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Countdown Clocks Have Reached 100 Stations

Posted by
on December 21st, 2010 at 10:38 pm

Subway Countdown Clock
A subway countdown clock at the South Ferry station on the 1, which is 1 of the 100 IRT stations that have them installed. Photo courtesy of the MTA.

Earlier today, MTA New York City Transit officially announced how real time subway countdown clocks have reached 100 station installations. The 100 stations are all along the IRT aka “numbered lines”. Here is more information courtesy of a press release sent out:

More subway customers than ever now benefit from knowing exactly when their train will arrive as countdown clocks have been activated in 100 stations along MTA New York City Transit’s numbered lines. This important milestone exceeds the MTA’s original goal to get 75 stations online by the end of the year. A similar project to activate informational signs continues to progress along the lettered lines as well.

Customers using Manhattan’s Houston Street Station on the No. 1 Line are the latest to receive up-to-the-minute next train information that takes the guesswork out of how long the wait time will be. The ambitious project to install Public Address/Customer information Screens (PA/CIS), more popularly referred to as Countdown Clocks, in the system’s stations is changing the habits of subway riders every day.

Now, instead of peering into the tunnel and guessing when the next train will arrive all they have to do is look up and they can see how many minutes until the next two trains reach the station. Originated on the L Canarsie Line in 2007, the system is in the process of being activated in 152 stations along the numbered lines in the Bronx, Manhattan and Brooklyn.

“For years, transit riders in other cities around the world have been looking at digital signs to know when the next bus or train is coming,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Jay H. Walder. “But in New York, we were left peering down a subway platform looking for headlights. We’re changing that and improving our customers’ experience one station at a time.”

The information distributed through the PA/CIS system originates from NYC Transit’s Rail Control Center (RCC). From there, Customer Service Agents provide subway riders with up-to-date service status either as audio, visual or synchronized audio and visual information.

“This is all about providing information to our customers who may see similar systems in other locations and ask, ‘Why not here?’ Well, we asked ourselves the same thing and we are now moving briskly ahead with this project,” said NYC Transit President Thomas Prendergast.

The PA/CIS system, which is being rolled out along the numbered lines, is a major component of the MTA’s effort to substantially upgrade customer communications across the entire network. Providing train arrival messages both visually and by audio, allows customers to be kept fully informed of regular service, delays or emergency situations,
should they arise.

Congratulations on reaching 100 stations even though they should have been in place system wide years ago!

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Bus & Subway Fare Hikes Start Dec 30th

Posted by
on December 21st, 2010 at 10:29 pm

Lastly, here is a brief press release about the upcoming fare hikes for NYC Buses & Subways:

The base fare for individual rides on New York City Transit’s buses, subways and Access-A-Ride vehicles remains at $2.25. For subway and bus trips only, the reduced fare for seniors and the disabled is $1.10. However, the single-ride ticket, available in vending machines only, is now priced at $2.50. These tickets must be used within two hours of purchase. Fares on express buses remain at $5.50 with an off-peak reduced fare of $2.75. The 7-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard is now priced at $29, while the 30-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard is priced at $104.

All pay-per- ride MetroCards will continue to function after the fare change. For time-based MetroCards purchased before December 30, customers must activate them by January 10, 2011, in order to receive their full validity periods. A $1 surcharge for purchasing a new MetroCard will go into effect in 2011 at a date to be announced. Customers are urged to pick up the New Fare Information brochure, which outlines the new fare structure and even helps you decide which MetroCard is right for you.

Click here for base fare information.

Click here for best value information.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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New LIRR Fares Take Effect Dec 30th

Posted by
on December 21st, 2010 at 9:45 pm

Now here is the latest information on the Long Island Rail Road fare hikes that are taking effect on December 30th:

New fares and fare policies take effect on the MTA Long Island Rail Road on December 30, 2010. The fare changes for the LIRR and other Metropolitan Transportation Authority agencies were approved by the MTA Board. Most LIRR commuter rail tickets will increase between 7.6% and 9.4%, depending on ticket type and distance traveled, and are intended to yield a 7.5% increase in revenue.

The changes include:

Monthly tickets for January 2011, on sale as of 12/20, will be priced at the new rate.

Weekly tickets for January 1-7, on sale as of 12/29, will be priced at the new rate.

The Mail&Ride discount for purchasing a combined monthly ticket/unlimited MetroCard will be reduced to 2% (from 4%). Other Mail&Ride discounts and all WebTicket discounts will be eliminated.

New Validity Periods:

For Tickets Purchased on or after December 30, 2010

One-Way & Round-Trip tickets are valid for 14 days, including date of sale (reduced from 6 months).

Ten-Trip tickets are valid for 6 months from date of sale (reduced from 1 year).

For Tickets Purchased Before December 30, 2010:

One-Way and Round-Trip tickets purchased before 12/30/10 remain valid for 6
months from date of sale.

Ten-Trip tickets purchased before 12/30/10 remain valid for one year from date of
sale.

New Refund Policies:

Refund Processing Fee

A $10 refund processing fee will be charged for each refund transaction for all tickets purchased on or after December 30, 2010.

Refund Deadlines

Unused One-Way and Round-trip tickets (valid for 14 days, including date of sale)
can be refunded for 30 days from date of sale.

Unused or partially-used Ten-Trip tickets (valid for six months from date of sale) can
be refunded for 30 days from date of sale.

NO tickets will be refunded after 30 days from date of sale.

All refund requests will be processed through the LIRR’s Ticket Refund office. However, tickets may be surrendered at staffed ticket offices, where customers will be asked to fill out a form.

Other Changes:

Exchanges

One-Way, Round-Trip and Ten-Trip tickets purchased on December 30, 2010 or later
may only be exchanged at the ticket window within 24 hours from the date of sale.
Onboard Ticket Sales

Effective December 30, 2010, Round-Trip tickets will no longer be sold onboard
trains; only One-Way tickets will be sold onboard trains.

Step-Up fees and Extension of Ride fees have been rounded up to the nearest dollar.

Buying tickets onboard is a cash-only transaction and incurs an additional charge of $5.75 to $6.50. Save money by purchasing tickets at ticket offices or ticket machines.

CityTicket

CityTicket, which allows for weekend travel within New York City, increases to $3.75.

Reminders:

The best and most economical way to buy tickets is by purchasing them in advance, before boarding the train.

Join Mail&Ride and enjoy the convenience of our monthly ticket-by-mail subscription service. Save 2% when you purchase a joint Monthly Ticket/Monthly Unlimited MetroCard. You can manage your account online, and pay using a number of convenient options.

WebTicket: Order Ten-Trip, Weekly or Monthly tickets online through WebTicket. MetroCard and UniTicket options are also available. Use any major credit card. Tickets are delivered by United States Postal Service mail 3-5 business days after you place your order and postage is free.

Commuter Benefit Programs: Ask your Human Resources Department if your company offers a tax-free transit benefit program. You can save 33% or more each year by having a portion of your pre-tax salary set aside for commutation costs.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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1

New Metro-North Fares Start Dec 30th

Posted by
on December 21st, 2010 at 9:36 pm

Continuing with the theme of fare hike info, here is a reminder of the new Metro-North Railroad fares that will take effect on December 30th:

MTA Metro-North Railroad is raising fares effective December 30, 2010, along with other agencies of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. While exact increases vary depending on ticket type, the following specific changes will also go into effect:

• Full fare one-way, full fare ten-trip, weekly, and monthly fares to/from Manhattan will increase by up to 11.1% on East of the Hudson service and up to 14.3% on West-of-Hudson service. (This is for a very rarely used intermediate fare.) The fare increase is intended to yield a 7.5% increase in revenue.

• Intermediate full fares will increase by up to 10.6%. Intermediate increases for some child/senior/disabled persons/Medicare recipient fares may vary slightly from these percentages.

• One-way and round-trip tickets, including special events and Getaways tickets, will no longer be sold through WebTicket.

• All WebTicket discounts will be eliminated on tickets for travel between New York stations.

• The existing 4% Mail&Ride discount on the rail portion of the joint Monthly Ticket/Monthly Unlimited MetroCard will be reduced to 2% on tickets for travel between New York stations.

• The existing 2% discount on other Mail&Ride tickets will be eliminated on tickets for travel between New York stations.

• On-board step-ups and ride extensions will be rounded up to the next dollar, except for stepups for seniors, disabled persons and Medicare recipients.

• A refund processing fee of $10 per transaction will be implemented for redemption of unused or partially used tickets.

Changes to ticket validity periods will be:

• The validity period for all one-way and round-trip tickets will be reduced from six months to 14 days (including date of purchase).

• The validity period for all ten-trip tickets will be reduced from one year to six months (including date of purchase).

Changes to refund periods for non-commutation tickets will be:

• One-way and round-trip tickets will be refundable for 30 days after date of purchase, reduced from the existing six months refund period.

• Ten-trip tickets will be refundable for 30 days after date of purchase, reduced from the existing one-year refund period.

Reminders:

• The best and most cost-effective way to buy tickets is by purchasing multiple-ride tickets (such as monthly, weekly, or ten-trip tickets) in advance of your trip.

• Join Mail&Ride, our monthly ticket-by-mail subscription service, and save 2% on the joint Monthly Ticket/Monthly Unlimited MetroCard. You can manage your account online, and pay using a number of convenient options.

• Ask your Human Resources Department if your company offers pre-tax transit fare programs. You can save 33% or more a year by having a portion of your pre-tax salary set aside for
commutation costs.

New fare ticket information is available at www.mta.info/mnr. Details are also available in our Tickets and Fares brochures, available at outlying ticket offices, and at the Grand Central Terminal Customer Service Window, Information Booths and Station Master’s Office.

Please note: The Dec. 30 changes in fares and discounts do not apply to tickets for travel to/from Connecticut stations. However, changes in ticket validity and refund policies,
including the refund processing fee, will apply.

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0

New B&T Fares Starting Dec 30th

Posted by
on December 21st, 2010 at 8:58 pm

The inevitable day is fast approaching as new fares across the MTA spectrum take effect on December 30th. The MTA sent out reminder press releases with complete information. Let me start with information on their bridges & tunnels:

Tolls on MTA’s seven bridges and two tunnels will go up at 2 AM on Thurs., Dec. 30th, increasing to $6.50 at most crossings for cash customers and increasing 23-cents to $4.80 at most crossings for E-ZPass customers. The difference between the cash and E-ZPass tolls encourages the use of E-ZPass,which is good for customers, is good for the environment and helps keep traffic moving. Approximately 75 percent of all customers currently use E-ZPass at MTA crossings.

Customers looking for the best value can open an account with the New York E-ZPass Customer Service Center by calling 1-800 333-TOLL or visiting the website at www.ezpassny.com. Anyone can open an account with the New York E-ZPass Customer Service Center (NYCSC). With a NYCSC tag, the difference between cash and E-ZPass tolls ranges from $1.45 to $1.80 depending on the crossing. For a complete list of car and truck crossing charges, please visit www.mta.info.

The toll changes will be displayed on electronic message signs at MTA toll plazas. Customers can also request toll rate cards at cash booths. Customers also have the option of purchasing a pre-paid, ready to use.E-ZPass On-the-Go tag (a great holiday gift idea) at one of 365 locations throughout New York City and Long Island. For a list of retailers who sell On-the-Go tags visit www.ezpassny.com.

On-the-Go tags are sold for $30. Once purchased, $20 can be used immediately for tolls and $10 is a tag deposit. If linked for replenishment to a credit card, the $10 deposit also becomes available to pay tolls. After first use, customers have 48 hours to register the tag. Since the program began in 2008, some 75,000 MTA On-the-Go tags have been sold.

In addition to the changes in crossing charges, beginning Dec. 30th tokens will no longer be accepted at the Henry Hudson toll plaza. The number of customers who still use tokens at the Henry Hudson averages about 100 a month. Token refund kits can be requested by going to www.mta.info and clicking on the “contact us” section.

MTA Bridge and Tunnel crossings include the Throgs Neck, Bronx-Whitestone, Henry Hudson, Verrazano-Narrows, Robert F. Kennedy, Cross Bay Veterans Memorial and Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Bridges, as well as the Queens Midtown and Brooklyn-Battery Tunnels.

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