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NYCT To Run Vintage Buses For The Holidays

Posted by
on November 25th, 2009 at 3:00 am

Catching up with some news & notes sent to me by the MTA over the last few days….

Over the last few years, it has become sort of a tradition to see some form of vintage buses or subway cars in use during the holidays. The 2009 holiday season will be no different as New York City Transit announces it will run vintage buses. Here are the complete details courtesy of the press release I received:

M42 crosstown bus customers will be able to take a ride back in time when MTA New York City Transit places into service a fleet of vintage New York City Transit buses for the holiday season. Everything but the MetroCard fare boxes will be original.

The crosstown buses will be in operation from Monday, November 23 through the end of the holiday season, running on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. With a little bit of luck and good timing, you could catch a ride back in time on a classic coach for the price of a regular ride. And don’t forget, these 1950s-era buses are equipped with modern fare boxes, so they’ll accept your MetroCard or coins.

“These buses are a living, breathing part of the city’s history,” said Joseph Smith, MTA Bus Company President and Senior Vice President of Buses for MTA NYC Transit. “Riding on these buses is a fantastic counterpoint to the vehicles we operate currently,” noted Joseph Smith. “It’s obvious that we have come a long way since the 1950s and, despite the charm of the older equipment, our customers are benefiting from major advances in bus efficiency, design and accessibility.”

The agency’s historic fleet contains 19 buses, ranging in age from the Queen Anne – a 1917 wood-bodied double-decker manufactured in the shops of the old Fifth Avenue Coach Company – to bus number 1201, NYC Transit’s first General Motors RTS.

Many of the vehicles have been deemed to have historical significance to the city, including bus number 3100, a 1956 GM which was the first air-conditioned transit bus manufactured, and 5227, the last non-wheelchair accessible bus to operate for NYC Transit, pulled from service in 1993.

List and description of buses that will be in operation:

Bus No. 3100 – 1956 General Motors owned and operated by Fifth Avenue Coach Lines. (First Air-conditioned transit bus).

Bus No. 9098 – 1958 General Motors, among the first buses outfitted with fiberglass seats.

Bus No. 2969 – 1948 General Motors, among the first forty-foot transit buses to operate in NYC.

Hopefully I can catch & photograph one of these buses during the season.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Buses
0

Service Diversions 11-21

Posted by
on November 21st, 2009 at 1:48 am

Let me first apologize for the lack of updates recently. I have been extremely busy working on a major music project that should be launched in the coming months. I’ve also been busy looking for a new place to live. So I have not had the time to blog as I normally do. Anyhow, back to the main topic at hand which is to note that I have updated the service diversions for this weekend & next week (beyond in some cases).

So I advise you to print out a copy prior to any traveling. Also for those readers using the LIRR Oyster Bay branch, be prepared for another weekend of disruptions due to the Shore Road railroad bridge in Mill Neck being replaced. Here is a quick reminder sent to me by the LIRR:

Vans will replace trains between Oyster Bay and Locust Valley on the MTA Long Island Rail Road’s Oyster Bay Branch this weekend, November 21-22 as work continues on the replacement of the West Shore Road railroad bridge in Mill Neck. While the work is performed this weekend, West Shore Road will remain open for highway traffic, there will be no detour route required.

The Shore Road Bridge replacement project is part of the LIRR’s regular bridge maintenance and modernization program. This bridge was first installed in 1910 and has served the LIRR’s Oyster Bay Branch well for nearly a century.

Train Service Impacts:

The track between Oyster Bay and Locust Valley will be out of service beginning Friday, November 20 at 10:01 PM through Monday, November 23 at 2:01 AM. Van service will replace trains between Oyster Bay and Locust Valley as follows:

Eastbound:

During this weekend, eastbound Oyster Bay Branch trains will terminate at Locust Valley. Oyster Bay-bound customers will board vans at Locust Valley to complete their trips to Oyster Bay. Customers should expect additional travel time of eleven minutes.

Westbound:

During this weekend, westbound Oyster Bay Branch trains will originate from Locust Valley. Oyster Bay customers will board vans at Oyster Bay Station and proceed directly to Mineola to ensure connecting train service. Oyster Bay customers should expect up to 30 minutes additional travel time. Customers should pick up a copy of the special weekend November 21-22 Oyster Bay Branch timetable for van departure times from Oyster Bay Station.

Thirty-four passenger trains (17 eastbound and 17 westbound) travel over this bridge daily. Approximately 1,900 customers use the Oyster Bay Branch each day.

Bridge replacement became a priority in recent years due to the structure’s age and because of structural damage from vehicular strikes, a reported seven strikes since 2002 and numerous unreported strikes over the years. The new structure will be raised approximately 14 inches to approximately 13-feet seven inches highway clearance. Funding for this project, approximately $3.4 million, is provided by the Federal Transit Administration.

The work includes replacement of the bridge itself with a prefabricated span along with infrastructure reconstruction including bridge seats rehabilitation, reconstruction of bridge abutments and wing walls, installation of new approach slabs and ballast retaining structures at four corners. During the first phase of the bridge replacement work last weekend, the old bridge was hoisted out of place and replaced with the new prefabricated bridge using an 800-ton capacity crane, the largest crane ever used on LIRR property.

The remaining work this weekend includes the completion of the retaining wall installation.

Lastly, for those subway riders who might have planned on using the Broadway/Nassau – Fulton St transfer hub, please note that transfers will not be available between the lines serving these stations due to Phase II construction on the Fulton Street Transit Center Project. Here are the details courtesy of a press release sent to me by the MTA:

MTA NYC Transit announces that due to Phase II construction on the Fulton Street Transit Center Project, ramp and passageway access will be closed this weekend from 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 21 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 23.

Customers will not be able to transfer between the 23 and A trains. They may transfer between the 23 and the uptown A at Park Place-Chambers Street. Brooklyn-bound A trains will operate on the F line between West 4th Street and Jay Street this weekend. Travelers wishing to make a transfer between the uptown A and the downtown 45 must ask the station agent for a transfer ticket, exit the station and reenter at Broadway.

In addition, there are no transfers at Fulton Street/Broadway Nassau Street between 23 and 45 trains. Customers should plan to transfer between the 23 and 4 at Nevins Street in Brooklyn. Signs announcing the service changes have been posted on trains and station platforms and pamphlets are also available at the station booth. Station personnel and platform conductors will be on hand to help riders with directions. Announcements will be made on the affected trains and at the station. We apologize for any inconvenience to customers and urge them to allow extra time for travel.

The alternate connecting points can be seen on the service diversions page under each respective line affected. As always, have a safe & wonderful weekend!

xoxo Transit Blogger

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0

Service Diversions 11-12

Posted by
on November 13th, 2009 at 4:42 am

I updated the service diversions page with the latest information for this weekend & following week (beyond in some cases) on the rails. For those who will be using the LIRR’s Oyster Bay line, read up on the bridge replacement work affecting service. Lastly, I suggest printing out a copy of the page to use while riding the system. Have a safe & wonderful weekend!

xoxo Transit Blogger

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2

Oyster Bay Service Affected For Next 2 Weekends

Posted by
on November 13th, 2009 at 4:38 am

Yesterday afternoon, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) sent me a reminder press release about Oyster Bay service being affected for the next 2 weekends due to bridge replacement work. Here are the complete details:

Vans will replace trains between Oyster Bay and Locust Valley on the MTA Long Island Rail Road’s Oyster Bay Branch the weekends of November 14-15 and November 21-22 as the Shore Road railroad bridge in Mill Neck is replaced. In addition, West Shore Road will be closed to highway traffic and detoured as the bridge work progresses this weekend, November 14-15.

The Shore Road Bridge replacement project is part of the LIRR’s regular bridge maintenance and modernization program. This bridge was first installed in 1910 and has served the LIRR’s Oyster Bay Branch well for nearly a century.

Train Service Impacts
The track between Oyster Bay and Locust Valley will be out of service beginning Friday, November 13 at 10:01 PM through Monday, November 16 at 2:01 AM. Again on Friday, November 20 at 10:01 PM through Monday, November 23 at 2:01 AM. Van service will replace trains between Oyster Bay and Locust Valley as follows:

Eastbound:

During these weekends, eastbound Oyster Bay Branch trains will terminate at Locust Valley. Oyster Bay-bound customers will board vans at Locust Valley to complete their trips to Oyster Bay. Customers should expect additional travel time of eleven minutes.

Westbound:

During these weekends, westbound Oyster Bay Branch trains will originate from Locust Valley. Oyster Bay customers will board vans at Oyster Bay Station and proceed directly to Mineola to ensure connecting train service. Oyster Bay customers should expect up to 30 minutes additional travel time. Customers should pick up a copy of the special weekend November 14-15 and November 21-22 Oyster Bay Branch timetable for van departure times from Oyster Bay Station.

The work on the bridge replacement will also close West Shore Road from 8:00 PM, Friday, November 13 through 4:00 AM, Monday, November 16. Police and LIRR personnel will be on scene to detour highway traffic in the area. See the attached detour route below for details.

Thirty-four passenger trains (17 eastbound and 17 westbound) travel over this bridge daily. Approximately 1,900 customers use the Oyster Bay Branch each day.

Bridge replacement became a priority in recent years due to the structure’s age and because of structural damage from vehicular strikes, a reported seven strikes since 2002 and numerous unreported strikes over the years. The new structure will be raised approximately 14 inches to approximately 13-feet seven inches highway clearance. Funding for this project, approximately $3.4 million, is provided by the Federal Transit Administration.

The work includes replacement of the bridge itself with a prefabricated span along with infrastructure reconstruction including bridge seats rehabilitation, reconstruction of bridge abutments and wing walls, installation of new approach slabs and ballast retaining structures at four corners. The old bridge will be hoisted out of place and replaced with the new prefabricated bridge using a high capacity crane during this coming weekend.

Customers should pick up a copy of the special weekend November 14-15 and November 21-22 Oyster Bay Branch timetable at their stations or at all terminals.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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1

November Weekend Subway Diversions

Posted by
on November 6th, 2009 at 3:10 pm

One of the biggest complaints labeled against the MTA is in regards to planned service diversions. Even with the advance warning of such information from the MTA & sites such as mine, many riders continue to be uninformed while riding the system. However for the rest of this month, riders will have no excuses as the MTA is giving out advance warning of planned diversions. Here are the complete details via a press release they sent me earlier today:

The New York City subway system is in operation all day, every day and the only time available for us to perform many maintenance and heavy construction projects is on the weekends. Much of that construction work – installation of new track and signals, station rehabilitations, communications and lighting upgrades and general maintenance – is heavily dependent on track access, sometimes making it necessary to reroute service.

In order to give riders a look ahead to what they can expect in upcoming weeks, we are providing an overview of scheduled work and the resulting service changes for the month. It should be noted that while we make every attempt to inform customers as far in advance as possible, some schedules may change due to unforeseen circumstances. Before traveling, customers should log onto the MTA website (www.mta.info) and click onto the service notices. Customers can also sign up for email alerts, and listen to the weekly podcasts, as well as watch for station signage and listen to announcements onboard trains.

Of course, we apologize for the inconvenience; there is no perfect time to do this type of heavy work on the system, but it is necessary for the system’s long-term vitality and reliability.

Weekend of November 13 – 16:

Northbound 1 (and 2 during the midnight hours) run express from Times Square to 96th Street due to flood mitigation and tunnel lighting projects.

Northbound 123 trains bypass 96th Street due to station rehabilitation.

Northbound 2 terminates at East 180th Street; Shuttle buses replace 2 trains between East 180th Street and 241st Street due to rail removal at the East 180th Street Signal project.

Southbound 7 runs express from Willets Point to Queensboro Plaza on Saturday and Sunday for track panel installation.

Northbound 5 terminates at 149th Street-Grand Concourse; 5 shuttle trains operate between East 180th Street and Dyre Avenue every 30 minutes due to rail removal at the East 180th Street Signal project.

Southbound 4 & 5 run local from 125th Street to Grand Central on Sunday for signal improvement work.

Northbound D runs local from 125th Street to 145th Street due to track chip-out at 163rd Street.

Southbound D runs local from 145th Street to 59th Street-Columbus Circle to replace the C due to the Chambers Street Signal Modernization project.

D operates local from 59th Street-Columbus Circle to DeKalb Avenue; N runs local from 59th Street-4th Avenue (Brooklyn) to DeKalb Avenue and via Manhattan Bridge. These changes are due to the Culver Viaduct project and maintenance work in the Montague tunnel.

Northbound D runs on the N line from Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue to 36th Street on Saturday and Sunday for track panel installation.

Northbound C (and northbound A during the midnight hours) operate express from 125th Street to 168th Street due to track chip out at 163rd Street.

Southbound C runs express from 145th Street to Canal Street; Southbound A during the midnight hours runs express from 59th Street to Canal Street; (southbound D runs local from 145th Street to 59th Street to replace the C) due to the Chambers Street Signal Modernization project.

A is rerouted to Rockaway Park. The Broad Channel-Rockaway Park Shuttle S is suspended. Shuttle bus operates between Beach 98th Street to Far Rockaway due to station rehabs and track panel installation.

E is diverted to the Second Avenue F station. No service at World Trade Center or Southbound Spring Street stations due to the Chambers Street Signal Modernization project.

F operates in two sections: from 179th Street to Jay Street and from Church Avenue to Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue. G operates in two sections: from Court Square to Bedford-Nostrand Avs. and from Bedford-Nostrand Avs. to Hoyt-Schermerhorn Sts.; shuttle bus is available between Jay Street and Church Avenue; R operates in two sections: between 34th Street-Herald Square and Forest Hills-71st Avenue (skips 49th Street northbound) and from 36th Street4th Avenue to 95th Street-Bay Ridge (no service north- and southbound between Canal Street and DeKalb Avenue on the R) due to the Culver Viaduct reconstruction, Bergen Street Signal work and maintenance work in the Montague tunnel.

==========

Weekend of November 20-23:

Southbound 1 runs express from 72nd Street to Times Square due to flood mitigation work.

Southbound 7 runs express from Willets Point to Queensboro Plaza on Saturday and Sunday for track panel installation.

Northbound 5 terminates at 149th Street-Grand Concourse; 5 shuttle trains operate between East 180th Street and Dyre Avenue every 30 minutes due to rail removal at the East 180th Street Signal project.

Southbound 45 run local from 125th Street to Grand Central on Sunday for signal improvement work.

D runs local between 125th Street and 145th Street due to the chip out at 163rd Street.

D operates in two sections: from Norwood-205th Street to 34th Street and from 36th Street to Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue. No D service across the Manhattan Bridge; D customers use N to connect. Grand Street served by shuttle bus to and from West 4th Street, also stopping at Broadway-Lafayette.

N service terminates at Queensboro Plaza; shuttle bus operates from Ditmars Blvd. to Queensboro Plaza on Saturday and Sunday due to switch repairs at Ditmars Blvd.

Northbound R (and N during the midnight hours) operates via the Manhattan Bridge (operating express between DeKalb Avenue and Canal Street); G cut back to Court Square beginning 2030 hrs on Friday due to track maintenance.

Northbound C (and northbound A during the midnight hours) runs express from 125th Street to 68th Street (D runs local between 125th Street and 145th Street to cover 135th Street) due to track chip out at 163rd Street.

Northbound C (and northbound A during the midnight hours) runs express from Canal Street to 59th Street due to the 59th Street-Columbus Circle station rehab.

Southbound A operates via the F line from West 4th Street to Jay Street and local in Brooklyn; C operates from World Trade Center to 168th Street (no C service between Chambers Street and Euclid Avenue, replaced by the A) due to the Chambers Street Signal Modernization project.

Rockaway Park S shuttle suspended, replaced by shuttle bus from Beach 60th Street to Rockaway Park-Beach 116th Street due to station rehabs at Beach 90th St. and Beach 105 St.

Northbound R (and N during the midnight hours) operates via the Manhattan Bridge (operating express between DeKalb Avenue and Canal Street); G cut back to Court Square beginning 2030 hrs on Friday due to track maintenance.

==========

Weekend of November 27-30:

Northbound 1 trains operate express from 96th Street to 157th Street due to flood mitigation work.

Southbound 2 skips Jackson Avenue on Sunday for rail condition repair south of Jackson Avenue.

7 trains operate from Main Street to Queensboro Plaza. There is no 7 service between Queensboro Plaza and Times Square on Sunday morning due to third rail work. Shuttle buses serve Vernon Blvd.-Jackson Avenue, Hunters Point Avenue, and 45th Road-Court House Square. Customers to and from Manhattan should use the N at Queensboro Plaza.

Southbound D operates via the N line from 36th Street to Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue on Saturday and Sunday, due to track panel installation.

Q terminates at Kings Highway, shuttle bus replaces Q between Kings Highway and Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue due to track repairs associated with Avenue U and Neck Road station reconstructions.

Northbound C (and northbound A during the midnight hours) runs express from 125th Street to 168th Street (D runs local from 125th Street to 145th Street to cover 135th Street) due to a chip out at 163rd Street.

A is rerouted to Rockaway Park. The Broad Channel-Rockaway Park Shuttle S is suspended. Shuttle bus operates between Beach 98th Street to Far Rockaway due to station rehabs and track panel installation.

C operates from 168th Street to WTC; A operates local in Brooklyn to replace the C due to CCTV installation at West 4th Street.

R (and E during the midnight hours) operates express northbound from Roosevelt Avenue to Forest Hills-71st Avenue; the G is cut back to Court Square as of Friday 2030 hours.

R (and E during the midnight hours) runs express northbound from Queens Plaza to Roosevelt Avenue on Saturday due to conduit removal.

R (and E during the midnight hours) runs express southbound from Roosevelt Avenue to Queens Plaza on Sunday due to track drain installation.

Southbound F operates via the E line From Queens Plaza to West 4th Street, then via the A line (Cranberry Street tunnel), West 4th Street to Jay Street; the southbound D operates local from 34th Street to West 4th Street to replace the F due to CCTV installation at West 4th Street.

I will still continue to update the service diversions page before every weekend with exact times for these diversions when that information is sent to me by the MTA. Hopefully this cuts down the high number of unprepared riders in the system. If not, it will clearly be on them although honestly you can make the point that it already is.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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