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Monday Was A Bad Day For NJ Transit

Posted by
on September 18th, 2007 at 8:49 pm

While browsing the local news sites, I spotted a story about NJ Transit. According the article, 2 separate accidents occurred involving NJ Transit trains led to the death of 3 people. Here is a brief article about the accidents courtesy of the NY Daily News:

RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Three people are dead following two separate incidents involving NJ Transit trains.

Authorities are investigating a crash around midnight that killed two occupants of a car that was on the tracks at a crossing in Rutherford.

And around 7 a.m. Monday, a train struck and killed someone who was on the tracks on a bridge over the Navesink River in Red Bank. That accident is causing delays of 20 to 30 minutes.

In the earlier accident, NJ Transit spokeswoman Courtney Carroll said crossing gates and flashing warning lights were functioning properly at the Park Avenue crossing in Rutherford. It was not immediately clear why the car was on the tracks, she said.

Service on the Bergen line was back to normal by 6 a.m. following that crash.

It seems some will never learn these two equally important lessons:

    Don’t play on railroad/subway tracks
    Don’t think you will beat a train at a grade crossing
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1

5 & M Train You’re Up

Posted by
on September 18th, 2007 at 6:51 am

So the MTA has updated the rider report card image on their homepage. A few days ago I posted about the image being strange to me because the 4 was grouped with the J & Z. This week the image makes a little more sense but not completely. This week the image features the 4, 5, & M trains. Why is the M included in this batch of grading? Why not just group the lines by their trunk so the M would be with the J & Z while the 4 & 5 would go with the 6?

Lastly why even update the image when they could have said all the lines are up for grading since at one point they were. I guess they update the image to reflect lines they are handing out cards on. I am waiting for the 6 train to be up for grading. I plan on going to my local station when it does & fill out my card.

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2

3 Train Service Alert

Posted by
on September 18th, 2007 at 4:20 am

The MTA has posted a service alert regarding the 3 train. The service alert reads:

Due to an ongoing rail condition at the 34th Street-Penn Station, please expect delays in service on the Flatbush-bound trains and the Utica Avenue-bound trains at this time.

Does anyone proofread these alerts before they are posted? Last I check the 3 train is always scheduled to run to New Lots Avenue. The only time it does not is for its overnight shuttle service between 148th Street & 135th Street in Harlem. Sorry it is a pet peeve to see such errors posted almost daily!

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0

MTA Serious About Going Green

Posted by
on September 17th, 2007 at 2:30 pm

I was browsing AMNY’s website & noticed a story that was not in today’s paper. The story is about the MTA’s latest vision to become environmentally friendly. The MTA has already been working on this vision as I blogged about last month in this entry. Here is the brief article courtesy of AMNY:

NEW YORK (AP) _ Green could literally sprout from rooftops of some bus depots in the near future as the nation’s largest mass transit system looks to become more environmentally friendly.

Rooftop gardens on bus depots and windmills at rail yards were just two ideas mulled over by a member of a panel of experts formed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to develop a green master plan for the city’s system of subways and buses. The panel was scheduled to begin meeting this week.

“The issue of global warming is arguably the most significant challenge our generation faces and it’s important that the MTA do its part,” said Elliot Sander, the executive director of the authority.

One member of the panel, Alex Matthiessen, president of Riverkeeper, an environmental organization, said green rooftops on bus depots could absorb water during rainstorms to reduce sometimes paralyzing floods of the subway system.

Wind power could be used at some rail yards to power operations, he said.

I like the idea of MTA trying to go green but rooftop gardens? Is that really necessary? I’m hoping that idea will stay just that, an idea!

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Riding & Thinking……

Posted by
on September 17th, 2007 at 2:18 pm

I had been looking forward to this past Saturday for over a month. Saturday marked the cd release party for the super talented & amazing person Jackie Pop. The party was being held at The Bitter End so this would be a one seat ride for yours truly. The plan was to take the 6 to Bleecker Street & walk down Bleecker for a few blocks.

I left a little later than I had wanted but I felt confident I’d make good time. I sat across from a man who was carrying a guitar case. Judging by the shape of it, I assumed he was carrying an electric guitar. My assumption proved right as out of nowhere he pulls his guitar out & starts practicing to himself. People were casually watching as he practiced to himself as if he was in his own private room.

While watching him, I started to think about how fitting it was to see someone playing since I was going to a show. I also started to think about how I should start playing regularly again. My guitar has sat in the corner for way too long! While thinking about this, I noticed we were at a stop that made me think even more. Someone who lives by the stop has been on my mind a lot lately. Maybe I can start writing again to go along with playing…..

I was considering getting off at 125th Street to try & shave a couple of minutes off my commute. I however decided I wouldn’t because I noticed it was about a 5 minute difference until the 4 would arrive after my train would. However when the train pulled into 125th Street, a 5 train was waiting for us with its doors open. I decided to switch to the 5. My intention was to try & catch the 6 train in front of the one I departed. We made some good time but no 6 was in sight when I got off at 14th Street-Union Square. When the 6 did arrive it ended up being the same one I had departed at 125th Street. I did chuckle when I saw the guy with his guitar again. He had it packed away though.

The ride back was interesting as well. I ended up catching the 6 at 14th Street-Union Square. I rode the train with one of my favorite friends Lisa. She got off at Grand Central-42nd Street so it was time for some music. The ride was going quite smoothly until we hit the Bronx. When we did my mind which had already been in a certain state started to overload from thinking so much. I was about to pass that stop again so I thought of that same person again. The last thing I noticed was someone sitting on a platform bench & randomly throwing up as the train entered & left the station. What is with me seeing people vomit on the platform every time I have been on the 6 at night lately!

In case you were wondering, Jackie’s party kicked ass & was a huge success. My suggestion to you after reading this is to go buy the cd as you won’t regret it! The cd can be purchased here!

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