MTA To Perform Repairs On 53rd St Tunnel
Yesterday, MTA NYC Transit announced that it will be performing signal modernization & repairs on the 53rd Street Tunnel that services the 
& 
. Here are more details via the press release the agency asked me to share with my readers:
MTA New York City Transit will be performing signal and power upgrades, and maintenance and repairs on signals, tracks and electrical infrastructure in and around the 53rd Street
lines as they all share track on one segment or another on either side of the tunnel.
“This intensive work in the under-river tunnel requires workers to have full access to the tracks, but it’s critical for daily reliability and for upgrading the decades-old signals to the latest modern system,” said MTA NYC Transit President Andy Byford. “We thank our customers for their patience – this work will result in more reliable trips for everyone who uses the
During the closure of the 53rd Street Tunnel, crews will be installing rails, plates, tie blocks and track ties, performing preventive switch maintenance, and upgrading communications, signals and electrical infrastructure, such as installing communications and power cables. Full implementation of CBTC on the Queens Boulevard Line will enable New York City Transit to address overcrowding and heavy subway ridership by operating subway trains more closely together, adding passenger capacity and more frequent service. CBTC is being installed in phases on local and express tracks serving the
The 53rd Street Tunnel work will be performed between Queens Plaza and 50 St-8 Av in Manhattan, from 4:45 a.m. on Wednesday, December 26, until 5 a.m. on Monday, December 31. Ridership is significantly lower during this holiday week compared to other weekdays, and the schedule’s efficiency means an entire month of weekend work can be accomplished in a single five-day period. Regularly scheduled service – with New Year’s Eve service enhancements – will be in place well before the festivities begin on December 31. A similar service change was in place on these dates last year for intensive Subway Action Plan work.
For service options during this planned work:
- Between Queens and Manhattan,
.
- There will be no subway service at Lexington Av/53 St
to 51 St.
- Customers traveling to and from the city airports may take the
train to Howard Beach-JFK for the AirTrain to John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Station signage has been posted to provide customer information and service alternatives, and extra customer service personnel will be posted at stations to help customers navigate the alternate service. A video detailing the service change is available here.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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Woman Arrested In Bronx Bus Slashings
Two days ago, I wrote about a woman with a service dog who slashed someone after they tried to pet their dog. In a further update to the story, not only was another person a victim in the incident, but the woman responsible for the slashing has now been arrested.
The person behind the attack was 37-year-old Schkema Young. In a big twist to the story, Schkema is proclaiming innocence on the basis she was the actual victim in the incident.
Jenna DeAngelis of CBS2 New York has more:
The woman accused of slashing two other women on an MTA bus in the Bronx says they attacked her first.
Police arrested 37-year-old Schkema Young who they say slashed a pair of passengers after getting into a fierce argument involving her dog.
It took 12 stitches to close up the wound where 20-year-old Demetria McClelland was allegedly cut on the arm by Young. Her girlfriend was also slashed across her face, leaving her with gruesome scars.
“My face is hurting, everything is just a blur to me right now and it’s just too much,” the unidentified woman said Monday night.
On top of the physical pain, the pair says they’re also overcome with fear.
“The situation is traumatizing because its scary to go back on the bus because what if something like that happens to somebody else,” McClelland said.
They were on board an MTA bus Monday afternoon along 149th Street near Morris Avenue when police say one of them went to pet Young’s dog.
“When I went to go touch it she got mad,” McClelland’s girlfriend said.” We ended up having a conflict, going back and forth arguing.”
The victim admits the woman set her off, and things got out of control.
“As soon as we was getting off the bus she said something about my girlfriend’s mom, so my girlfriend went back and after the altercation happened she pulled out a sharp object and started cutting my girlfriend and stabbing,” McClelland said.
Tuesday night, Young shared her side of the fight, claiming the wounds she inflicted came in self defense after the women went back to confront her again.
“Sorry for what? I’m innocent,” the assault suspect said while leaving the NYPD’s 40th Precinct in Mott Haven.
Click here for the complete report.
Even after hearing more details of the case, while I continue to not endorse the actions of Schkema Young, this situation probably would have never happened had someone not tried to touch a stranger’s dog. Use common sense!
xoxo Transit Blogger
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MTA Testing Countdown Clocks On SAS
So far the MTA’s Second Avenue Subway has been a success. The stations still look to be in great shape, ridership is strong & it has helped crowding somewhat along the Lexington Avenue lines. The only thing that has been missing for the first stage is the arrival countdown clocks seen throughout many NYC Subway stations.
The MTA is in the testing stage of adding the clocks along the Second Avenue Subway. Brendan Krisal of Patch has more:
UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Nearly two years after the celebrated debut of the Second Avenue Subway on the Upper East Side, the MTA is testing out subway arrival time displays in the Q line stations.
The clocks were installed during the week of Dec. 10 – and so far test’s have run into some issues. Commuters on the uptown end of the Q line are only offered information about the arrival of uptown trains.
On several occasions last week, clocks seen by a Patch reporter at East 86th and East 72nd street stations did not display arrival times for downtown trains. One observant commuter noted the problem on social media.
“It’s great that the countdown clocks at 86th Street on the Q are on, but what’s the point if it’s only showing times for 96th Street bound trains? I highly doubt many people here care about the trains going only one more stop uptown,” a Q line passenger wrote on Twitter, calling the new technology “useless” in a follow-up tweet.
The MTA insists that the displays are simply in a “test” period and that the correct information will be displayed by the end of 2018.
Click here for the complete report.
Now one can argue, why were the clocks not installed & ready at the launch of phase 1 of the Second Avenue Subway. To that point, I do agree as it would have made complete sense. Usually the installation of the clocks leads to service diversions due to the work needed to install them. So why did they not do the work while constructing the line and before the debut hence no diversions needed? Who knows, the agency has made bonehead decisions before.
However I do have to call out the Twitter user who complained about the clocks & calling it useless. While your point on paper makes sense, it only does on paper and no reality. The agency is in a testing phase so I rather they get it right before rolling it out for official use. If they rolled it out officially & it only displayed the info it does, then I would agree with your logic. The user just comes off as a typical person who wants to find something to complain about which is the trait of most miserable people.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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Dog Owner Slashes Woman On Bronx Bus
Just a few hours ago, a woman who was on a MTA bus with her dog slashed another woman in the face after she tried to pet her dog. The incident occurred shortly after 2PM near East 149th Street & Morris Avenue.
I love animals but I would never attempt to pet or come into contact with a stranger’s pet without asking permission. While I am not saying the woman was justified for slashing her because of it (as she was not), this is a situation that probably would have never happened if the victim used common sense.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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Bus Driver Stabbed By Another Bus Driver
During the holiday season, we can always expect people to have even more of a short fuse. Such was the case in lower Manhattan on Sunday afternoon when a tour bus driver stabbed another tour bus driver after an argument over a parking space!
The incident occurred by the corner of Pearl & State Streets. The driver was stabbed by an unknown object. After the dastardly action was done by the driver, he jumped back on his bus & drove away.
The names of the 2 drivers have not been released but cops say they know the identity of the driver responsible. I think it is safe to say he will be caught real soon & most likely out of a job.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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