoming long weekend.

Over this Memorial Day weekend, the LIRR will operate on a regular weekend schedule on Saturday and Sunday and on a holiday schedule on Memorial Day, May 27. The LIRR is the best way to avoid traffic congestion on Long Island highways, and is the best route to beaches, barbeques, wine country, and other popular destinations. Also starting this
weekend, extra summer service on the Montauk Branch begins — full details on added service below.

The 10 extra Friday afternoon trains will depart from Penn Station at these times:

Babylon Branch

• 2:22 p.m. express to Rockville Centre, then making all local stops to Babylon.

• 2:32 p.m. express to Lynbrook, then making all local stops to Babylon.

• 3:00 p.m. stopping at Jamaica, Rockville Centre, then making all local stops to Babylon.

• 3:31 p.m. express to Rockville Centre, then making all local stops to Babylon.

Far Rockaway Branch

• 3:48 p.m. express to Locust Manor, then making all local stops to Far Rockaway.

Port Jefferson Branch

• 2:08 p.m. stopping at Jamaica, Mineola, then making all local stops to Huntington.

• 2:29 p.m. stopping at Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Jamaica, New Hyde Park, then making all local stops to Huntington.

• 3:24 p.m. stopping at Jamaica, Mineola, Westbury, and Hicksville.

Port Washington Branch

• 3:40 p.m. stopping at Woodside, Flushing Main Street, then making all local stops to Great Neck.

Ronkonkoma Branch

• 1:59 p.m. train stopping at Woodside, Jamaica, Mineola, Hicksville, then making all stops to Ronkonkoma.

Extra Summer Service Starts on the Montauk Branch

This weekend marks the beginning of a major summer service increase to the South Fork of Long Island via the LIRR’s Montauk Branch, with several extra eastbound trains running on
Fridays and extra westbound trains returning on Sundays.

• The LIRR offers two Friday-only trains designed for Fire Island-bound customers. These trains stop for Fire Island ferry connections at Bay Shore, Sayville and Patchogue.
Customers boarding at Penn Station can connect for these trains via the 7:39 a.m. Ronkonkoma Branch train (change at Jamaica for the Patchogue train), and the 10:54 Babylon train to Babylon (change at Babylon for the Patchogue train). Connections also available from Atlantic Terminal, Brooklyn.

• A Hamptons-bound train departs Hunterspoint Avenue at 1:47 p.m. and connects at Jamaica with the 1:42 p.m. train from Penn Station. The train will run express to Westhampton then make all stops to Montauk.

• The Cannonball, which departs Penn Station at 4:06 p.m., then runs express to Westhampton, Southampton, Bridgehampton, East Hampton and Montauk.

• Change at Jamaica for the 7:23 p.m. express train running to Patchogue, Mastic-Shirley, Westhampton, then all stops to Montauk. This train receives passengers from the 6:56
p.m. train from Penn Station, 6:59 p.m. train from Atlantic Terminal and 6:41 p.m. train from Hunterspoint Avenue.

Returning on Sunday night, the LIRR offers five extra Sunday night departures arriving in New York City between 1:26 p.m. and 8:27 p.m., including the westbound Cannonball which departs Montauk at 6:37 p.m., and an extra Monday morning train that departs Montauk at 7:28 a.m. and connects at Jamaica for a 10:34 a.m. arrival at Penn Station.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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0

Metro North Memorial Day 2019 Service Info

Posted by
on May 21st, 2019 at 5:03 pm

Just a short time ago, the MTA Metro-North released its service plan information for the upcoming Memorial Day 2019 holiday:

Metro-North has you covered with plenty of trains during the Memorial Day weekend. On Friday, May 24, the start of the Memorial Day weekend and unofficial start of summer, Metro-North has 17 extra getaway trains departing from Grand Central Terminal between 12:58 p.m. and 4:11 p.m. Some peak trains between 5:18 p.m. and 7:28 p.m. will be canceled/combined due to reduced ridership in this time period.

All extra and cancelled trains are shown in current timetables, the Metro-North Train Time app and online MTA.info.

Service details for the holiday weekend are below:

Friday, May 24

Harlem Line

Three extra “getaway” trains will depart from Grand Central at:

• 2:15 p.m., stopping at Harlem-125th Street, then all stations between Scarsdale and North White Plains.

• 3:13 p.m., stopping at Harlem-125th Street, then White Plains and North White Plains only.

• 3:37 p.m., stopping at Harlem-125th Street, White Plains, North White Plains, then all stations between Goldens Bridge and Southeast.

The following Harlem Line trains from Grand Central will not operate:

• The 5:28 p.m. to Southeast

• The 5:39 p.m. to Crestwood

• The 5:59 p.m. to Crestwood

• The 7:04 p.m. to North White Plains

• The 7:29 p.m. to North White Plains

Hudson Line

Five extra “getaway” trains will depart from Grand Central at:

• 1:38 p.m., stopping at Harlem-125th Street, Peekskill, Beacon, New Hamburg and Poughkeepsie.

• 2:38 p.m., stopping at Harlem-125th Street, Peekskill, Beacon, New Hamburg and Poughkeepsie.

• 3:11 p.m., stopping at Harlem-125th Street, then all stops between Tarrytown and Croton-Harmon.

• 3:45 p.m., stopping at Harlem-125th Street, Peekskill, Beacon, New Hamburg and Poughkeepsie

• 4:11 p.m., stopping at Harlem-125th Street, Peekskill, Beacon, New Hamburg and Poughkeepsie

Hudson Line Connecting Services

• The Hudson Rail Link will begin a peak level of buses at Spuyten Duyvil starting with the 2:20 p.m. train from Grand Central and at Riverdale starting with the 3:21 p.m. train from Grand Central.

• The Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry will have an early ferry trip that will meet the 3:11 p.m. train from Grand Central, which arrives in Ossining at 3:58 p.m. Since the 5:57 p.m. train will not operate, a 6:00 p.m. train from Grand Central, which arrives in Ossining at 6:53 p.m., will be met by the ferry. To accommodate this trip, the ferry will not meet the regular 6:22 p.m. train from Grand Central.

• The Newburgh-Beacon Ferry will have three early trips meeting the 2:43 p.m., 3:18 p.m. and 3:48 p.m. trains from Grand Central.

New Haven Line

Nine extra “getaway” trains will depart from Grand Central at:

• 12:58 p.m., stopping at Harlem-125th Street, Westport, and all stations between Fairfield and New Haven

• 2:01 p.m., stopping at Harlem-125th Street, Westport, and all stations between Fairfield and New Haven

• 2:28 p.m., stopping at Harlem-125th Street, Westport, and all stations between Fairfield and New Haven

• 2:31 p.m., stopping at Harlem-125th Street, New Rochelle, Larchmont, Mamaroneck and Harrison

• 2:56 p.m., stopping at Harlem-125th Street, Stamford then all stations between Noroton Heights and South Norwalk

• 2:59 p.m., stopping at Harlem-125th Street, New Rochelle, Larchmont, Mamaroneck and Harrison

• 3:26 p.m., stopping at Harlem-125th Street, New Rochelle, Larchmont, Mamaroneck and Harrison

• 3:29 p.m., stopping at Harlem-125th Street, Westport and all stations between Fairfield and New Haven

• 4:00 p.m., stopping at Harlem-125th Street, Stamford, and all stations between Bridgeport and New Haven

The following trains from Grand Central will not operate or are combined:

• The 5:18 p.m. train to Harrison and the 5:21 p.m. train to New Rochelle are combined, departing Grand Central at 5:21 p.m., stopping at Harlem-125th Street and all stations
between Mount Vernon East and Harrison.

• The 5:41 p.m. train to New Haven will not operate.

• The 5:57 p.m. train to Harrison and 6:02 p.m. to New Rochelle are combined, departing Grand Central at 6:02 p.m., making all stops between Mount Vernon East and Harrison

• The 6:07 p.m. train to New Haven and the 6:13 p.m. train to Bridgeport are combined, departing Grand Central at 6:13 p.m., stopping at Harlem-125th Street and all stations
between South Norwalk and New Haven.

• The 6:49 p.m. train to New Haven will not operate.

• The 7:09 p.m. train to Harrison will not operate.

Pascack Valley Line

The regularly scheduled Pascack Valley Friday-only train will depart Hoboken at 2:58 p.m., and stop at Secaucus Junction, select stations in New Jersey, and Pearl River, Nanuet and Spring Valley. Customers from Manhattan who are wishing to connect to this train should be on the 2:51 p.m. departure from Penn Station-NY to connect at Secaucus Junction. To accommodate this train, the 5:58 p.m. departure from Hoboken to Spring Valley will not operate.

Port Jervis Line

The regularly scheduled departure from Hoboken at 2:41 p.m., stopping at Secaucus Junction, and all stops between Suffern and Middletown/Town of Wallkill, will be extended to stop at Otisville and Port Jervis. Customers from Manhattan wishing to connect to this train should be on the 2:29 p.m. departure from Penn Station-NY to connect at Secaucus Junction. To
accommodate this service, the 6:15 p.m. departure from Hoboken to Port Jervis will not operate.

Saturday, May 25, to Monday, May 27 (Memorial Day)

On Saturday, May 25, and Sunday, May 26, a regular weekend schedule will be in effect.

On Monday, May 27, Memorial Day, a Sunday schedule will be in effect on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Lines.

Most connecting ferry and bus services will not operate on Memorial Day. However, the Hudson Link bus service will operate on a Saturday schedule.

Grand Central North will be closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Metro-North also has a special holiday weekend schedule in place for West of Hudson
customers.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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