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Service Advisory For Michael Jackson Celebration

Posted by
on August 28th, 2009 at 3:49 pm

Tomorrow afternoon, Spike Lee will be hosting a special celebration honoring the birthday of the recently deceased “King of Pop” Michael Jackson. In light of this event, MTA New York City Transit has issued a service advisory:

On Saturday, August 29 from 12 noon to 5 p.m., Prospect Park’s Nethermead Field will be the site of Spike Lee’s Michael Jackson Birthday Bash. Crowds are expected to arrive and depart continuously during the entire event.

Grand Army Plaza 23, Prospect Park QS and 15th Street/Prospect Park FG are the stations closest to the event. Northbound Q service will run express from Kings Highway to Prospect Park, bypassing Newkirk Avenue. Southbound Q service will be normal.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions 08-28

Posted by
on August 28th, 2009 at 10:01 am

I have just updated the service diversions page with the latest information for the weekend & upcoming week (beyond in some cases). Don’t forget to check in for any changes to the page. I also 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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168th/181st Street Station Updates

Posted by
on August 28th, 2009 at 10:00 am

In the service diversions which you can see in its entirety by clicking here, you will notice that 1 train service between 137th & Dyckman Streets is suspended. The suspension is of course due to the brick facade collapse at the 181st Street station as well as work on a similar structure at the 168th Street station. Speaking of the stations, here is an update courtesy of a press release sent out yesterday by MTA NYC Transit:

Further repair work will be performed at 168th and 181st Street Stations along the 1 Line this weekend. The work requires suspension of train service between 137th Street and Dyckman Street from 12:01 a.m. Saturday, August 29th until 5 a.m., Monday, August 31st. During this period, it will be necessary, once again, for customers to either use A Line service, if possible, or a temporary bus shuttle between Dyckman Street and 137th Street.

While substantial inspection and corrective work has been accomplished at the two upper Manhattan stations, including the erection of a temporary shield at 181st Street, some additional stabilization work will be performed and temporary structures will be repositioned to maximize space along the platform.

Inspections performed last weekend revealed some areas of brickwork in the vaulted segment of the 168th Street Station that had to be stabilized. Additionally, NYC Transit maintenance workers stabilized areas of loose plaster, concrete and brick located in the extension part of the northbound platform.

Opened in 1906 and built as part of the Fort George Tunnel, both stations are of similar design and blasted out of bedrock 100 to 125 feet below St. Nicholas Avenue in Washington Heights. Known as the Washington Heights Mine Tunnel when built, this is part of the deepest section of subway in the City.

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DesignLine Bus Podcast

Posted by
on August 28th, 2009 at 9:41 am

Yesterday morning, I wrote about MTA New York City Transit’s latest initiative into improving their fleet as they are testing a turbine powered bus. Late last night I was informed of more information being available about the bus via podcast. I suggest you all take a listen by clicking here.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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MTA Going Forward With Appeal Plans

Posted by
on August 27th, 2009 at 1:14 pm

The drama between the MTA & Transport Workers Union Local 100 (TWU Local 100) continues as in a move that comes as no surprise, the MTA is asking a judge to toss the 11% raises awarded to union members by an arbitration panel. I first noted the agency was considering doing this 10 days ago when they were in the beginning stages of studying for a possible appeal. Pete Donohue of the New York Daily News has more in this report:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will ask a judge to toss out a controversial contract raising hourly pay rates by more than 11% over three years, transit sources said Tuesday.

A court battle, including appeals, could drag on for more than a year with wages potentially frozen at current levels, lawyers familiar with such litigation said.

An arbitration panel appointed by the state Public Employees Relations Board crafted the three-year pact after holding closed-door hearings.

A majority of the three-member panel concluded that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority – which recently raised fares and tolls – could afford the raises.

But acting MTA CEO Helena Williams has said the pact, released two weeks ago, will blast a $350 million hole in MTA financial plans.

Click here for the complete report.

Does anyone want to take a guess as to how long this round of the never ending war between these two sides will last? This particular round looks like it has staying power.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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