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Service Diversions 04-29-11

Posted by
on April 29th, 2011 at 5:36 am

I have just updated the Service Diversions with the latest planned work for the upcoming weekend, next week, & beyond. 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.

Credit/Debit card users please read this entry with info on not being able to use them to buy Metrocards during an overnight period.

Riders going to Belmont Park, click here for information on the restoration of bus & rail service.

The next update will be at 5:01 AM Monday when all weekend work will be removed. Have a safe & wonderful weekend.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions
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Credit/Debit Card Metrocard Service Alert

Posted by
on April 29th, 2011 at 4:57 am

For those who use their credit or debit card to purchase their Metrocard from the Metrocard Vending Machines, please take note of this important service alert. Due to necessary software upgrades, credit/debit cards will not be able to be used. Here are details courtesy of the press release I received:

So that we may perform an annual planned system upgrade, credit/debit card transactions will not be available this coming Saturday, April 30th between the hours of 1 a.m. to 9 a.m., and possibly until noon. This will affect all MetroCard Vending Machines throughout the subway system.

During this time, cash purchases will not be affected and will continue to be accepted. We apologize for any inconvenience as we make necessary software upgrades to our system.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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1

Bus Service To Bricktown Mall

Posted by
on April 29th, 2011 at 2:43 am

For those in Staten Island, the Bricktown Mall is a big shopping destination with many stores like Home Depot & Target on the premises. The MTA has decided to make getting there easier by having the S74, S78, & S84 service the mall. Here are details courtesy of the press release I received:

MTA New York City Transit announces that the S74/S84 and the S78 was rerouted to serve the Bricktown Mall shopping center in the Charleston section of Staten Island. The new service began on Sunday, April 24.

The Bricktown Mall is a 400,000-square-foot shopping center housing several large stores including Home Depot, Target and Bed, Bath and Beyond. In addition, the South Shore Commons has opened on the south side of Veterans Road West which contains several popular stores and restaurants.

“The route changes now provide a much needed link to these two commercial areas and they will prevent customers from having to walk along Veterans Road West, which in places has no sidewalks or curbs,” noted NYC Transit President Thomas F. Prendergast.

With the opening of the Charleston Depot in January 2011, NYC Transit now has the opportunity to efficiently serve the mall, without having buses make long, non-revenue trips back to the Yukon Depot. Having these buses terminate at the mall will also resolve the problem of these buses laying over on Main Street in downtown Tottenville.

The S74/S84 will divert to the mall via Veterans Road West and the S78 will extend its route from Tottenville to the mall via Arthur Kill Road and Veterans Road West. The new bus stops and terminals for both routes will be within the Bricktown Mall on Mohr Street at Tyrellan Avenue.

QUOTES FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS:

Borough President James P. Molinaro said:

“After a long battle with the Bricktown Mall owners, we appreciate the fact that they’ve acquiesced in permitting bus service into the mall. This new service will accommodate many seniors who don’t have driving opportunities and must depend upon friends and charitable organizations to go shopping.”

Congressman Michael Grimm:

“I am grateful to the MTA and Blumenfeld Corporation for working with my fellow elected officials and recognizing the need to provide this service to our constituents. This is a win-win situation for the merchants and employees of the Bricktown and South Shore commons shopping centers, but also for Staten Island consumers who will now enjoy easier access to one of our borough’s top shopping destinations.”

State Senator Andrew Lanza:

“I am extremely encouraged by the MTA’s decision to add new bus service in the Charleston area of Staten Island. We have worked with the MTA over the past several months with respect to the opportunities for them to fill the gaps in service which exist, especially on the South Shore of Staten Island. I am extremely heartened that the MTA has decided favorably in this instance. The additional service will mean added convenience for Staten Island riders and provide support for local jobs.”

State Assemblyman Lou Tobacco:

“The extension of the S74 bus route to the Bricktown Mall is a long overdue victory for Staten Island’s shoppers, workers and commuters. I have consistently called attention to this issue throughout my time in office, and I commend the MTA for providing this essential service that Staten Islander’s expect out of their tax dollars. I thank my colleagues in state and local government, as well as the people of our community, for their hard work and dedication in seeing this issue through to its completion.”

Councilman Vincent Ignizio:

“This is shaping up to be a great week for Staten Island bus service enhancements. First we saw the improvements and additional runs to the X22 announced, and now my colleagues in government and I can fulfill a promise we made years ago to bring employees and shoppers alike to the Bricktown and South Shore commons shopping center. I am grateful to the MTA and Blumenfeld Corporation for working with us to make this a reality. In order for busing to be successful, it has to go where people want to go. This is acknowledgment of that fact by the MTA and we are pleased to have all worked together to get it done.”

xoxo Transit Blogger

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1

MTA Restores Bus & Rail Service To Belmont Park

Posted by
on April 29th, 2011 at 2:33 am

Race fans in the tri-state area who frequent Belmont Park will be happy to know that both MTA NYC Transit & the Long Island Rail Road have restored service to the famed race track. Here are the details courtesy of 2 separate press releases:

MTA New York City Transit and MTA Bus announce that beginning Friday, April 29 until Sunday, July 17, the Q2 and Q110 buses will again directly serve Belmont Park Racetrack. On days that the racetrack is open, the buses will discharge, layover and pick up customers at the Belmont bus terminal.

Eastbound (towards Belmont Park), the Q2 and Q110 will follow their regular route to the Cross Island Parkway northbound entrance ramp, then onto the racetrack turnaround via Lane #1. Customers will be discharged at the escalator leading to the LIRR/Racetrack overpass. The buses will continue to the layover area.

Westbound (towards Jamaica), the buses will pull up to Lane #3 and pick up customers at the designated Q2 and Q110 bus stops, then continue on their regular routes.
So, get out ahead of the field and buy your MetroCards in advance and enjoy a day at the races!

MTA Long Island Rail Road and The New York Racing Association announced today the restoration of LIRR train service through the summer to Belmont Park, New York’s most famous racetrack, including extra service to the 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 11. The partnership between the LIRR and NYRA brings regular train service back to racing fans for the start of the Spring-Summer Meet this coming Friday, April 29. The service was eliminated in 2010 as one of a number of service reductions implemented by the LIRR to address the MTA’s $900 million budget shortfall.

“This is a unique agreement that brings in new revenue for the LIRR while restoring an important service for customers,” said LIRR President Helena E. Williams. “We are grateful that The New York Racing Association has stepped up to bring back a service that the LIRR could no longer afford to provide on our own in the current financial climate. The LIRR has been taking racing fans to Belmont for decades and we hope this new partnership between our organizations will continue for decades to come.”

NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward said: “We are thrilled to partner with the Long Island Rail Road to provide daily train service to and from Belmont Park for the upcoming meet. This will allow easy and convenient access for customers in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens that want to enjoy an afternoon of racing at Belmont.”

Williams and NYRA officials made the announcement at a news conference in Penn Station where they were joined by Sam the Bugler, the famed racetrack musician who summons fans to the rail with stirring renditions of “Call to the Post.”

The LIRR’s “Belmont Special” ticket package goes on sale on Friday, April 29. For opening weekend at Belmont Park – Friday, April 29, Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1 – LIRR customers will be entitled to free grandstand admission at the racetrack. Regular admission to the grandstand is $3. For the remainder of the Spring-Summer Meet, LIRR customers who purchase “Belmont Package” tickets will receive a $1 discount off the regular $3 admission

LIRR Service to Belmont Park:

Trains to and from Belmont Park will run at the following times.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Eastbound:

• 11:58 AM from Penn Station, stopping at Woodside at 12:09 PM and Jamaica at 12:20 PM will arrive at Belmont Park at 12:32 PM.

• 1:14 PM from Penn Station, stopping at Woodside at 1:25 PM, and Jamaica 1:40 PM will arrive at Belmont Park at 1:53 PM.

Westbound:

• 3:56 PM from Belmont Park, stopping at Jamaica at 4:09 PM and Woodside at 4:23 PM will arrive at Penn Station at 4:34 PM.

• 6 PM train from Belmont Park, stopping at Jamaica at 6:12 PM and Woodside at 6:24PM will arrive at Penn Station at 6:34 PM.

Saturday, Sunday & Holidays:

Eastbound:

• 11:58 AM train from Penn Station, stopping at Woodside at 12:09 PM and Jamaica at 12:18 PM will arrive at Belmont Park at 12:32 PM.

• 1:16 PM train from Penn Station, stopping at Woodside at 1:28 PM and Jamaica at 1:37 PM will arrive at Belmont Park at 1:54 PM.

Westbound:

• 4:27 PM train from Belmont Park, stopping at Jamaica at 4:40 PM and Woodside at 5:10 PM will arrive at Penn Station at 5:09 PM

• 6:27 PM train from Belmont Park, stopping at Jamaica at 6:40 PM, Woodside at 6:51 PM will arrive at Penn Station at 7:02 PM.

The LIRR will provide extra train service for the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 11.

Belmont Package tickets are also available at LIRR Touch Screen ticket machines at stations – just press the “Deals & Getaways” button on the first screen; then select “Belmont Park.” Payment can be made with cash, ATM/Debit or Credit Cards. The LIRR ticket office at its Belmont station is closed and there are no ticket machines at Belmont.

Weekly and monthly ticket holders can use their tickets for travel to Jamaica and need only purchase a $10 round-trip package ticket at an LIRR station prior to boarding the Belmont Special to cover the fare between Belmont Park and Jamaica. Round-trip tickets are not sold on-board trains.

One-way tickets for travel between Jamaica and Belmont, sold on trains to use in conjunction with a monthly or weekly ticket, are $13. A one-way ticket from Jamaica to Belmont, purchased at an LIRR station to use in conjunction with a monthly or weekly ticket, is $6.

To avoid higher on-board fares and save time, customers should purchase round-trip tickets in advance. (Please note: CityTicket is not valid for travel to or from Belmont Park.)

LIRR Train Fares to Belmont Park By Zone:

From New York, Brooklyn, and Woodside:

Purchased at Station: One Way – $7.00 / Round-trip- $13.00

Purchased On-Board Train: One Way- $14.00 / Round-trip – Not sold on train

From Jamaica:

Purchased at Station: One Way – $6.00 / Round-trip- $10.00

Purchased On-Board Train: One Way – $13.00 / Round-trip – Not sold on train

Round-trip fares from Long Island with transfer at Jamaica:

Zone 3 – $10.00 (Rosedale, St. Albans, Queens Village, Hollis)

Zone 4 – $12.00 (Far Rockaway, Lynbrook, Hempstead, Mineola)

Zone 7 – $14.00 (Long Beach, Massapequa, Hicksville, Oyster Bay)

Zone 9 – $17.00 (Babylon, Deer Park, Huntington, Northport)

Zone 10 – $22.00 (Bay Shore, Sayville, Ronkonkoma, Patchogue, Port Jefferson)

xoxo Transit Blogger

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0

Service Diversions 04-25-11

Posted by
on April 25th, 2011 at 5:01 am

I have just updated the Service Diversions page 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.

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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