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Bx12 Fare Beating Still A Problem

Posted by
on April 6th, 2010 at 10:50 am

A little under 2 years has passed & the problem still remains, fare evasion on the Bx12’s Select Bus Service that is. The popular service which started in 2008 has faced this issue from the very get-go. The agency attempted to fix it by stepping up fare enforcement. However a May 2009 report in the New York Daily News talked about how the enforcement had not really fixed the issue. Fast forward to 2010 & the problem continues to persist according to a report in today’s New York Daily News by Mike Jaccarino:

They’re still stealing.

Nearly a year after the Daily News found flagrant fare-beating on an experimental “honor system” express bus line, riders are still ripping off the cash-strapped Metropolitan Transportation Authority, a Bronx Boro News investigation found.

After the first News exposé on rampant fare-beating on the Bx12 Select Bus Service along Fordham Road and Pelham Parkway, the MTA said it launched a crackdown.

But recent stakeouts by The News at a number of stops along the route found dozens of riders still brazenly boarding the buses, distinctive for their flashing blue lights, without first buying the required tickets at kiosks at the stops.

Over the course of an hour at each stop, 40 fare-beaters boarded the bus at Fordham Plaza sans tickets; 22 did so near the Pelham Bay IRT subway stop, and 27 at the stop on Pelham Parkway at Williamsbridge Road.

The revelation comes as the money-bleeding MTA implements a Doomsday plan that cuts bus and subway routes around the city. The MTA has also threatened to eliminate the student MetroCard.

The Bx12 SBS began rolling June 30, 2008, as a way to speed up the ride across the congested Fordham Road corridor. The line now carries an average of 30,500 riders weekly.

A squad of eagle-eyed cops and retired police officers were supposed to enforce the bus honor system with spot checks.

The MTA said its has issued 6,532 summonses, each carrying a $100 fine, to date.

Click here for the complete report.

Something needs to be done about this as it is almost 2 years & the same issues continue to manifest. In a day & age where every dollar counts for the much maligned transit agency, they must find a way to work with the NYPD to curtail fare evasion. Maybe the cops should spend less time giving out frivolous tickets to paying subway riders & focus on catching fare beaters on the Bx12.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Subway Car Announcement Report Released

Posted by
on April 5th, 2010 at 6:59 am

It is that time of year again, where the NYPIRG Straphangers’ Campaign releases its Subway Car Announcement Report. The report focuses on the clarity & accuracy of subway car announcements. Here is the press release they issued this morning for the report:

More than 80% of basic announcements made on subway cars are clear and accurate, according to the annual survey of subway car announcement released today by the Straphangers Campaign. (See Table One.)

At the same time, in 55% of delays and disruptions experienced by our raters, there was either no announcement — or an inaudible, garbled or incorrect one.

Official transit guidelines require conductors to make basic, in-car announcements including the line, station name and any transfer points.

The guidelines also list 18 possible delay announcements with detailed reasons for the delay ranging from “unruly person on the train” to “waiting for connecting train.” The policy says, “If there is a delay, [the conductor] must make an announcement immediately [and again] within 2 minutes after that.”

“We’re glad basic subway car announcements are improving, but disappointed most riders are being left in the dark to cope with delays and reroutings,” said Cate Contino, Campaign coordinator who oversaw the survey.

“Poor announcements can mean missed stops, longer trips and a lot more stress,” said Jason Chin-Fatt, field organizer for the Campaign.

The survey was conducted by 51 staff and volunteers between February 3 and July 11, 2009.

They made 6,600 observations of in-car announcement opportunities on 22 subway lines. Our surveyors experienced and rated 121 delay and service change announcement opportunities during the same survey period. The survey follows eight similar surveys conducted between 1997 and 2006. We privately released our findings in 2007 to New York City Transit in deference of the start of a new transit administration. This is the first survey we have released since then. (See methodology.)

Among the key findings of the survey were:

• The 4, 5, 6, L, M and N lines performed the best in making basic announcements. Our raters heard basic announcements that were clear, ungarbled and correct for a perfect 100% of the time on the 6 and M; all the top-performing lines had automated announcements and performed perfectly or near perfectly.

• The D, G and 7 performed worst in our survey, with 61% adequate basic announcements on the G, and 62% on the D and 7.

• In the delays and disruptions experienced by out raters, 55% of the time (67 out of 121) there was either no announcement — or an inaudible, garbled or incorrect one.

• Announcements were not made at all 26% of the time (31 out of 121); 2% were inaudible or garbled (3) and 27% (33) were rated “incorrect.” These were meaningless announcements that “we have a red signal,” ones lacking key information such as, “This local is now an express” (with no explanation), or ones with jargon such as, “We have a schedule adjustment.”

MTA New York City Transit does not survey delay and disruption delays on subway cars. The agency did survey the “percentage of cars with public address announcements” in the first half of 2009.

Some 90% of cars are rated as having public address announcements. This is broken down by cars with automated announcements (99%) and conductor announcements (84%).

Click here to view “Table 1“.

Click here to view their “Methodology“.

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The report contained no huge surprises. The lines one would expect to be strong were, & the ones one would expect to perform poorly did just that. Until the MTA has advanced technological subway cars on all lines, the ones that have them will always outperform their older equipment counterparts.

The biggest gripe I have with human announcements is the lack of clarity due to faulty equipment along with the lack of information given. I feel that sometimes, conductors tend to assume that the majority of riders know alternatives if things suddenly change. This is an assumption that is wrong as most are programmed to know the standard route they take. How many realistically research every possible way to get to destinations in case of an emergency? The answer is an extremely low percentage.

What should be addressed is spreading out better equipment on all lines so surveys like these can make accurate & legitimate comparisons. Anything else seems like a waste of time & resources.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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0

Security Camera Plan Leaves Out Many Stations

Posted by
on April 5th, 2010 at 6:30 am

Security is one of the biggest concerns for subway riders in New York City (NYC). This concern has increased even more over the last week due to the recent murder of 2 riders on a Brooklyn-bound 2 Train train. So it is safe to assume that this next story will not help calm those concerns. According to a report by Pete Donohue of the New York Daily News, the MTA’s latest “subway security camera plan leaves 75% of stations unwatched”. Let’s take a look at a brief sample of his report:

Even after the MTA expands its security plans, only about one in four subway stations will have surveillance cameras at turnstiles, the Daily News has learned.

Nearly 70 stations now have surveillance cameras capturing riders entering and exiting through turnstile banks, and the MTA plans to expand surveillance of these so-called “fare control areas” to 100 stations in June.

But the MTA doesn’t have the money or approved plans to expand the coverage beyond that.

Click here for the complete report.

What a surprise, money is the lead trouble issue involving some sort of transit project. Where have we heard that one before? Seriously though, it comes as no surprise that they do not have the money necessary to install cameras in all stations. However in the big scheme of things, is this really that bad?

I am of the belief that we as a society have too many cameras watching us as it is. Security cameras is subways provide a false sense of security in the same way token booth clerks do. While the security camera will deter some, a criminal who has his mindset on committing a crime will do it whether the camera is there or not. Plus how good are the quality of these cameras anyway? Do you tend to notice that camera footage tends to be blurry & not exactly helpful in providing strong identification of people.

In the end, security cameras will not make the subway safer, targeted police presence & overall improvement of the environment will. Don’t let the false sense of security convince you otherwise.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions 04-02-10

Posted by
on April 2nd, 2010 at 2:00 am

I have just updated the “Service Diversions” page with the latest information for the weekend & following week (beyond in some cases). 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

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Extra LIRR Trains For NY Mets Season Opener

Posted by
on April 2nd, 2010 at 1:46 am

Once again, the MTA Long Island Rail Road will be running extra trains for the New York Mets season opener. They will also have trains stopping at the new stadium the day before, for their open practice. Here are the complete details about these two days & overall season plans courtesy of a press release sent to me by the agency:

Baseball is back starting Monday, April 5 with the Mets season opener against the Florida Marlins. The game is timeless, and so too, is getting there on the MTA Long Island Rail Road, the best way to travel to Mets home games at Citi Field Stadium. For the 1:10 PM season opener, the LIRR will provide extra service to supplement the regular train service to Mets-Willets Point Station for Mets baseball. On April 4, the day prior to the season opener, there will be an Open Practice at Citi Field starting at 11 AM, and LIRR train service will be available for fans attending the event.

Train service to Mets-Willets Point is available on eastbound Port Washington Branch trains from Penn Station and westbound trains from Great Neck and Port Washington. The train ride is just 19 minutes from Penn Station to Mets-Willets Point. For those traveling on the LIRR from Long Island, the ballpark is just seven minutes from Woodside, 17 minutes from Great Neck and 27 minutes from Port Washington. From Long Island, customers may travel directly to the stadium from Port Washington Branch stations. Customers from other branches should transfer at Woodside for service to Mets-Willets Point.

LIRR trains will be making stops at Mets-Willets Point Station during regular games. Starting times for weekday day games are 1:10 PM, weekday night games at 7:10 PM, and weekend day games at 1:10 PM. Please note, the weekend game on Sunday, April 25, will start at 8:05 PM

Sunday, April 4 – Mets Open Practice:

The LIRR will stop regularly scheduled trains at Mets-Willets Point station stop this Sunday, April 4 for the Mets special workout taking place between 11:00 AM and 1 PM.

The following Port Washington Branch trains will stop at Mets-Willets Point this Sunday:

Eastbound: Depart NY at 8:48 AM, 9:19 AM, 9:48 AM, 10:19 AM, 10:48 AM, 11:19 AM, 11:48 AM, 12:19 PM, 12:48 PM, 1:19 PM, 1:48 PM, and 2:19 PM.

Westbound: Depart Port Washington at 8:39 AM, 9:10 AM, 9:39 AM, 10:10 AM, 10:39 AM, 11:10 AM, 11:39 AM, 12:10 PM, 12:39 PM, 1:10 PM,1:39 PM, and 2:10 PM.

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On Opening Day, April 5, the LIRR will provide additional eastbound trains from Penn Station to Mets-Willets Point, and additional westbound trains from Port Washington to supplement the regular Mets schedule. The full listing on Opening Day train service is as follows:

Opening Day, April 5 (start at 1:10 PM):

Eastbound: Departing Penn Station at: 9:49 AM, 10:49 AM, 11:19 AM, 11:49 AM, 12:19 PM, 12:49 PM, 1:19 PM, 1:49 PM, 2:49 PM, 3:18 PM, 3:49 PM, 4:22 PM, 4:25 PM, and 4:46 PM.

Westbound: Departing Port Washington at: 10:08 AM, 10:40 AM, 11:08 AM, 11:40 AM, 12:08 PM, 12:40 PM, 1:08 PM, 2:08 PM, 3:10 PM, 3:40 PM, 4:06 PM, 4:36 PM, and 5:00 PM

____

The following Main Line trains will have added Woodside stops:

Eastbound: 4:54 PM train from NY to Farmingdale, 5:04 PM train from NY to Hempstead, 5:24 PM train from NY to Hempstead, 6:21 PM train from NY to Ronkonkoma and 6:35 PM from NY to Hicksville.

Westbound: 10:29 AM from Babylon, 11:28 AM from Freeport, 11:29 AM from Babylon and 12:28 PM from Freeport.

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The following Port Washington trains will have added Mets-Willets Point Station stops during regular season day games, Monday through Friday, from April 28 through May 12:

Regular Season Day Games (start at 1:10 PM):

Eastbound: Departing Penn Station at: 9:49 AM, 10:49 AM, 11:49 AM, 12:49 PM, 1:49 PM, 2:49 PM, 3:18 PM, 3:49 PM, 4:25 PM, and 4:46 PM

Westbound: Departing Port Washington at: 10:08 AM, 11:08 AM, 12:08 PM, 1:08 PM, 2:08 PM, 3:10 PM, 3:40 PM, 4:06 PM, 4:36 PM, and 5:00 PM

____

The following Port Washington trains will have added Mets-Willets Point Station stops during regular season night games, Monday through Friday, from April 7 through May 16:

Regular Season Night Games (start at 7:10 PM):

Eastbound: Departing Penn Station at: 3:49 PM, 4:25 PM, 4:46 PM, 5:14 PM, 5:29 PM, 5:50 PM, 5:56 PM, 6:14 PM, 6:42 PM, 7:14 PM, 7:49 PM, 8:19 PM, 8:48 PM, 9:18 PM, 9:48 PM, 10:18 PM, 10:48 PM, 11:18 PM, 11:48 PM, 12:19 AM (Saturday)

Westbound: Departing Port Washington at: 4:06 PM, 4:36 PM, 5:00 PM, 5:23 PM, 6:24 PM, 7:09 PM, 7:39 PM, 8:09 PM, 8:39 PM, 9:09 PM, 9:39 PM, 10:09 PM, 10:39 PM, 11:39 PM, 12:40 AM (Saturday); The following trains will originate at Great Neck: 5:44 PM, 6:04 PM, 6:20 PM, and 6:44 PM

____

The following Port Washington trains will have added Mets-Willets Point Station stops during regular season day games, Saturday, Sunday and Holiday day games from April 10 through May 16:

Saturday, Sunday and Holiday Day Games (start at 1:10 PM):

Eastbound: Departing Penn Station at: 10:19 AM, 10:48 AM, 11:19 AM, 11:48 AM, 12:19 PM, 12:48 PM, 1:19 PM, 1:48 PM, 2:19 PM, 2:48 PM, 3:19 PM, 3:48 PM, 4:19 PM, 4:48 PM, 5:19 PM, 5:48 PM, 6:19 PM, 6:48 PM, and 7:19 PM

Westbound: Departing Port Washington at: 10:10 AM, 10:39 AM, 11:10 AM, 11:39 AM, 12:10 PM, 12:39 PM, 1:10 PM, 1:39 PM, 2:10 PM, 2:39 PM, 3:10 PM, 3:39 PM, 4:10 PM, 4:39 PM, 5:10 PM, 5:39 PM, 6:10 PM, 6:39 PM, 7:10 PM, and 7:39 PM

____

The following Port Washington trains will have added Mets-Willets Point Station stops on Sunday, April 25:

Sunday Night Game, April 25 only (start at 8:05 PM):

Eastbound: Departing Penn Station at: 4:48 PM, 5:19 PM, 5:49 PM, 6:19 PM, 6:48 PM, 7:19 PM, 7:48 PM, 8:19 PM, 8:48 PM, 9:19 PM, 9:48 PM, 10:19 PM, 10:48 PM, 11:19 PM, 12:19 AM and 1:18 AM (Monday)

Westbound: Departing Port Washington at: 4:39 PM, 5:10 PM, 5:39 PM, 6:10 PM, 6:39 PM, 7:10 PM, 7:39 PM, 8:10 PM, 8:39 PM, 9:10 PM, 9:39 PM, 10:10 PM, 10:39 PM, 11:40 PM, and 12:40 AM (Monday)

________

The LIRR’s Mets-Willets Point Station is not handicapped accessible. The subway Flushing Line Mets-Willets Point station is accessible via the Queens-bound local platform, with an ADA ramp connecting to the sidewalk on the south side of Roosevelt Avenue. LIRR Customers with mobility impairments who are traveling to see the Mets should travel to Woodside Station.

At Woodside Station, which has elevators, customers should transfer to a Flushing-bound #7 subway train to the Mets-Willets Point subway stop, and then use the ramp to reach Roosevelt Avenue, across from the ballpark.

To return to Woodside after the game, customers with mobility impairments should board the #7 subway and travel one stop east to its end point, the Flushing-Main Street Station. There, after a brief wait on the train, the train will head west to Woodside. This is necessary due to the location of the ramp, which will only permit access to the eastbound platform.

Fans traveling from branches other than Port Washington can reach Mets-Willets Point by taking a regularly scheduled train to Woodside Station, then changing to an eastbound Port Washington Branch train. Since Mets-Willets Point is located in Zone 1, tickets to that zone from outlying stations are valid to Mets-Willets Point.

However, passengers must retain their ticket stubs and inform ticket collectors of their intention to travel to Mets-Willets Point Stadium. Customers must hold onto their tickets, which will be collected at Mets-Willets Point after they disembark.

The Railroad’s special Family Fare is a great way for future big leaguers to see their favorite team. Children, ages 5 through 11, can ride for only 75-cents each when tickets are purchased at a ticket office or from a ticket machine, during off-peak hours, when accompanied by an adult paying the regular off-peak fare.

Parents with monthly or weekly tickets just pay for the children. Up to four children can travel with each parent (or guardian, 18 or older) at this special rate. The Family Fare is $1 per child if purchased on-board a train. For travel during peak hours, the child fare is one-half the regular one-way fare. Children under 5 ride for free at all times.

Mets-Willets Point timetables are available at LIRR ticket offices and terminals. Fans can also contact the LIRR’s 24-hour Travel Information Center.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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