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NYC Transit Announces 7 Train Plans

Posted by
on May 18th, 2011 at 10:44 am

If you are a regular rider of the 7 Train, I don’t have to tell you how bad or inconvenient your commute has been over the last few months. Many of the issues plaguing the line revolve around signal delays. NYC Transit is looking to address the problems as they have announced plans to do so although patience will be needed. Here are complete details courtesy of a press release that just went out:

MTA New York City Transit today announced plans to address a recent increase in signal-related delays along the No. 7 Flushing Line even as work continues on a long-term project to modernize the line’s signaling system. Officials asked for patience from customers – this vital work will cause weekend disruptions but is the only way to provide the level of reliability our customers expect and deserve.

In accordance with this effort, during the upcoming weekend of May 20-23, there will be no 7 subway service between Times Square and Queensboro Plaza. Customers are encouraged to take the E, N, R or F service for travel between Queens and Manhattan. Free shuttle buses will be available between the Queensboro Plaza (N, 7) and Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue (7) stations, making stops at Queens Plaza (E, R), 45th Road-Court House Square (E, 7) and Hunters Point Avenue (7). In addition, the Grand Central (S) shuttle will continue operating through the overnight hours.

The delays that have compromised the line’s reliability over the past several months have been caused largely by an aging signal system and water-related issues in the “Steinway” tunnels under the East River between the Vernon-Jackson station in Long Island City and the Grand Central station in Manhattan. In March, maintenance forces performed emergency repairs that required a weekend service suspension between Times Square and Queensboro Plaza. Aside from the upcoming weekend, two additional weekend service suspensions between Times Square and Queensboro Plaza have been scheduled to address this issue — June 24-27, and July 29-August 1.

The scheduled work includes signal circuit repair, removal of silt and muck from the roadbed, power system improvements in the area and repairs to the Steinway tunnels, including grouting of tunnel walls to address water intrusion. Tight tunnel clearances in the Steinway under river tunnels make this section of the line one of the most challenging areas in the system in which to work, often requiring a service suspension in order to perform work. With only two tracks and no clearance for workers along the tunnel walls, it is not possible to perform certain jobs while trains are running through the area.
The completion of this work will eliminate a key cause of the recent delays, providing some near-term relief. However, it is important to note that a longer-term project to install a state-of-the-art signaling system is also underway and this project will require further suspensions in service.

The signals controlling train traffic on this portion of the No. 7 Flushing line are anywhere from 50 to 90 years old and in need of replacement. The contract for the installation of a modern, Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) system was awarded in June of 2010 with a substantial completion date of late 2016.

“The recent deterioration in service illustrates clearly why this work is so vital and why we must perform it at this time, and I have to be frank, performing this vital work will require major planned service disruptions for some time to come,” explained NYC Transit President Thomas F. Prendergast. “We are committed to improving service along the Flushing Line and we will keep everyone informed of service changes and how the work is progressing.”

Riders on the line has been severely impacted by a recent increase in delays, which have doubled during the first four months of 2011 compared to the same period a year ago. It has been difficult to schedule capital construction and maintenance work, because there is very little downtime on the No. 7. Ridership remains high even during off peak hours and the two sports stadiums near its eastern end are huge traffic generators during certain parts of the year.

The Flushing Line is one of the most heavily traveled in the subway system with more than 425,000 weekday customers. More than a half million riders also utilize the No. 7 on weekends. During rush periods, 26 trains per hour pass through the Steinway tunnels in the peak direction.

The $587 million CBTC project will improve reliability, reduce maintenance and operations cost, increase line capacity and operational flexibility, enhance system safety and provide central control from the Rail Control Center. The ideal method of performing this job would be a closure of the line in order to complete the installation as quickly and efficiently as possible.

“Of course, fully suspending service during this entire project is not an option for us,” said Carmen Bianco, the Senior Vice President of the Department of Subways. “What we will put in place is an intelligent and strategic work schedule that will allow us to reach our goals as quickly as possible while minimizing the impact on customers as much as possible. Unfortunately, there will be times when alternate travel paths will be necessary.”

This work is being performed at the same time as construction on the line’s extension to Manhattan’s far west side, continued track and infrastructure improvements and the addition of ADA accessibility features at 45th Road-Court Square.

Click here to view the .pdf map detailing this weekend’s service diversion.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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0

MTA Capital Plan Funding To Occur In Fall

Posted by
on May 16th, 2011 at 3:02 pm

Where funding for the last 3 years of the MTA’s current Capital Program would come from has been a hot question inside transit circles of late. Many were wondering when the Cuomo administration would tackle the issue & the answer is upon us. According to a report in Crain’s New York Business, a push for funding will occur in fall. Jeremy Smerd & Shane Dixon Kavanaugh have more:

The Cuomo administration will wait until autumn to deal with funding the remaining three years and $10 billion of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority capital plan, insiders said.

Transportation advocates are anxious but not panicked. The Legislature rarely acts before it must, and the MTA’s capital plan is funded through 2011. About $100 billion has been invested in the MTA since the capital program began in 1982. Some 30% typically comes from the federal government, but transit officials are bracing for a cut this year. The MTA hopes its $10 billion gap will be trimmed by work-rule efficiencies that private contractors may win in new contracts with construction unions.

It remains unclear exactly how much the MTA will need to borrow, but insiders say bonding could require $750 million to $1 billion in new annual revenue starting next year. Fares have been raised for three consecutive years, and a fare hike is already scheduled for 2013, so another one in 2012 is unlikely. The Legislature will instead have to vote on new taxes or fees during a special session late in the year or early next year.

Click here for the complete report.

I am extremely curious as to where this money will come from. Based on current data, the MTA could not borrow more money via bonds as they are at their limit to do so. Unless state officials identify a new funding source for the agency, borrowing will not be the funding savior it normally has been.

As far as arbitration is concerned, I would not bank on that helping with monetary issues as well. Does the agency really need a reminder of what happened the last time they went to arbitration? They got their clock cleaned & in many ways justifiably so.

Let me put this way, a major financial storm is brewing in terms of this funding & in a few months, things will get very interesting for all sides involved!

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Senator Says MTA Needs To Take Over

Posted by
on May 16th, 2011 at 2:47 pm

LIRR commuters need no reminder of the painful commutes they had to put up with for days to Amtrak’s recent derailment in one of the East River tunnels. All it did was highlight the sub par agreement between the LIRR & Amtrak in terms of control of operations.

One of the first to criticize Amtrak having complete control of Penn Station & its actual track facilities was MTA Board Member Mitchell Pally who lashed out & called the agreement “unacceptable”. We can now add a new person to the list of those who feels the agreement needs to be changed, State Senator of the 8th District Charles Fuschilo Jr. who penned an editorial for the LI Herald:

Following a number of significant Long Island Rail Road service disruptions and cancellations caused by Amtrak maintenance recently, I am calling on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to explore taking over maintenance of the rails in and out of Penn Station and the East River tunnels.

The MTA should re-evaluate its current operating agreement with Amtrak and see what steps can be taken to have the authority to maintain the rails in and out of Penn Station.

The LIRR and its riders have repeatedly been held hostage because of Amtrak’s maintenance practices. That is unacceptable. The recent Amtrak derailment, which resulted in significant cancellations and delays to LIRR riders, showed why the MTA/LIRR, not Amtrak, should maintain the rails in and out of Penn Station.

Amtrak currently owns and maintains Penn Station and the four East River tunnels. Amtrak’s ownership prevents the LIRR from overseeing maintenance operations on its tracks, even though the LIRR operates more than three times as many weekday trains as Amtrak. While the LIRR cooperates with Amtrak on some maintenance and repair projects, it ultimately has no authority over maintenance operations that directly affect LIRR service.

As I stated when Mr. Polly lashed out, I concur that the agreement should be changed as Amtrak’s track record of failure is too much to ignore. LIRR customers should not be held hostage by an agency that is the minority provider in terms of actual service out of the facility. Will the agreement be changed? Who knows, but it is clear that it should have been sometime ago.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Culver Viaduct Weekend Work

Posted by
on May 16th, 2011 at 2:29 pm

When I updated the service diversions this past Thursday, I had listed 2 major diversions involving the F Train & G Train. The diversions called for no F Train trains between Jay St-MetroTech and 18 Av & no G Train trains between Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts and Church Av.

The reason for these diversions is due to work on the Culver Viaduct. Here is more information courtesy of a press release sent out by MTA NYC Transit today:

MTA New York City Transit announces that weekend work on the Culver Viaduct Rehabilitation Project will necessitate changes to F and G service on the weekend of May 20-23. Beginning at 11:30 p.m. Friday, May 20 and continuing until 5 a.m. Monday, May 23, there will be no F trains between Jay Street-MetroTech and 18th Avenue and no G trains between Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts. and Church Avenue.

The F train will operate in two sections:

• Between 179th Street and Jay Street-MetroTech, then rerouted on the C line to Euclid Avenue and

• Between 18th Avenue and Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue.

The G will also operate in two sections:

• Between Court Square and Bedford-Nostrand Avs. and

• Between Bedford-Nostrand Avs. and Hoyt Schermerhorn Sts. (every 20 minutes)

There will be three free shuttle bus routes available as alternatives:

• For service to stations between Jay Street-MetroTech and 4th Avenue-9th Street, customers may take the LOCAL shuttle bus making stops at Jay Street-MetroTech, Bergen Street, Carroll Street, Smith-9th Sts., and 4th Avenue-9th Street.

• For customers traveling between Jay Street-MetroTech and Church Avenue or stations further south, customers may take the LIMITED shuttle bus making stops at Jay Street-MetroTech, Church Avenue, Ditmas Avenue and 18th Avenue.

• For service to stations between 4th Avenue-9th Street and Church Avenue, customers may take the LOCAL shuttle bus making stops at 4th Avenue-9th Street, 7th Avenue, 15th Street-Prospect Park, Ft. Hamilton Parkway and Church Avenue.

Customers are urged to use the R or D trains where possible. Transfer is available between shuttle buses and the A, F, or R trains at Jay Street-MetroTech and between shuttle buses and
the D or R trains at 4th Avenue-9th Street. D trains run local between DeKalb Avenue and 36th Street during this time.

MTA NYC Transit apologizes for the inconvenience as we make much needed repairs and improvements to Brooklyn’s Culver Line including the rebuilding of the Viaduct structure and the renewal of its tracks, signals and switches. We are also working to restore platforms, canopies and the historic arch at the 4th Avenue-9th Street station.

This $275.5 million engineering and construction project is necessary to rehabilitate the steel and concrete viaduct which first opened in 1933 as part of the IND system. The project area stretches from the tunnel portal south of the Carroll Street station to the portal south of Fourth Avenue.

Customers will be pleased to know that Manhattan-bound F and Queens-bound G train service at the 15th Street-Prospect Park and Fort Hamilton Parkway stations is expected to be restored on Monday, May 23. Manhattan-bound F trains will continue to bypass the Smith-9th Sts. station.

Beginning June 20 and continuing through March 2012, the Smith-9th Street station will close completely for rehabilitation. F and G trains will bypass Smith-9th Sts. station in both directions for the duration.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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2

Service Diversions 05-16-11

Posted by
on May 16th, 2011 at 5:01 am

I have just updated the Service Diversions by removing all of the weekend work that wrapped up by a minute ago. The planned work for this week & beyond in some cases has been moved to the forefront.

LIRR riders, don’t forget that the summer timetables go into effect today. Click here for complete information.

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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