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NYCT Opens Ridgewood Intermodal Terminal

Posted by
on August 22nd, 2010 at 10:14 pm

If you have ever tried transferring between different bus routes or to/from the bus & subway in Ridgewood, you know how much of a chore it is. However if MTA NYC Transit has its way, the debut of the Ridgewood Intermodal Terminal this past Friday will change all of that.

The agency held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday. I was invited to attend but unfortunately could not make it. One of the days, I will make it to one of these events. Anyhow, as is usually the case, they issued a press release about the ceremony with complete details:

With the construction of the new Ridgewood Intermodal Terminal, MTA New York City Transit has created an improved bus to subway transfer facility which now allows the centralization of area bus stops, making for a seamless transfer to the Myrtle/Wyckoff subway station complex.

The new facility is set to officially open today, (Friday, August 20th) following a 10 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by MTA and area representatives. The project is a joint venture with $4 million coming from New York State Assembly Member Catherine T. Nolan through the Capital Reserve Fund along with an additional $485,000 provided by U.S. Representative Nydia A.Velázquez.

As part of the Myrtle/Wyckoff station complex rehabilitation/ADA project, New York City Transit began construction on the new terminal in November 2007. Located on Palmetto Street, the facility is bordered on the south by the intersection of Myrtle and Wyckoff Avenues and on the north by St. Nicholas Avenue, adjacent to the Myrtle-Wyckoff station on the L and M lines.

Previously, bus stops for the Q55, Q58, B13, B26, B52, and B54 bus routes were spread out over the area, making transfers confusing and inconvenient for our customers. Now, however, there is a central bus stop boarding area on Palmetto Street, which is closed to all traffic except for NYC Transit buses and deliveries.

“This facility creates a much improved transfer point, making it easier for our customers to transfer between our bus and subway services,” said NYC Transit President Thomas F. Prendergast. “Additionally, our operating personnel will find it easier to pick up and discharge passengers on a street dedicated to bus boarding and unloading.”

The roadway and sidewalks on Palmetto Street between Wyckoff and St. Nicholas Avenues have been reconstructed. Concrete bus pads have been installed along both sides of Palmetto Street for the length of the block.

“Thanks to the dedicated persistence of Ted Renz and the Ridgewood Local Development Corporation and the professionalism of the Transit Authority and the tremendous support of Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, this important inter-modal project is finally going to benefit our Ridgewood community,” said Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan (D-NY).

As the Assembly representative to the MTA Capital Review Board for many years, I am proud and happy to have played a role in dedicating state funding and support for this critically important project. Mass transit is the economic and environmental lifeblood for our city and it is so important to be here and thank everyone today.”

Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) said: “The residents of Ridgewood deserve reliable and effective transportation. Establishing a new bus terminal and improving the station will not just enhance commuter service; it will also help rejuvenate the community by bringing more visitors to our city.”

Customers will also benefit from the installation of sidewalk canopies suspended from the elevated structure of the M line on both sides of Palmetto Street, providing shelter from the elements throughout the Terminal.

Other amenities include: benches and new lighting to improve the waiting environment for customers; new bus stop signage; bus holding lights linked to the L line (they will be activated as part of a subsequent signal system); and a new dispatcher’s booth, improving working conditions for NYC Transit employees.

The Ferreira Construction Company is the contractor for this project.

This is a nice first step in improving the accessibility to the plethora of transit options available to riders. However it is the not a home run solution as there are still considerable pedestrian flow problems that exist including some who will have to cross even more to access the terminal. It should be interesting to see how well received this terminal will be by riders in the coming months.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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New LIRR Timetables Go Into Effect Sept 13th

Posted by
on August 22nd, 2010 at 9:54 pm

It is that time of year again where new timetables for the Long Island Rail Road kick in. These timetables are a little different from the norm as they factor in the second phase of service cuts. Here are the complete details courtesy of a press release sent to be by the LIRR on Friday:

New LIRR timetables in effect September 13, 2010 will contain schedule adjustments for some trains as well as the elimination of other trains. The new schedules implement the second phase of budget-related cuts in LIRR service that were approved by the MTA Board in March.

These service reductions along with those implemented last May 17 were required as part of the effort to close the MTA’s $900-million budget gap. The service reductions will save approximately $950,000 this year and $3.8-million annually starting in 2011. However, the LIRR will be monitoring the changes in the new timetable and will make schedule adjustments, as necessary, based on additional ridership and possible crowding on trains.

Service Reductions (budget-related)

Atlantic Terminal:

Overnight service is eliminated between Atlantic Terminal and Jamaica is eliminated. On weeknights, train service to/from Brooklyn will be available to/from Brooklyn until midnight and resume around 5:00 AM; and on weekends service will be available until midnight and resume around 5:49 AM. Additional timetable changes are necessary to accommodate the fall track work and construction program.

____

Long Beach Branch:

The 6:09 AM train to Atlantic Terminal has been cancelled. Service is available at 5:35 AM or 6:37 AM.

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Montauk Branch:

The 4:30 PM trains from Hunterspoint Avenue to Montauk will only operate on Fridays from May through October. An Amagansett stop has been added to the 4:06 PM train from Hunterspoint Avenue in order to close a gap in service.

____

Port Washington Branch:

Midday weekday service and all weekend service is reduced from every half-hour to every hour. On weekdays there are 14 trains removed from the schedule with stops added to the remaining trains where needed, to provide service to all stations each hour. On weekends 32 trains are removed from the schedule.

After carefully examining the expected impact on customer demand and usage associated with the implementation of the hourly service during the midday weekday hours, the LIRR has decided to restore the 4:43 PM peak hour train from Penn Station to Port Washington so that the departures from Penn Station in the 4:15 PM to 5:15 PM hour will be as follows:

4:22 PM to Port Washington; 4:25 PM to Great Neck; 4:43 PM to Port Washington; 4:46 PM to Great Neck; and 5:11 PM to Port Washington.

____

Ronkonkoma Branch:

The 4:34 PM train to Ronkonkoma from Atlantic Terminal is canceled. The 4:24 PM Penn Station-Ronkonkoma train will have an added stop at Jamaica and the 4:31 PM Penn Station-Huntington train will have added stops at New Hyde Park, Merillon Avenue, Mineola, Carle Place and Westbury to accommodate affected customers.

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Main Line-Greenport:

Weekend service will only be available from Memorial Day Weekend through Columbus Day Weekend.

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West Hempstead Branch:

Weekend service is eliminated. The 8:28 AM peak train to Atlantic Terminal has been canceled and other departure times of AM peak trains have been altered to provide more evenly space morning service with an AM schedule as follows: 5:37 AM; 6:53 AM; 7:36 AM; 8:07 AM; and 8:54 AM.

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Jury Duty Special:
Starting September 13, the “Jury Duty Special” train will begin operating on the Main Line/Ronkonkoma Branch to get Suffolk jurors to Riverhead before 9 AM every day the courts are in session.

The train will depart from Deer Park at 7:54 AM, making stops at Brentwood (7:59 AM), Central Islip (8:03 AM), Ronkonkoma (8:10 AM), Medford (8:21 AM), Yaphank (8:29 AM) and arriving in Riverhead at 8:55 AM, where a free shuttle bus will take jurors to nearby courthouses.

The process is reversed in the afternoon, with trains leaving Riverhead Station at 1:21 PM and 3:58 PM. More than 30,000 Suffolk County residents are summoned to serve on juries in Riverhead every year.

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Construction/Track Work Projects

Babylon Branch (also affecting Port Jefferson, Oyster Bay, Montauk trains):

Midday weekdays, one of two main tracks between Freeport and Amityville will be out of service for a track tie replacement program. One local train will operate in each direction each hour. The second Babylon local train will originate and terminate in Freeport and have added stops at Lynbrook and St. Albans each hour.

Semi-express service will remain hourly with added stops at Amityville, Copiague and Lindenhurst and no stops at Freeport and Massapequa. Train times will be adjusted up to 31 minutes later. There will also be some minor schedule adjustments for connecting trains at Jamaica for some Port Jefferson/Huntington, Oyster Bay, and Montauk Branch trains.

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Far Rockaway Branch (also affecting Hempstead, Huntington, Long Beach trains):

Midday weekdays, one of two main tracks between Valley Stream and Far Rockaway will be out of service for a track tie replacement program. Eastbound Far Rockaway trains will operate 30 minutes later and eastbound Hempstead Branch trains (connecting at Jamaica) will also operate 30 minutes later.

Eastbound Long Beach trains will operate 35 minutes later. Some midday eastbound Huntington trains will operate three minutes later.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions 08-21-10

Posted by
on August 21st, 2010 at 3:55 am

I have just updated the “Service Diversions” page with the latest weekend diversions by removing all of the scheduled work that wrapped up by 11:59 PM last night. The next update will be sometime after 5:01 AM Monday when all of the weekend diversions are removed & the ones for the week move up the list.

I suggest you print out a copy of the page to carry with you or use any mobile device to access the phone-friendly version of Transit Blogger. Try to stay cool & as always, have safe travels!

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions 08-20-10

Posted by
on August 20th, 2010 at 4:36 am

I have just updated the “Service Diversions” page with the latest weekend diversions. The remaining diversions scheduled to end by 11:59 PM tonight are still listed. The next update will be at 12:01 AM Saturday when those diversions are officially over.

I suggest you print out a copy of the page to carry with you or use any mobile device to access the phone-friendly version of Transit Blogger. Try to stay cool & as always, have safe travels!

xoxo Transit Blogger

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1

Mr. S Charter Services Picks Up The Slack

Posted by
on August 19th, 2010 at 7:06 am

When the MTA enacted major service cuts & eliminations recently, bus service was arguably the hardest hit. All 5 boroughs lost service with some having it worse than others. Private bus companies such as TransportAzumah have tried to pick up the slack by offering service in place of eliminated lines. However a judge put a stop to that quickly by filing a restraining order against the company.

This has not stopped a company called Mr. S Charter Services from doing something similar. The company has started to run buses via the X29 route which was eliminated. However according to a report by Matthew Schuerman of WNYC, they have done so with some questions about their company:

A number of private bus companies and van drivers are trying to pick up the slack left by this summer’s MTA’s service cuts. They’re thinking private enterprise could operate those routes more efficiently than the public sector — and even make a profit. In late June, one company, Mr. S Charter Services, started running along a former express bus route in Brooklyn.

The buses don’t look like typical MTA buses. When one pulls up to Coney Island Avenue and Avenue X after 7:30 one morning, its windshield is embalzoned with the words “God Bless America” and “Blessed Save with Grace.”

“He’s a lifesaver,” says one rider, Carole Ragab, about Mr. S (whose full name is Steve Lowery). “We wouldn’t have a bus to take.”

The interiors of Mr. S’s coaches are a bit more worn out than a typical MTA vehicle. But his buses stop at the same places where the old X29 express bus did until the MTA’s service cuts in late June. They start in Coney Island and ending up in Midtown Manhattan. Forty minutes into the ride, there are only a handful of seats empty. That’s when Mrs. S, the owner’s wife, boards the bus and collects $5 from everyone.

But there are hidden problems. Lowery was running charter buses throughout the Northeast before he took on this job. But in order to pick up and discharge passengers on routes within the five boroughs, he needs authorization from the city. A Transportation Department spokesman wouldn’t confirm that he has that authorization.

On interstate routes, federal inspectors have taken Mr. S’s buses out of service almost twice as frequently than the national average. That’s because inspectors found safety violations, including worn out tires, inadequate emergency exits and unqualified drivers.

The New York State Department of Transportation also found problems when Lowery was operating long-distance routes to upstate prisons.

Click here for the complete report.

It is nice to see a company picking up the slack for riders who depended on this particular route. However a thorough investigation into the company’s track record is in order & if it turns up unsatisfactory results, they should not be allowed to operate. While it is a good thing to pick up the slack, doing so with questionable equipment & safety records is not. I look forward to finding out more.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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