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MTA Board Approves Subway & Bus Initiatives

Posted by
on April 3rd, 2017 at 3:28 pm

Earlier today the MTA Board approved new subway & bus initiatives for faster repairs. Here is more via the official press release I received:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board on Monday voted on measures to improve service for millions of New Yorkers who use subways and buses, including a contract to shorten the 2019 Canarsie Tunnel closure by 3 months starting in April 2019; begin the next phase of the 2nd Avenue Subway; and to enhance train stations in Queens as part of a large-scale plan to overhaul more than 30 stations in the system in the 2014-19 Capital Program.

“Today’s votes will bring convenience and better service to the millions of New Yorkers who use our system every day,” said Interim Executive Director Ronnie Hakim. “Improvements include modernized train stations in Astoria and a shorter closure of the Canarsie Tunnel, which will lessen the impact on L train riders as we undertake these necessary Sandy storm repairs.”

3-Month Shorter Closure for Canarsie Tunnel

The Board voted to award an expedited contract to accelerate the rehabilitation of the Canarsie Tunnel, which carries L train riders under the East River, by three months. The contract calls for improvements to two stations and a new a substation that will add power to allow more trains to run on the L Line once the tunnel reopens. The work to be completed in 15 months, three months shorter than the previously estimated 18 months.

The joint venture selected to do the $492 million project is Judlau Contracting and TC Electric. Judlau successfully completed similar work on the Montague Tunnel in 2013 following Superstorm Sandy ahead of schedule. Penalties for any delays call for fines of $410,000 a day.

The MTA and NYC DOT have engaged in an aggressive community engagement process through town halls and community workshops meeting with residents, businesses, community boards, merchant groups and civic associations in Brooklyn and Manhattan communities along the L Line. The meetings have been successful forums providing information on the Canarsie Tunnel repairs and to solicit community feedback on possible alternate travel options during the planned closure.

Extending the 2nd Avenue Subway to East Harlem

The Board also voted to award a contract for outreach services for the next phase of the 2nd Avenue Subway project, which advances north to 125th Street and will feature new stations at 106th and 116th Streets.

The $7.3 million contract, awarded through a competitive procurement process to East Harlem Community Collaborators JV (a joint venture formed by Spectrum Personal Communications and Sam Schwartz Engineering DPC), will lead to the opening of a staffed Community Information Center (CIC) for the project at 69 E. 125th Street this spring. The CIC was previously located on Second Avenue between 84th and 85th Streets.

Spectrum is a certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and is a 50-percent partner of East Harlem Community Collaborators. In addition, the joint venture has three DBE subcontractors, including Crystal McKenzie Inc. (CMI), Metropolitan Public Strategies (MPS) and Dakota Print and Premium LLC d/b/a Fuse Printing.

Under the supervision of MTA Capital Construction Public Affairs, the new outreach staff, including Spanish speakers, will develop events and activities for the public; conduct tours, educational events and community meetings; assist in the preparation of presentations for Community Boards and elected officials; and help advise the public about the project schedule and any associated disruptions to services and access. A similar Center and operations were used to great success for Phase 1 of the 2nd Avenue Subway.

On New Year’s Day 2017, Governor Cuomo celebrated the successful on-time launch of Phase 1 of Second Avenue Subway by opening three new stations on Second Avenue at 96th, 86th and 72nd Streets, and an expanded 63rd Street and Lexington Avenue station.

Phase 2 preliminary design and engineering work, as well as environmental studies, have already commenced. Once completed, a project schedule and budget will be established.

Since launching on January 1st, Phase 1 of the Second Avenue Subway has reduced weekday ridership in four key stations, 68th Street, 77th Street, 86th Street and 96th Street by an average of 27 percent on weekdays and as much as 46 percent during peak morning rush hours of 8 to 9 a.m., as compared to the same period last year, and has reduced travel time for many Upper East Side customers by 10 minutes or more.

Newly Enhanced Subway Stations in Queens

The Board voted to award a $150 million contract for the second set of stations in Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s ongoing Enhanced Station Initiative (ESI) to create new and dramatically improved subway stations throughout New York. The stations, which are all elevated, are located on the Astoria Line (N & W) in Queens, including the Broadway, 30th Avenue, 36th Avenue, and 39th Avenue stations. They will be renovated using a single-contractor, design-build method to cut construction time and save money.

The station enhancements include:

• Enhanced lighting throughout;

• Improved signage for easier navigation, including digital, real-time updates on on-time performance at subway entrances, before customers even enter the station;

• Inclusion of amenities, such as countdown clocks, granite floors on the mezzanine level, and new art, as well as security cameras;

• Renovations will also consider the architectural legacy of each station, and remain sensitive to historical elements as the stations undergo redesign;

• As part of the process, the MTA evaluated proposals considering full and partial station closures in order to ensure that renovations are completed as quickly as possible.

Last week, work began on the first group of stations in this initiative, along 4th Avenue in Brooklyn. The stations will be closed in both directions for renovations using a single-contractor design-build method to cut construction time and save money.

High-resolution renderings of the station renovations are available here.

New, Higher-Capacity Buses

The Board voted to use the Request for Proposals (RFP) process for the federally funded procurement of up to 53 low-floor, 60-foot articulated buses to replace aging 40-foot buses that have reached the end of their 12-year life cycles. These buses represent an expansion of articulated bus operation in New York City and in some cases, an increase in service in order to meet peak-service demand and ease crowding.

Converting a route to articulated bus operation also has an immediate impact on operating costs. Four 40-foot buses are replaced with three 60-foot articulated buses, resulting in a reduction in operator-related costs, fewer miles being driven, and a need for fewer buses to meet peak-service requirements.

The buses will be outfitted with new features consistent with other new buses recently announced by Governor Cuomo, including improved driver visibility, pedestrian turn warning, Wi-Fi, USB charging ports, automatic passenger counters and digital information screens.

Anything to get the agency to get timelier & cost efficient repairs done is something I can definitely support. Hopefully they stick with it & get the job done.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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LIRR Expects Delays Due To NJT Derailment

Posted by
on April 3rd, 2017 at 3:22 pm

Just a short time ago, the MTA Long Island Rail Road announced that they expect cancellations & delays due to the NJ Transit derailment this morning. Here is more via the press release I received:

Because of an NJ TRANSIT derailment at Penn Station this morning, the Long Island Rail Road anticipates cancellations and delays for trains departing Penn Station between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. today. Train service before and after those hours is expected to operate with minimal impacts from the derailment.

The service impact results of limitations on track and platform space at Penn Station as crews are expected to continue to respond to the site of the derailment and make track and infrastructure repairs. Amtrak owns and maintains Penn Station’s tracks and infrastructure. While the LIRR normally has use of nine departure tracks from Penn Station, Tracks 13 through 21, because of the NJ TRANSIT derailment, this evening the LIRR expects to be limited to fewer tracks and platforms than normal.

Service is expected to operate normally from Atlantic Terminal, Brooklyn, and Hunterspoint Avenue, Queens. Service is also available at Jamaica and Woodside, but train cancellations may impact service at those stations.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions 03-31-17

Posted by
on March 31st, 2017 at 6:04 am

I have just updated the Service Diversions for the upcoming weekend through the end of next week.

Make sure to follow @TransitBlogger on Twitter as I am using it more often. Also if you are into indie music make sure to follow @IndMusicReview & @SurgeFM!

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions
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Buses To Replace Danbury Trains

Posted by
on March 29th, 2017 at 12:45 pm

The MTA Metro-North Railroad has just announced that buses will replace trains on the Danbury Branch this upcoming weekend. Here are the complete details via the press release I received:

MTA Metro-North Railroad is advising customers that substitute busing will be in effect on the Danbury Branch after 9 p.m. on Friday, March 31, through the last train of the night on Sunday, April 2. Southbound buses will operate approximately 15 minutes earlier than scheduled trains. Northbound buses are scheduled to meet arriving trains at the South Norwalk station.

This weekend’s service change will support the on-going safety and reliability of the Danbury Branch. Metro-North crew work that will be underway this weekend includes: making improvements to the Topstone Road railroad crossing (replacing the crossing surface, rails and ties), cutting brush and welding track.

Service details are below:

Southbound, Friday, March 31:

After 9 p.m., buses will replace trains departing from Danbury to South Norwalk, making all scheduled stops to South Norwalk. Buses operate up to 15 minutes earlier than normal train times and will connect with regularly scheduled trains at Stamford.

Northbound, Friday, March 31:

After 9 p.m., Substitute bus service will be provided for all trains departing from South Norwalk to Danbury, making all station stops to Danbury. Buses will depart at regularly scheduled train times, but customers should allow for later arrival times.

Southbound, Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2:

Substitute bus service will be provided for all trains departing from Danbury to South Norwalk. Buses will operate up to 15 minutes earlier than normal train times. At South Norwalk station, customers will connect with continuing train service to Grand Central Terminal.

Northbound, Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2

Substitute bus service will be provided for all trains departing from South Norwalk to Danbury, making all station stops to Danbury. Buses will depart at regularly scheduled train times, but customers should allow for later arrival times.

Click here to view weekend bus service departure times.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions 03-24-17

Posted by
on March 24th, 2017 at 3:39 pm

I have just updated the Service Diversions for the upcoming weekend through the end of next week.

Make sure to follow @TransitBlogger on Twitter as I am using it more often. Also if you are into indie music make sure to follow @IndMusicReview & @SurgeFM!

xoxo Transit Blogger

You might enjoy reading these related entries:
Service Diversions