Author: subwayblogger

6 local trains in the other direction

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Shocker. The MTA did a horrible job recovering from their weekend construction. This weekend, they did the double switch. The express trains ran on the local line, and the local trains ran express.

Ask me, it sound like the most retarded plan ever.

Anyway, this morning’s recovery from that plan was all F-ed up. I just stood and watched 6 local trains go by on the uptown track. Meanwhile, the 2,000 people on the downtown platform have no trains for the last 25 minutes.

Finally, I got on this train. Had to let the first one to come by go ahead without me because it was already full before it got to our stop.

Instead of 5am or 6am, they need to resume normal service around 3am. Maybe then the service will have balanced out a little.

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

No announcements

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Why is it that there’s no audio announcements in the subway on the weekend? It’s only like one guy or woman that does most of the PA announcements.

It just seem like all of the major construction delays happen on the weekends. Trains get rerouted all over the place. So why not have PA messages on the weekend too?

Heck, even a prerecorded message would help.

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

The Name Game: Subway Stations

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topoftherock.jpg 

The Backburner wrote the other day about the unofficial/official name change of the 47th/50th Street station to “Top of the Rock.”

Let’s back up.

Traditionally, some stations get their name tagged with the surrounding attractions.  The 47/50th street station stop used to be announced as Rockefeller Center.  Nowadays, it being called “Top of the Rock.”  SUBWAYblogger noticed it back in October.

It’s actually been going on for quite a while…since about the time the new observation deck opened.  Some people are up in arms, but what’s the big deal?

Who care’s if the MTA actually sells name mentions?  Especially if that money can be captured and reinvested in the subway system? 

Next stop, Fairway 72nd Street…I’m SOLD.

MTA to Beef-Up Rail Security

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inspection.jpg 

Buuuut not for the subway.  The Feds are being brought in to increase “police presence”on the LIRR and MetroNorth.  Homeland Security Officers no less.

As for the subway, continue to watch your back as normal.  The police are too busy pretending to do random screenings of bags.

I would love to have a job where all I have to do is set up a little table at the entrance of a subway and then stand there all day with my hands in my pockets.  Hey, why not have the guys that hand out the newspapers also do the screenings?  Get you bag checked; get a paper.

Mind the achievement gap.

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Have you seen these signs? “Mind the achievement gap.”. They are all over the subway as part of a NYC Teaching Fellows program.

It’s funny though. Look around you next time you see one of those signs. Does anyone on the train scream “achievement” to you?

We are all just dreaming of the day we can afford a driver to take us to and from work. In the mean time, we’re all just looking miserable as we ride the train.

Here’s another one. “There are a million kids in NYC who could use your tallents. Think outside the cubicle.”

Yes, think outside your cubicle. Think about how you could be in a Bronx High School making far less money. At least there’s snow days.

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

Second Avenue subway over budget? Heck yes!

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So the Second Ave subway project is already over budget. Yeah, I know. I said “What a surprise,” when I heard that too. A shovel has not yet hit the ground and they are planning to start $54 million in the hole…so to speak.

Rising real estate prices will force the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to pay about $54 million more than it had anticipated to buy five Upper East Side buildings and portions of 24 others to make way for construction of the Second Avenue subway, according to a new estimate provided to the authority.

Sometimes is makes me wonder why they even budget things like this. You know it’s going to go way over, and not just by a little bit. All they have to say is that they need more money, and the get it!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the new line. However, lets just cut through all bullshit. We all know they they are going to go through with it. Once it starts, there’s no way in hell they are going to stop in the middle. Knowing that, contractors purposely hide costs that “all of a sudden” show up after the project gets under way. Why? Because the extra costs will just get approved and swept under the carpet.

That’s why I’m sorta shocked about this real estate news. Isn’t it someone’s job to think about this stuff?

Some how, this will be the NYPD’s fault too.

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There was a high school “Basket-brawl” last night at a game in Madison Square Garden.  Lincoln and Boys & Girls schools were playing each other when the fights broke out.

There was a pretty flagrant foul that some fans flipped out over. 

Says WCBS-TV:

The male, who was wearing a brown jacket, was pulled over the railing by school safety officers and appeared to not be resisting, but four officers are seen beating him. Two of the officers struck the boy several times with their batons.

For the love.  That’s all we need.  Is this Al Sharpton’s busy season or what?  Here’s a concept…if you start a fight in a public arena, and you’re swinging at people, you might get your skull cracked by a baton.  Cost of doing business.

By now, you’re probably saying, “True, but what does this have to do with the subway?”  Well, the melee spilled out into the streets, and into the subway.  Somehow, the brawl traveled from MSG up to Times Square.  There in the subway, the fighting continued.  The CBS 2 video shows the cops flooding into the subway to break up more fights.

21 people were arrested, one of which had a gun.  So yeah, let’s worry about people getting roughed up by the police in this kind of fight.  After all, the combatants are only carrying guns in the subway…no biggie.  Oh, did I mention that there were even shots fired?

Hey, what about those MTA signs that say “Illegal possession of a fire arm in the subway carries a minimum of 3 1/2 years in prison?”  Sounds like they are really working.

Some how, this will be the NYPD’s fault too.

subwayblogger1 Comment

There was a high school “Basket-brawl” last night at a game in Madison Square Garden.  Lincoln and Boys & Girls schools were playing each other when the fights broke out.

There was a pretty flagrant foul that some fans flipped out over. 

Says WCBS-TV:

The male, who was wearing a brown jacket, was pulled over the railing by school safety officers and appeared to not be resisting, but four officers are seen beating him. Two of the officers struck the boy several times with their batons.

For the love.  That’s all we need.  Is this Al Sharpton’s busy season or what?  Here’s a concept…if you start a fight in a public arena, and you’re swinging at people, you might get your skull cracked by a baton.  Cost of doing business.

By now, you’re probably saying, “True, but what does this have to do with the subway?”  Well, the melee spilled out into the streets, and into the subway.  Somehow, the brawl traveled from MSG up to Times Square.  There in the subway, the fighting continued.  The CBS 2 video shows the cops flooding into the subway to break up more fights.

21 people were arrested, one of which had a gun.  So yeah, let’s worry about people getting roughed up by the police in this kind of fight.  After all, the combatants are only carrying guns in the subway…no biggie.  Oh, did I mention that there were even shots fired?

Hey, what about those MTA signs that say “Illegal possession of a fire arm in the subway carries a minimum of 3 1/2 years in prison?”  Sounds like they are really working.

Elizabeth Perkins rides the subway?

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Did you ever spot a random celebrity, but you weren’t really sure it was them?  I just did, and she’s standing about 5 feet away from me.

I swear this woman is Elizabeth Perkins.  Why would I make that up?  That’s one of the most random people ever to see in the subway.

Anyway, if it isn’t her, then it’s her twin.  She has on dark clothes, coat, gloves, etc.  BIG sunglasses that cover much of her face.  Nothing really that screams “celebrity.”

So anyway, no I’m playing the, “What makes this woman look famous” game.  The big sunglasses are usually a giveaway, but that’s about all.  She has on some modest jewelery.  She has a handbag, but it doesn’t look like one of those insanely expensive ones from 5th Avenue. 

Ok, well in my head, I’m just gonna go with it unless I’m proved otherwise.  So there.  🙂