7 Line Extension Will Be A Colossal Mistake
The 7 line extension is a topic I have covered in great detail since 2007. As longtime readers would know, I have been a vocal critic about the whole project, especially if it is to be completed without a much needed subway station for the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood.
This past Sunday’s edition of the New York Daily News contained a scathing article by Adam Lisberg in which he says the city will be making a colossal mistake in building this extension without the Hell’s Kitchen station:
New York’s mass transit system is a thing of wonder, but it was built with a few mistakes.
Like Penn Station’s subway stops, where the express and local platforms are separate, so you can’t wait for what comes first.
Like the Grand Central Parkway to LaGuardia, built with no room for train tracks, so you’re always doomed to a $30 cab ride.
Now, the city is about to make another colossal mistake, drilling a subway line without the stop that was always supposed to be in the middle – and Mayor Bloomberg is going to stand by and watch it happen.
The city is paying to extend the 7 train from the Port Authority Bus Terminal to 34th St. and 11th Ave., where it will give the Related Companies’ planned mega-development the subway access it needs.
Developers are supposed to pay for most of the costs through increased property tax, but taxpayers will be on the hook, too – starting with $46 million this year.
The project has stayed on its $2.1 billion budget, but only by eliminating a proposed station in the middle at 41st St. and 10th Ave.
Click here for the complete report.
As I have stated in the past, I am not a fan of this project. I feel it is a complete waste & benefits so little when projects that could benefit many more are left as pipe dreams. However at this point, it is obvious that the extension will be built regardless of the lack of legitimate need for it. Since it is going through, I agree it is a colossal mistake in not building a station in Hell’s Kitchen. Honestly, if that was the only station built in the extension, the project would make actual sense.
xoxo Transit Blogger
You might enjoy reading these related entries:- City Officials Continue To Insult The MTA
- MTA Ready To Screw Up 7 Line Extension….
- Looks Like Hell Kitchen Has To Play The Waiting Game
- Poor Hells Kitchen Never Stood A Chance
- MTA Statement On 10th Av Station For 7 Line Ext.
MTA LIRR North Fork Service Affected
Earlier this afternoon, the MTA Long Island Rail Road announced that service on the North Fork east of Ronkonkoma will be affected to two grade crossing renewal projects. Here are the complete details from the press release I received:
MTA Long Island Rail Road service on the Main Line east of Ronkonkoma will be affected by two grade crossing renewal projects during two weeks in May. The Peconic Lane crossing in Peconic will be reconstructed during the week of May 10 through May 14 and the Horton Lane crossing in Southold will be reconstructed during the week of May 17-May 21. During the work midday train service will be replaced by buses and highway traffic will be detoured around the sites. The work includes replacing the rubber crossing pads with longer lasting and smoother concrete crossing materials as well as rebuilding the track bed and replacing the wood track ties with longer lasting concrete track ties in the crossing area.
May 10-May 14 Midday Train Service:
Peconic Lane Crossing:
Eastbound: Customers on the 9:02 AM train from Ronkonkoma will transfer to a bus at the Riverhead Station to complete their trips to Mattituck, Southold or Greenport.
Westbound: Customers who normally board the 11:42 AM train from Greenport will board a bus at their stations through Mattituck ten minutes earlier than train time and transfer to a train at Riverhead to complete their trips.
Highway Detour for Peconic Lane Crossing (May 10-May 14):
Southbound: Proceed east on Middle Road (County Rd. 48), then proceed south on Caroll Ave. to Peconic Lane.
Northbound: Heading north on Peconic Lane, proceed east on Caroll Ave., then proceed west on Middle Rd. (County Rd. 48).
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May 17-May 21 Midday Train Service:
Horton Lane Crossing:
Eastbound: Customers on the 9:02 AM and 1:43 PM trains from Ronkonkoma will board buses at Ronkonkoma to complete their trips.
Westbound: Customers for the 11:42 AM train from Greenport and the 3:19 PM train from Riverhead will instead board buses at their stations and transfer to trains at Ronkonkoma to complete their trips.
Highway Detour for Horton Lane Crossing (May 17-May 21):
Southbound: Proceed east on Middle Rd. (County R. 48), then proceed south on Youngs Ave., and then proceed west on Main Rd.
Northbound: Proceed east on Main Rd., then proceed north on Youngs Ave., then west on Middle Rd. (County Rd. 48).
xoxo Transit Blogger
You might enjoy reading these related entries:- Buses Replace Some Ronkonkoma Trains
- Buses To Replace Some Midday LIRR Trains East Of Ronkonkoma
- LIRR Resumes Service To North Fork
- Rail Inspections To Affect Ronkonkoma Service
- Multiple LIRR Lines Affected For Two Weekends
Service Diversions 04-29-10
I have just updated the “Service Diversions” page with the latest information for the weekend & following week (beyond in some cases). LIRR riders, do not forget about the bridge construction which is knocking out service on the Long Beach line this weekend. I suggest you print out a copy of the diversions to carry with you or use your mobile device to access the phone friendly version of Transit Blogger. Have a safe & wonderful weekend!
xoxo Transit Blogger
You might enjoy reading these related entries:- Service Diversions 04-02-10
- Service Diversions 03-26-10
- Service Diversions 04-22-10
- Service Diversions 04-15-10
- Service Diversions 04-09-10
Early AM Ronkonkoma Service Affected May 8th
Just a short time ago, the MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) sent out a press release to announce that early morning service on the Ronkonkoma branch will be affected on Saturday May 8th due to rail inspections. Here are the complete details:
The MTA Long Island Rail Road will provide bus service in place of trains, east of Farmingdale on the Ronkonkoma Branch during the early morning of Saturday, May 8, 2010. Track inspections will be made by the Sperry Rail Car between 12:45 AM and 6:39 AM.
The Sperry Rail Car, a bright yellow vehicle fitted with ultrasonic and induction test equipment, is designed to detect internal rail defects not readily visible to the eye. Defects that are found will be corrected immediately by a crew of LIRR track maintenance workers. The Sperry Rail Car is used twice a year to inspect approximately 500 miles of LIRR track.
While the Sperry Rail Car testing is performed between Ronkonkoma and Farmingdale, buses will partially replace 8 east and westbound early-morning trains. Eastbound customers should expect up to 33 minutes of additional travel time and westbound customers should expect up to 36 minutes of additional travel time.
Eastbound:
Early-morning customers traveling through Farmingdale Station will not be affected. Those customers traveling to Wyandanch, Deer Park, Brentwood, Central Islip and Ronkonkoma stations, will change at Hicksville for connecting bus service.
The following trains will be affected:
• The 12:14 AM Penn Station train due in Ronkonkoma at 1:36 AM
• The 1:16 AM Penn Station train due in Ronkonkoma at 2:38 AM
• The 2:53 AM Penn Station train due in Ronkonkoma at 4:14 AM
• The 4:43 AM Penn Station train due in Ronkonkoma at 6:05 AM
Westbound:
Bus service will replace early-morning train service for customers traveling from Ronkonkoma, Central Islip, Brentwood, Deer Park and Wyandanch stations to Hicksville Station. Customers traveling from Farmingdale and Bethpage stations will board their normally scheduled trains.
The following trains will be affected:
• The 12:44 AM Ronkonkoma train due in Penn Station at 2:02 AM
• The 2:10 AM Ronkonkoma train due in Penn Station at 3:27 AM
• The 3:45 AM Ronkonkoma train due in Penn Station at 5:02 AM
• The 5:37 AM Ronkonkoma train due in Penn Station at 6:59 AM
xoxo Transit Blogger
You might enjoy reading these related entries:- Rail Inspections To Affect Ronkonkoma Service
- Buses To Replace Overnight Ronkonkoma Trains
- Buses To Replace Trains On The Ronkonkoma Line
- Rail Inspections To Affect LIRR Service
- LIRR Ronkonkoma Service Changes Continue
MTA Files Alert To Layoff About 750 Workers
Earlier this morning, I posted a sample from the Q&A held between Streetsblog NYC Editor Ben Fried & TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen. In the Q&A, Mr. Samuelsen expressed his concern for the jobs that the MTA is looking to cut in order to attack the huge budget deficit it faces. His main talking point is that the MTA should use the legally allotted percentage of stimulus funds to save these jobs.
Yesterday, Michael M. Grynbaum of the New York Times wrote a report about how the MTA plans more rounds of layoffs by July 4th:
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority plans to lay off hundreds of bus drivers and subway workers by July 4, as the agency prepares to carry out severe service cuts to the city’s mass transit system.
More than 550 bus workers will be laid off by New York City Transit on June 27, coinciding with the elimination of dozens of bus lines and two subway routes, according to documents filed with the state on Tuesday. An additional 122 subway workers, mostly car inspectors, will lose their jobs on July 4, the agency said.
The transportation authority has resorted to layoffs for the first time in decades as it tries to close an $800 million budget shortfall brought on by reduced financing from the state.
Jay H. Walder, the new chairman, has described the layoffs as a painful but necessary step to rein in costs at the agency, which has long had a reputation as a bloated bureaucracy.
Under a previously announced plan, about 500 subway station agents will also lose their jobs in the next two weeks, and the number of administrative workers will be reduced by 600 through a mix of layoffs and buyouts. These cuts will save about $65 million.
The layoffs have incensed labor representatives, who argue that Mr. Walder should find alternative ways to close the gap.
John Samuelsen, the president of Transport Workers Union Local 100, which represents the bulk of the city’s transit employees, said the authority should use federal stimulus money to cover its operating expenses.
Click here for the complete report.
Today’s New York Daily News Report featured a brief report by Pete Donohue which talks about the MTA filing the legal alert with the New York State Labor Department for the approximate 750 layoffs that are upcoming:
Hundreds of bus drivers, mechanics and cleaners could be receiving pink slips from the MTA.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has filed a legally required alert with the state Labor Department about plans to lay off about 750 employees, the vast majority from the bus division.
The layoffs are the latest harsh cuts to emerge from the MTA’s severe budget woes
Click here for the complete report.
As I said earlier this morning, I strongly disagree with the major position that Mr. Samuelsen is taking. While I understand his desire to keep the jobs belonging to his members. However during these tough financial times, he also has to understand that the agency needs to save money & some of the cuts are for positions that are more a luxury instead of a necessity. Also he has to let go of this bogus idea of using a percentage of stimulus funds to help cut the budget deficit.
However I will say this, where are the reports about the MTA laying off the wasteful office & management positions? They have a lot of waste going on outside of the blue-collar workforce in terms of redundant positions. If they want to cut out wasteful union jobs, they have to follow the same set of rules & eliminate the office & management waste. This is the only acceptable solution.
xoxo Transit Blogger
