Category: This just in

Using the Water in the Subway for Good?

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Subway Rat and Dirt

I can think of few things more disgusting than using the water collected in the subway for anything other than chemical weaponry. However, it seems that the MTA may be looking into that as part of the sustainability plan.

For example, MTA plans to power a “significant portion” of the Roosevelt Island Subway Station with renewable tidal energy generated in the East River; add a high-performance roof at MTA Metro-North Railroad’s Harmon Yard Shop, and a white roof at the MTA Long Island Rail Road Hillsdale facility; offer incentive packages from various state agencies to encourage development at or near MTA stations; and evaluate ways MTA New York City Transit can use water harvested from the subway system. [Progressive Railroading]

I’m all for sustainability, energy conservation, and saving the environment. HOWEVER, what possible good can come from doing anything with the subway water “harvested” from the system? Gross!

Trump Gets Dissed

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Ha! The contractors working on the refurbishment of the Columbus Circle subway station printed up a bunch of signs directing people to the Trump Globe. However, they spelled his name Trumph!

Apparently, they did not follow proper procedure.

“They are being reinstructed on the proper way to obtain a service information poster from the service information division of corporate communications,” he said. “That division researches, writes and prints all of our service information posters, brochures, take-ones and the like you see in the system and posted on buses.” [City Room]

I don’t know what’s funnier: Donald Trumph getting pissed off because his brand name was spelled wrong, or the fact that there’s an entire department devoted to “researching” signs and posters.

Speakers on the Outside of Subway Trains

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Subway Conductor

What a concept! [sarcasm]

The MTA has finally decided to outfit the old trains in the system with speakers mounted on the outside [Daily News] of the trains. That way, people outside the train can hear the announcements while standing on the platform.

I think we’ve all been in the situation where we’ve boarded a train only to realize that it is going to skip some stops. By then, it’s too late because the doors have already closed.

On those days where service is all f-ed up, these external speakers will come in handy. Since you can never rely on the MTA to make timely announcements over the platform PA system, at least you will be able to hear announcements from the trains when they are in the station.Read More »

Congestion Pricing Moves Forward to Albany

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New York City Council has officially backed Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s congestion pricing plan, which now moves forward to Albany for approval.

Just to recap, the plan would charge drivers an $8.00 fee for driving below 60th Street from 6am – 6pm. There are provisions in the plan which allow for credits when paying a toll to enter the city. So if you paid $6.00 to cross a bridge on the way into the city, for example, you would only owe an additional $2.00 that day.

However, if you were parked below 60th Street or otherwise already in the city and drove below 60th Street, you would be charged the full $8.00.

So what the hell does this have to do with the subway?

Well, the city stands to receive $354 million in federal funding to help launch the congestion pricing plan. This money would pay for the fee collection infrastructure, as well as fund initial mass transit improvements.

The goal with the congestion pricing plan is to encourage people to leave their cars at home more often, and rely on mass transit. Of course, this means that the transit system would need to increase service, and increase reliability. So much of the federal funding would go towards these initiatives…at least so they say.

So now the plan heads to Albany for state approval. The State Legislature is in the middle of finishing the budget, however the plan deadline is quickly approaching.

Congestion pricing needs to be approved by April 7th in order to obtain the federal funding.

Way back in July, State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno ironed out a deal with Spitzer to get the plan passed.  Let’s hope that still stands.

BREAKING: LIRR Trains Collide including Derailment

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Two east bound trains entering the Jamaica Queens station collided when apparently one of them derailed, and hit the other train.

Apparently, one of the trains had two cars derail, which then bumped a neighboring train.

The LIRR is calling the incident a minor/low impact derailment.  There are a reported 20 minor injuries, and no major injuries.

The trains were traveling at a very slow speed when the incident occured.

More details >>

Subway Schmutziness Down Year to Date

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Subway trash

The Straphangers Campaign released a report on the improvement of subway cleanliness. They say that the state of train dirt and has improved over the past few years.

I guess, for the most part, that is true in my observation.

They found that the L train and 7 train were the cleanest this year. The E and the Q trains rolled in with scores just above dumpster on wheels.

The scientific formula that governs train grime must be a combination of the train age, and overall usage. I find that the oldest cars just have a feeling of being dirtier. Then, throw on heavy usage, and it’s a recipe for grossness.

The strategy of having the lines individually managed may not be a great idea when it comes to custodian services. Something like cleaning the trains should simply be standardized across all the lines. Sure, increase the frequency on trains that are used more, and maybe a little less on lines lighter traveled. In general though, it should be something standard, and easy to manage.

“Passengers on the L and 7 are riding cleaner cars, thanks to more cleaners and better use of them,” said Gene Russianoff, campaign staff attorney. “We congratulate New York City Transit and hope that riders on the other lines will soon be seeing cleaner subway cars.”

Now, if only we could get them to do more than just empty the trash on the platforms (if that).

I said a long time ago that I don’t think it would be completely out of the question to have the platforms power washed a few times a week. Cleaning a station could be easily done with a power sprayer and the occasional brush. Look at the average train platform. Concrete or tile floors with white subway tile walls. Basically, a giant shower stall! So just break out the hose and go to town.

Cutting down on the black, sooty brake dust and dirt would be great. Aaaaaand that would keep the inside of the trains cleaner too!

Bull Sh*t Alert: MTA Postpones Upgrades

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Remember way back when the MTA promised that part of the new fare hike would include some general system upgrades with a $30 million improvement package? Yeah well, the MTA has decided they’re just gonna hold off on that for a lil bit.

This is such bullshit, it drives me nuts. If this is the stuff they can get away with, they should have just promised to make $900 million in improvements. Either way, they weren’t going to do it in the first place.

Here’s what we’re not getting:

More frequent service on the G line in Brooklyn and Queens, extending B and W service on weeknights to 11 p.m. from the current 9:30 p.m., and shaving one or two minutes from waiting times for evening service on the 1, 4 and 6 lines.

So much for that plan.  I guess at the end of the day, it just means more of the same for your commute.  For the few of us that actually pay an strange amount of attention to the happenings of the subway, we will be the only ones that get ultra pissed.

But riders having to now pay higher fares should be pissed.  Part of the “agreement” were these system improvements.

They say that if the MTA finance department can get their act together by June, the improvements might still have a chance.  Forgive me if I don’t hold my breath.  I love how these financial troubles are all of a sudden brought up now…after the fare hike has already happened.  Where was this information earlier?  Saying that the numbers weren’t in is just bull.  It’s not like they are being sent in by carrier pigeon.  All you need to do is look up the tax forecasts etc. and you would have been able to see that the MTA wasn’t going to make as much this year.

So they should not have offered the improved services in the first place, or upped the fare $0.25 on the single ride fare.

Paterson Backs Congestion Pricing

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There may be hope after all!

Gov. David Paterson announced his support of Mayor Bloomberg’s congestion pricing plan for NYC.

“Congestion pricing addresses two urgent concerns of the residents of new York City and its suburbs: The Need to reduce congestion on our streets and roads, and thereby reduce pollution, and the need to raise significant revenue for mass transit improvement,” Paterson said.” [Daily News]

Of course, it eventually turned into a bit of a political stroke job when Bloomberg (and other pols in support of congestion pricing) started saying things like “…Paterson has shown true leadership ability…” etc.

“Congestion Pricing addresses two urgent concerns of the residents of New York City and its suburbs: the need to reduce congestion on our streets and roads, and thereby reduce pollution and global warming; and the need to raise significant revenue for mass transit improvements. We expect that revenue from the Congestion Pricing plan will support more than $4.5 billion in needed capital improvements for mass transit and meaningfully reduce traffic into the Central Business District of Manhattan. Before the constructive process of deliberation proceeds in both the City Council and the State Legislature, transparency requires that the public fully see what the system envisioned by the Commission will entail. While Commission Report highlighted other issues which need to be resolved, introducing this bill allows the City Council and Legislature to examine the details of the proposal and make an informed judgment on the Congestion Pricing program.” – David Paterson

So it seems positive thus far. As long as everyone keeps their eyes on the ball, perhaps this wild idea stands a chance. I must say, the more times they can say the words “$____ for transit improvements…” on the record, the better. Then there will be less room for them to wiggle out of it once the city gets the federal funding.

Drunks and Trains Don’t Mix

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There’s a new subway hero in town, and his name is Veeramuthu Kalimuthu, a Columbia University mechanic.

It was Wednesday when Kalimuthu was waiting for his train at 116th Street. A person on the platform across from him (other side of the tracks) fell on to the tracks. People began screaming and yelling.

Just then, Kalimuthu jumped down, crossed the three lines of active tracks, including third rails, and rescued the drunk. He put him into a fireman’s carry and passed all 180 pounds of drunk as stupidity up to people standing on the platform.

So let this be a lesson. Drink your face off…fine. Get a cab. Drink your face off and fall on the tracks…from now on, we’re just going to let you sleep it off in the track gutter.

Let’s see how fast the money starts pouring in for this guy like it did for Autrey.

Bomb Explosion in Times Square Disrupts Subway Service

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A small bomb was set off in Times Square around 3:45am today. The explosion occurred on the doorstep of the Army/Navy recruitment station on the island in the center of Times Square.

As a result, the police immediately suspended subway service in Times Square. Luckily, trains kept moving and simply bypassed Times Square. However, since TS is a major transfer hub, bypassing it makes it a little tricky for commuters.

Luckily, service resumed fairly quickly…or somewhat quickly.

The station was/is basically on super secure mode. Trains entering the station were boarded by police dogs and checked before being allowed to proceed. In the station itself, there were officers in SWAT gear with machine guns. There were many people being randomly stopped and checked as well.

This will likely continue for the next few days. However, as the mayor said, it’s back to business as usual in Times Square, with a few more automatic weapons near by.