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Truck Hits Elevated Subway Overpass

Posted by
on August 25th, 2007 at 4:29 am

While trying to catch up on the latest transit happenings, I came across the story of a truck hitting a subway overpass in Brooklyn. Here is the story courtesy of NY1:

A major road in Brooklyn was closed for hours after a truck plowed into a train overpass Wednesday.

Service on the L train between Broadway Junction and Rockaway Parkway resumed shortly after 9 a.m.

Shortly after 8 a.m., a tractor trailer crashed into the overpass at Linden Boulevard and Junius Street in Brownsville.

A small amount of fuel spilled on the road. Fire officials say there are no injuries.

I find it odd that I heard nothing about it on the news last night. I wonder how bad it hampered subway service. If this caused problems with your commute, I’d love to hear about it so leave a comment.

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System Conditions
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I Hope You Have Good Vision

Posted by
on August 25th, 2007 at 4:26 am

So the new MTA Director Elliot “Lee” Sander plans to ride the subway to see what needs work. Here is a short story about it courtesy of NY1:

The MTA’s new executive director says he has got a plan to help him get a sense of what awaits him when he begins work.
Elliot “Lee” Sander says he plans to visit most of the major MTA facilities in the next two to three months.
He also plans to ride many of the lines.

Sander is a former city transportation commissioner.
He plans to make anti-terror efforts a priority.

Mr. Sander’s plan sounds nice & all but I hope it is not a PR stunt. I also hope the man has good vision so he can see the true condition of the NYC Subway. The line in the story that struck a chord was the mention of visiting the “major” MTA facilities.

The truth of the matter is the real problems are usually at the stations people don’t visit while doing PR tours. Just look at the condition of the 205th St terminal in the Bronx, the 21 St/Van Alst Ave, any of the stops along Sea Beach, etc… & you will see the sorry conditions employees & riders must deal with everyday. No matter what borough you are in, the horrible conditions stand out like an eyesore!

I hope while he is out riding many of the lines, he actually gets off & takes a look around. The truth can not always be seen while riding a train. The truth shows itself to those who really want to find it. Lets hope that with the new year comes a man who wants to find the truth & has good vision to boot!

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Opinions, System Conditions, Transit News
1

Wesley Autrey You Are A Hero!

Posted by
on August 25th, 2007 at 4:22 am

If you haven’t already heard, a Good Samaritan named Wesley Autrey came to the rescue of a fellow straphanger Cameron Hollowpeter who had fallen after having an apparent seizure. Here is the story courtesy of NY1.com:

A Good Samaritan jumped onto the tracks at a Manhattanville subway station at 137th Street and Broadway this afternoon to save the life of a stranger who had fallen after having an apparent seizure.

The man stumbled off the platform onto the tracks, where he could have been killed if not for the heroic efforts of 50-year-old Wesley Autrey who did the unthinkable, jumping onto the tracks with a train approaching.

“He was stuck and I was like, ‘Wow. Do I struggle here?’ If I got him up, then I would have to go for the ground. And I didn’t have that much time. So I just went for the gutter thing,” said Autrey. “I just dove on top of him and held him down, cause I knew there would be enough clearance for us.”

Autrey, a construction worker who lives in the neighborhood, grabbed the man and pinned him down in the gutter between the running rails while a downtown 1 train passed overhead, miraculously leaving both men without a scratch.

“I had to have the guy pinned down, because like I said, he was in a seizure,” said Autrey. “He was incoherent. He was fighting, pushing and pushing against me. So I had to lock myself down, so he wouldn’t push me back, and possibly my head get hit.”

Autrey’s two young daughters, ages four and six, who were with him at the time of the incident, watched in horror while the situation unfolded. When the train finally came to a stop, Autrey called out to them to let them know he was alive.

Autrey guessed there was maybe an inch or inch and a half clearance between his head and the underside of the train.

“Remember, the gutter maybe got like a 12-inch drop. So his body fitted in there perfectly. And I just laid on top of him, and had to pin him down,” he said.

The man Autrey saved was taken to St. Luke’s hospital as a precautionary measure, where he is listed in stable condition. He is expected to be recover.

When asked if he considers himself a hero, Autrey said absolutely not. He said he was just doing what he thinks anyone else would do.

“No, I don’t consider myself a hero,” he said. “I just went to someone’s aid. Someone who was in need of help.”

I must say that Wesley Autrey shows the true spirit of a real New Yorker. Many people in this world milk any chance they can to get the spotlight. Yet here we have a man who literally risked his life just to save another & he thinks he is not a hero.

Wesley I hate to break it to you but my friend you are a true HERO in every sense of the word. Speaking for myself & all the readers of Through The Eyes Of Transit, we salute you Wesley “Hero” Autrey!

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Opinions, Transit News
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Happy New Year!!!!

Posted by
on August 25th, 2007 at 4:18 am

I wanted to take the time to wish all the visitors of Eye On Transit, a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I pledge to make this site bigger & better in 2007! The one thing you will definitely see is more blog entries! So don’t forget to check in daily!

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Uncategorized
1

Could It Get Any Better?

Posted by
on August 25th, 2007 at 4:17 am

Last Saturday I was going to see my friends The Pervs play at Matchless. I was looking forward to seeing them but not the venue. I had not been there in over a year & the one time I did go, problems arose with the owner.

I had been debating which combination of trains I was going to take. The location of Matchless isn’t exactly the easiest place to get to. This is mostly due to the mismanagement of the G train by the MTA. Let me not start on that though or I’ll be here all day!

I ended up catching a ride to Astoria with my sister. I decided it made sense for me to hop a ride with her as it saved a trip of riding into Manhattan & working my way to Greenpoint. Since she was going to drop me off at Steinway St., I planned on doing the R-E-G combination to get to Matchless. I must throw in how I hate the MTA for turning what should be a one seat ride on the G to a 3 train ride! Bring the G back to Forest Hills 24×7 already!

The commute was amazing though as I pulled off the 3 train ride in under 25 minutes. I ended up getting to Matchless much faster than I anticipated. The longest wait was for the R & that was an under 5 minute wait! A 5 minute wait for the R especially on the weekends is unheard of! I should have known the commute was going to be a great one!

I saw a E blow past us which I wasn’t thrilled about. However the E was waiting for us at Queens Plaza so the transfer was perfect. Now the last obstacle was the transfer to the G at Court Square. The commute forces smiled down on me again as the G was waiting to depart & I caught it with a minute to spare.

I honestly have to wonder could a commute get any better!

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Personal Stories