Category: This just in

Ohh Congestion Pricing, How Short We Knew Yee

subwayblogger8 Comments

A sad day.  Mayor Bloomberg’s Congestion Pricing Bill has been killed.  It was a bloody day in Albany.

There his plan fell to a confluence of local politics and a showdown between a mayor who knew he was right and a Legislature in no mood these days to be pushed around by an aggressive executive.

That about sums it up.  Of course state politicians always hate when local municipalities come up to challenge them.  So, they have to kick it around until it dies, then they can look like heroes.

I love how people act like Bloomberg has something to gain by passing congestion pricing.  Uhhh, hello…he’s a BILLIONAIRE.  Billions.  The man takes a $1 a year salary.  He couldn’t spend all his money if he wanted to.

Ohhh but he’s doing it for his political future.  Pleeeeeeease.  It’s such a divided issue that he’s not going to gain much political ground.  If it were to have passed, and was successful in reducing traffic, pollution, and noise then he should get political credit.

Congestion Pricing: Time to Sack Up

subwayblogger7 Comments

Congestion Pricing Supporters

People are all over Mayor Bloomberg’s Congestion Pricing plan. The opponents keep calling it a tax, because the word “tax” sounds evil. In reality, it’s a toll. Sure, there’s an argument to be made about tolls really just being taxes, but let’s call it what it is. It’s a toll for driving in the heart of Manhattan during peak times.

And it’s not a toll just for New Yorkers. It’s a toll for anyone who wants to drive in Manhattan during peak times.

One thing people who appose the plan conveniently forget to mention is that the toll is not in $8.00 in addition to the tolls you paid to get into the city. If you paid a $4.00 toll on a bridge or tunnel, you would only owe $4 bucks more (for a total of $8.00). So you won’t be charged $12.00.

The technology exists to make all that possible, it’s just a matter of implementing it.

Also, studies have shown that there wont be much impact on outer borough residents. Most outer borough peeps take mass transit into the city anyway, so what’s the big deal?

For that matter, when are people going to wake up and realize that cutting back on pollution is going to cost money? Simply asking people to cut back on their driving doesn’t work. As Bloomberg says, the only way people are going to stop is if it his them in the wallet.

Not only that, but the plan makes NYC eligible for $500 million in federal funds to get the program off and running.

The opposition:

“It is not a coincidence that regions considered hubs for mass transit contain a significant percentage of the population affected by health disorders that stem from pollution such as asthma,” [City Councilman David] Weprin’s report said. “If … more cars equal more pollution, then how can it be argued that more cars going to these neighborhoods will not also lead to more pollution for them?”

Maybe the above is correct, but you’ve got to start somewhere. Any action is always going to produce some sort of negative reaction. Not doing anything is going to produce and even worse consequence. So we had better start trying things. First roll out the current plan. Then come up with other solutions for areas mentioned by Weprin.

Look at it from the flip side of the coin. SUBWAYblogger (and many other New Yorkers) doesn’t own a car, and rely solely on mass transit. So why should we have to breath in your exhaust? If you still want to drive, fine, but it’s gonna cost you. You $8.00 will go toward making life better for the rest of us.

Photo: Newsday

Pencils Ready…it’s Time to Grade the 7 Train.

subwayblogger3 Comments

If you recall, back in May the new MTA President decided that he wanted to create a grading system for the city’s subways and buses. Basically, riders will be given the opportunity to fill out survey cards about all things transit.

Yeah, the Straphanger’s Campaign has been doing this for years now, but I guess that doesn’t matter. It will be interesting though to compare the results.

Starting Tuesday and running for 3 days, riders on the morning 7 trains will be handed survey cards allowing grades of A thru F to be awarded in 21 categories.

The Post says the categories include:

…cleanliness, security, clarity of announcements and courtesy of transit workers.

On those alone, here’s our grade:

  1. Cleanliness C- (oh please)
  2. Security F+ (aka you failed well)
  3. Clarity of Announcements C (because that can’t possibly be English)
  4. Courtesy of Transit Workers C- (cranky pants)

This is going to be a complete shit show. Can’t wait to see the official results.

NYC 4th of July Madness

subwayblogger3 Comments

Macy’s FireworksDid you venture to the Lower East Side last night for fireworks?  Remember your umbrella?   Well, SUBWAYblogger did.

It wasn’t bad getting there really.  We transferred at Times Square and took the downtown N train.  Not much waiting time at around 7:30pm.  Took that down to 23rd Street.

Since we got there a little ahead of schedule, there was plenty of time for a pit-stop at Shake Shack.  Here’s where the rain helped.  There was virtually no line whatsoever at the Shack.  That’s unheard of this time of year.  There’s always a line.  On average, we usually wait at least 45 minutes.  The light rain had driven everyone indoors I guess.  There were only about 10 people in front of us.  (For you Shack regulars, thats just past the point in line where you step up onto the gravelly part…past the menu sign.)

After a Shack Burger and Summer Peach custard, it was off to FDR.  Got there in plenty of time and got an excellent spot for viewing.  That was another advantage of the rain.  I can’t even imagine what it would be like if it were actually nice out.  It actually started to come down pretty heavy at about 9pm (just 20 minutes before show time).   Luckily, it stopped just in time.

Good show…yadda yadda.

Then the trek back was…well…an adventure.  The part that sucks after a major event lets out is that you are subject to moving with the crowd.  The only way to avoid it is to leave early, and who wants to be that guy?

Ended up having to hoof it to the 14th Street station.  For some reason, the 14th Street station seemed 10 times farther away than it should have.  Anyway, the N train rolled up, and everyone made a dash for it.  Just as the last people squeeeeeeeezed on, a Q train pulled in.  I was near the outside, so I bailed to catch that express train just as the doors closed behind me.  I made it onto the express and even scored a forward facing seat.  Sweet!

Of course, my connecting train at 42nd Street took forever to get there.  It’s always the last leg that screws you.

On a side note, I’ve never seen so many subway maps out at the same time.  Every other person was a tourist or someone from out of town.  They had no idea where they were going.  You could also tell they were tourists because they thought they were entitled to “breathing room” on the packed train.  They looked mortified.

BREAKING NEWS East Side Subways Shut Down

subwayblogger1 Comment

The entire East Side has been shut down due to power outages.

The 4, 5, 6, E and V lines are shut down in all directions. A reported outage on the Upper East Side and/or Bronx has brought the East Side to a halt.

The intense storm in the area will likely not help things!

Live from the subway, back to you in studio…

——

UPDATE (6:40pm):

All trains on the East Side are running locally only. There is no express service.

The 4 and 5 trains terminate at 86th Street.

CLICK HERE for delay details.

——

All trains running normal (for now).

Well that only took a week

subwayblogger1 Comment

Today was the first day this week that I was able to catch my morning train to work!

This line has been f-ed up all week long. Twice, I got to the platform just as a train was leaving, only to wait 15+ minutes before an announcement of service changes.

Even after walking 20 blocks to the closest express stop, I was still screwed. There was a “sick passenger” that kept me from being able to transfer back to a local service line. So I had to say on the express train and catch a local back uptown.

When getting to the station where the alleged “sick passenger” was, I saw the “victim” surrounded by police. It wasn’t a sick passenger at all. It was an old, drunk woman who was screaming and yelling. She couldn’t walk 5 steps without tipping over. Then she would scream and try to squeeze out a slurred demand or racist rant.

Today, so far so good. I’d like to just forget this morning ever happened.

Live from the subway, back to you in studio… .

State GOP Says “Not So Fast” to Spitzer’s MTA Chairman Nomination

subwaybloggerLeave a comment

State GOP Chairman, Joseph N. Mondello, is promising a tough investigation into the nomination of H. Dale Hemmerdinger for MTA Chairman.  Hemmerdinger and his wife are regular financial contributors to the Democratic party and Democratic candidates.  So this raises red flags for Republicans.

From SAS:
“Last week, Dale Hemmerdinger opened his home to host a big money fundraiser for Governor Spitzer. This week, the Governor is nominating him to head the MTA when his mass transit experience appears to be limited to suggesting fee increases on hard working New Yorkers,” State GOP Chairman Joseph N. Mondello said in a statement. “Governor Spitzer appears to have instituted a brazen ‘pay to play’ culture in Albany that is disappointing and shocking to the people of New York State.”

You have to admit that it is a little suspect that you throw a big party for the Governor and then get a huge nomination.  I’m not saying there’s foul play involved, but it just doesn’t look good.

Hemmerdinger to be new MTA Chairman? Oh c’mon…that’s not a real name!

subwayblogger5 Comments

mta_chief.jpgDale Hemmerdinger, real estate mogul, has been nominated by Gov. Spitzer to be the new MTA Chairman to replace Peter Kalikow.  That’s right, another huuuuge real estate giant in charge of the MTA.  Not the end of the world since the MTA owns an ass load of property.  However, a property guy might not be the best at managing infrastructure…no? 

Wouldn’t more of a civil engineer type be better at this kind of gig?  Personally, I think what the MTA needs is someone that has a focus on improving the service technology of the system.

It’s not a done deal yet.  The State Assembly still needs to approve the nomination.  So, you never know, but he’ll probably get in.

Of course, I’ve got nothing against the guy.  As a matter of fact, he shows many Bloomberg like qualities in the way he runs his business.  He appears to be a very straight forward guy that looks out for his people.