Service Diversions 05-31-11
I have just updated the Service Diversions by removing all of the weekend work that wrapped up earlier today. The planned work for this week & beyond in some cases has been moved to the forefront.
I suggest printing out a copy before heading to your destination. If you have an internet capable handheld device, you can use it to access the mobile version of this site. The next update will be sometime on Thursday or Friday after I received the planned weekend diversions from the MTA directly.
As always, stay safe & have a wonderful week.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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Sunnyside Rail Hub To Be Overhauled
If you have ever rode Amtrak or especially the LIRR through the Sunnyside area of Queens, you would notice how many of the trains tend to crawl through at a snail’s place. This bottleneck mainly stems from older switches & functions that could use a serious upgrade. If the MTA has its way, these desires will become a reality.
The agency plans to use a federal government grant to cover $295M of the projected $368M cost for upgrading the Sunnyside rail hub. Mark Morales of the New York Daily News has more in this report:
Details are emerging about an MTA plan that recently got federal funding to ease congestion at a transit bottleneck in Sunnyside.
Work on the Harold Interlocking – a cluster of signals, switches and tracks at the Sunnyside Rail Yards used by three rail road companies – is slated to start next year.
New tracks, faster track switches, new signal towers and demolition of existing structures are all part of the project, according to a Metropolitan Transportation Authority plan.
The agency was awarded a chunk of the $2 billion available in federal high-speed rail grants earlier this month.
Local and federal transportation officials are banking that the upgrade will increase ridership on all three lines that use Harold Interlocking – the Long Island Rail Road, NJ Transit and Amtrak.
“This project will disentangle a choke point that serves nearly 800 trains a day, dramatically improving the reliability of train service for Long Island Rail Road and Amtrak customers,” MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan told the Daily News.
The Harold Interlocking has been targeted for overhaul because it has been a traditional bottleneck.
New tracks built there would allow Amtrak to bypass the already crowded junction and help the rail line shave minutes off its trips to and from Boston, officials said. The LIRR will also cut down on delays since it won’t be sharing the tracks with Amtrak.
To cover the $368 million price tag, New York State got a $295 million grant, with the MTA footing the rest of the bill.
Click here to read the complete report.
This is fantastic news as I find the ride on the LIRR between Penn Station & Jamaica to be extremely painful. It seems to be the part of the trip that always drags. I have lost count of how many times I have been on a train, especially heading back to the island & feeling like I was on it for at least 30 minutes. I then look out the window & notice we have not even reached Jamaica yet. This stretch alone makes me do anything to avoid taking the railroad when possible.
On the financial side of it, having the MTA foot very little of the overall bill is a win for an agency that is already cash strapped & currently does not have enough money to cover the final few years of its Capital Program.
In terms of a Sunnyside station, I agree with Community Board 2 Chairman Joe Conley that it would help the community economically in the long haul. I find it is one of the few neighborhoods in NYC that is a hidden gem in terms of accessibility & cost. If you throw in a LIRR station, it would only help bring it more into the spotlight. Hopefully the agency will have enough money to consider this addition to the project.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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Service Diversions 05-26-11
I have just updated the Service Diversions with the latest planned work for the upcoming weekend, next week, & beyond (in some cases).
As always, I suggest printing out a copy before heading to your destination. If you have an internet capable handheld device, use it to access Transit Blogger’s mobile site.
While out traveling, if I notice or hear any changes, I will update them on the twitter feed so don’t forget to follow @TransitBlogger today!
The next update will be at 5:01 AM Monday when all weekend work will be removed.
xoxo Transit Blogger
You might enjoy reading these related entries:- Service Diversions 06-03-11
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NYC Transit Memorial Day Service Info
Lastly here is the service plan for NYC Transit buses & subways for the Memorial Day holiday weekend:
On Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, MTA New York City Transit buses and subways, MTA Bus, Long Island Bus and MTA Staten Island Railway will operate on a Sunday schedule. Subway customers are reminded to use the
,
,
or
instead of the
and the
instead of the
. In addition, on Sundays, some subway routes are shortened:
•
•
trains run between Metropolitan Avenue and Myrtle Avenue-Broadway
•
•
trains run between Dyre Avenue and Bowling Green (days) and East 180th Street (overnights)
xoxo Transit Blogger
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LIRR Memorial Day Service Info
The LIRR’s Memorial Day holiday weekend service plan:
The MTA Long Island Rail Road will kick start Memorial Day Weekend – the traditional start of summer – by providing additional early-afternoon train service from Penn Station on Friday, May 27 for customers planning an early start to the holiday weekend. There will also be a special Memorial Day weekend package fare to Calverton National Cemetery on Saturday, May 28, for those wishing to visit the grave of a loved one.
Extra Train Service from Penn Station, Friday, May 27:
Port Jefferson Branch to Hicksville and Huntington
• 2:10 PM stopping at Jamaica, Mineola, then all stops to Huntington.
• 2:29 PM stopping at Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Jamaica, New Hyde Park, then all stops to Huntington.
• 3:24 PM stopping at Jamaica, Mineola, Westbury and Hicksville.
Babylon Branch:
• 2:24 PM express to Lynbrook, then all stops to Babylon.
• 3:00 PM stopping at Jamaica, Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon.
• 3:31 PM express to Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon.
Port Washington Branch to Great Neck:
• 3:18 PM stopping at Woodside, Flushing Main St., then all stops to Port Washington.
• 3:40 PM stopping at Woodside, Flushing Main St., then all stops to Great Neck.
Far Rockaway Branch:
• 3:48 PM express to Locust Manor then all stops to Far Rockaway.
Montauk Branch (Penn Station to Jamaica with Montauk Connections):
• 1:45 PM to Jamaica, with a Montauk train connection.
• 3:58 PM to Jamaica, with a Montauk train connection.
Ronkonkoma Branch to Greenport:
• 5:21 PM train from Ronkonkoma to Yaphank is extended on Friday making all stops to Greenport.
—-
MEMORIAL DAY, MONDAY, MAY 30:
The LIRR will operate on a Sunday schedule on Memorial Day.
—-
SPECIAL TRIP TO CALVERTON CEMETERY, SATURDAY, MAY 28:
On Saturday, May 28, the LIRR will offer a special escorted package trip to Calverton National Cemetery for those wishing to visit the gravesite of a friend or family member. The LIRR’s escorted package includes discounted round trip rail fare from Penn Station, Woodside, Atlantic Terminal, or Jamaica and air-conditioned motor coach bus transportation to the cemetery. On the way to Calverton National Cemetery, the bus will make a stop for those wanting to purchase flowers and coffee or tea. Shuttle bus service within Calverton National Cemetery will be provided to accommodate visitors to the various sections and gravesites. Customers are advised to provide their own lunch, as eating facilities are not available at Calverton.
The one-day special package fare is $34 for adults, $27.50 for children ages 5-11. The train departs Penn Station at 9:16 AM and Jamaica at 9:38 AM. Passengers from Woodside should board the 9:28 AM train and Atlantic Terminal customers should board the 9:12 AM train and transfer at Jamaica to the Ronkonkoma train. Passengers for Calverton should board the head car of the train. Customers will transfer to bus service at Central Islip Station and will continue to Calverton.
Return service will be on the 3:40 PM train from Ronkonkoma, stopping at Jamaica ( 4:39 PM), Woodside ( 4:48 PM) and Penn Station ( 4:59 PM). Connecting service is available at Jamaica, arriving Atlantic Terminal at 5:12 PM. Tickets may be purchased at the Penn Station, Atlantic Terminal, Woodside and Jamaica and must be purchased at least 30 minutes before scheduled train departure time. Tickets can also be purchased at all full-service Ticket Machines. Customers purchasing tickets from Ticket Machines should select: Deals & Getaways, then LI Getaways.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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