Month: December 2008

Times Square Not So Crazy

subwayblogger1 Comment
Times Square Wishing Wall
Times Square Wishing Wall

Shockingly, the Times Square subway station was not really crowded at all today around 3pm when the area was being closed down for tonight’s festivities.

Generally speaking the Times Square subway station is always crowded in the middle of the way.  It gets even more so when there’s a major event going on up on street level.  It actually can get a little overwhelming.  If feels like a flowing river almost.  You get stuck in a mass of people moving one way, and you have to strategically move into the proper flow to get where you’re going.

But as always, even the worst weather never keeps the insane revelers away.  Even complete downpours won’t scare them off.  So a little cold and snow certainly won’t.

Sometimes I think how much money you could make selling flasks to people as they come out of the subway on New Year’s Eve.  Think about it.  You could probably get $20 per flask of rum or whiskey easily.  Just buy boxes of $5.00 flasks and cheap booze, and go to town selling.

Ehhh…I’ll stay in this year.

First MTA Budget Hearing – January 14th

subwayblogger1 Comment

The first of eight public hearings to discuss the proposed fare hikes and crossing tolls is coming up on January 14th at the Hilton right here in Manhattan.

Are any of you planning on attending?

I have a meeting during the hearing, so I don’t think I will be able to make it.  Wish I could.

If you are planning on attending, and you use Twitter, let SUBWAYblogger know by posting comment.  You can find SUBWAYblogger on Twitter already. We’ll post a link to your Twitter feed for live updates from the hearing.

Maybe you plan on live blogging it…we’ll link to that too.

Federal Bailout the MTA?

subwayblogger6 Comments

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/syndication?id=36806859&path=%2Fnews%2Fbusiness

Hell, why not?  If banks, auto manufacturers, and more are all bellying up to the pork buffet, why can’t the MTA?

Senator Chuck Schumer wants the federal government to write a check for a few billion dollars to bail out the MTA.

Just think, this could have been done back when Congestion Pricing was all the rage.  It wouldn’t have been a bailout either.  Under the Congestion Pricing plan, the city would have received a massive grant to fund the building of the infrastructure to get the system off the ground…to the tune of $500 million.  Much of it would have also went to improving services to handle the expected increase in ridership.

Then, the city would have created a new and massive revenue source…all of the congestion pricing fees (taxes) that could have been funneled right back into maintaining the MTA services.

But noooo…we had to block that.  F*cking idiots.  Everyone who opposed that plan should be booted out of office.

Would it have completely avoided the current crisis?  Probably not, but it would have done a ton to make it better.  The estimated yearly revenue generated from the congestion pricing plan is around $491 million.  That would have gone a long way to helping get us out of the disaster we are currently lost in.

And We’re Back

subwaybloggerLeave a comment
Blue Smoke BBQ Ribs
Blue Smoke BBQ Ribs

After a short holiday hiatus outside of the city, we’re back in the NYC.

SUBWAYblogger tries to get back to the city early.  Right after Christmas though New Years happens to be one of the best times to be in the city.

Most of the neighborhoods are completely empty because people are out of town visiting family.  The only areas packed with people are the tourist areas like midtown.  Last night it took forever to get down Park Avenue because hordes of people are still going to see the tree in Rockefeller Center.  It turns out, we set a tourism record this year of 47 million.  So if you avoid the typical tourist areas, it’s really quiet.

For example, last night I was able to walk right into Blue Smoke at 7:00 and get a table right away without a reservation.  That NEVER happens on a weekend.  You’re easily looking at an hour wait.

Gradually though, people will come back.  By New Years, the city will be bac to its typical insanity.

Here’s to another week of from work!

Upcoming Fare Hike Hearings

subwayblogger2 Comments

Fare Hearing Notice MTA

The MTA released notice that they will be conducting public hearings regarding fare hikes around the New York.

The hearings will begin in mid January and continue through the first week of February.

This is the initial part of the announcement:

Hearings will be held on proposed changes in fares and crossing charges, levels of service and partial or complete closings of subway stations or of means of public access to stations. Proposed changes are summarized below and pertain, as applicable, to MTA New York City Transit (NYCT), the Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority (MaBSTOA), MTA Staten Island Railway (SIR), MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), MTA Metro-North Railroad (MNR), MTA Bridges and Tunnels (B&T), MTA Long Island Bus (LI Bus) and MTA Bus.

Space limitations prevent newspaper publication of each proposed new fare or crossing charge [ohh how convenient] and of details of proposed changes at stations or in level of service. For more complete descriptions of these potential changes, please consult information posted at MTA stations and on the MTA website, http://www.mta.info or call 212-878-7483. Please note: other service adjustments and cost-reduction steps are under consideration that may also affect operation of subway, bus and rail lines, bridges and tunnels, staffing of stations and general provision of service. Although these possible changes do not require public hearing, they are described in informational material available on the MTA website.

You can read the entire PDF of the announcement here.

The announcement includes the boiled down details of the proposed fare hikes and service cuts. Read More »

Top Commenters Link Love

subwayblogger6 Comments

Top SUBWAYblogger commenters will now get some link love.  Everyday, we run through the database of comments.  Those readers that have the most comments posted within the last 7 days will get a link to their site posted in the SUBWAYblogger sidebar.

Just comment away as usual.  Your comment count is tied to your email address (always kept anonymous).  So as long as you use the same email address each time, your comment tally will remain accurate.

The top commentors list is indexable by the search engines.

Thanks for reading and commenting!

Poll: Wishing for Subway Luxuries

subwayblogger13 Comments

On my way to work, I was thinking about what I would wish for if I was able to get one wish from the subway.  If I could make any subway related improvement at the snap of a finger, what would it be?

[poll id=”11″]

If you can think of any others, please drop them in the comments.

I think cellphone reception might be my first choice.  Then again, the simplicity of everything being nice and clean would be a great change of pace.

Of course, most of these are just pipe dreams.  Maybe there’s still hope.

New Rider Report Card

subwayblogger1 Comment

I was handed a new (the Second Annual) Rider Report Card this morning as I headed down to the subway.  I can’t believe it has already been a year since I filled out one of these things.

I especially enjoy the little opening letter inside the card.  Here’s a few highlights.

“We’ve worked diligently over the past 12 months to improve your riding experience.  We hope you’ve noticed…”

Ummmmm…not so much.

#4 – Sense of security in stations

#5 – Sense of security on trains

Notice the use of the term “sense.”  They specifically are not asking about actual security, just how you feel about it.  Not “do you think security is good,” but instead “do you feel like you are secure.”

I wish there were more room to write on the card.

#2 – Reasonable wait times for trains.

Yeah it’s been great so go ahead and cut service as soon as possible.