Subway Tips and Anniversary

[daveklepper]

 

July 03, 2023

MTA Adds 24 Musicians and Musical Groups to Music Under New York Program Following Auditions Held Wednesday, June 28

Forty Finalists Auditioned Following 128 Applications Across All Genres

For the First Time, the Public Will Be Able to Vote for Its Favorite Performer: Voting Begins July 19 for Riders? Choice Award Enabled by WE LOVE NYC and Shutterstock.

 

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that it is adding 24 musicians and musical groups to its Music Under New York program (MTA MUSIC), following auditions held last week.

 

The auditions were conducted by MTA Arts & Design, which provides visual and performing arts in the MTA network.ÿForty acts auditioned on Wednesday, June 28, at Grand Central Madison, after 128 had applied for the opportunity. Normally an annual occurrence, the auditions were the first to be held since May 21, 2019, and the 33rd to be held since the MTA MUSIC program began in 1987. Musicians were given five minutes to perform live for the public and a panel of judges consisting of musicians, music professionals, and transit representatives. The judges scored the performances based on a slate of criteria of quality, variety, and appropriateness for the transit environment.ÿ

 

The MTA is partnering with WE LOVE NYC and Shutterstock to introduce the Riders? Choice award, the first time the public has ever been invited to select their favorite MTA MUSIC performer. Beginning July 19, New Yorkers and beyond can vote on the MTA?s website for their favorite of three finalists from the June 28 audition. The first-ever Riders? Choice winner will be announced on July 27.ÿ

 

"Music Under New York combines two of New York's greatest loves, music and transit,"Governor Kathy Hochul said. "This program is a model for public arts around the world, and the WE LOVE NYC partnership encourages riders of every background to get involved."ÿ

 

?Public transit is the lifeblood of the region, and the lifeblood of public transit can be found in the unique energy and dynamism that exists nowhere else but the New York transportation system, enhanced by great music,?ÿsaid MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber.ÿ

 

?The North Star of New York City Transit is better customer service ? faster, cleaner, safer service for our riders,?ÿsaid NYC Transit President Richard Davey. ?A better environment in our stations, which will be made possible by these great musicians selected for the program this year, is a big part of that. Every subway rider remembers a time when a musician stopped them in their tracks and offered a moment of joy, excitement, or calm that great music can bring."

 

"Music Under New York performers add warmth to the major LIRR and Metro-North hubs in New York City,"ÿsaid Metro-North Railroad President and LIRR Interim President Catherine Rinaldi.ÿ"It is exciting to know that for the first time in four years we?ll be able to hear new musicians in our iconic spaces.?

 

?The auditions are a unique New York experience; a showcase of musical performances that reflect the diversity of New York,?ÿsaid MTA Arts & Design Director Sandra Bloodworth.Hosting the Music Under New York auditions for the first time since 2019 was truly memorable ? there was a plethora of talent drawn to the opportunity to perform with Music Under New York ? in the greatest venue there is and where dreams can flourish.?

 

?The only way to build on the magic of Music Under New York is to invite New Yorkers to get directly involved. We are thrilled to introduce the WE LOVE NYC Riders? Choice award and herald the return of a new cohort of performers,?ÿsaid Partnership for New York City President and CEO Kathryn Wylde.ÿ?From July 19 on, every Riders? Choice vote will be an act of love for New York City?which is precisely what WE LOVE NYC is encouraging all across the five boroughs.?ÿ

 

This year?s additions to MTA MUSIC are:

* Afro Dominicanoÿ? Latin fusion band

* Augie Belloÿ? saxophone

* Brass Queensÿ- female brass band

* Petro Drozda aka GooD MooDÿ? accordion

* Antonio Figueiredo da Silva aka Tony Bokaÿ? jazz guitar

* Roy Futaba Jazzÿ? jazz trio

* Jerald Graham aka FlyBayJayÿ? R&B singer

* Rorie Kellyÿ? vocals, keys, guitar, beatboxing, looping

* Davide Lauraÿ? violin looping

* Corcel Magicoÿ? folk rock band

* Gabriel Mayersÿ? singer-songwriter

* Von Middletonÿ? entertainer

* Jeremiah Moore aka Jem Bleuÿ? R&B, pop, singer-songwriter

* Alejo Portelaÿ? Vallenato accordion

* Sean Rosenberryÿ? Irish & folk fiddle

* Raphael Batista Silva aka Raphael Batistaÿ? violin

* Edgar Suarezÿ? salsa & merengue vocalist

* Subterranean Jazzÿ? jazz band

* Triad Brassÿ? brass band

* Villagers Brass Bandÿ? brass band

* Devon Webster aka Maestro Kaisoÿ? violin

* Denise Weeksÿ? gospel & soul singer

* Samoa Wilson aka Fatboy Wilsonÿ? folk & blues singer

* Mehmet Akif Yuksel aka Yosoya Kifÿ? violin

Amid the excitement of the day, Rinaldi kicked off the event with opening remarks. Bob Holman, proprietor of the Bowery Poetry Club and Master of Ceremonies, served as emcee throughout the day and special guest, Cyr‚, an artist of music and the film-making mediums, joined the many esteemed panel of judges.

 

The judges and the public were treated to performances during the breaks by existing members of the MTA MUSIC roster that included Eganam Segbefia, a trumpet player; Azusa SHESHE Dance, a gospel/blues singer; and a spontaneous performance by Jonathan Green, baritone, and member of the Opera Collective.ÿ

 

MTA Arts & Design typically adds up to 25 acts each year to the MTA MUSIC roster, which includes more than 350 performers representing a wide variety of musical genres and cultures as diverse as New York City itself. Once accepted, MTA MUSIC performers are hosted at approximately 40 high-traffic locations throughout the transit network, including MTA subway stations and commuter rail terminals, with schedules revised every two weeks. They can be spotted by a bold magenta Music Under New York banner with the name of each act. The program was put on hold in March 2020 with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, andresumedÿon June 4, 2021.

 

Applications for MTA MUSIC open each year in January with a deadline for completed submissions online in March. Finalists are invited to audition before judges, and performers are chosen based on their scores from the auditions. Music Under New York is one of many visual and performing arts programs administered by MTA Arts & Design to enhance the station environment for customers.

 

MTA MUSIC hasÿmore than 350 performersÿshowcasing classical strings, jazz ensembles, world music bands, folk, a cappella groups, singer-songwriters and more, featuring a wide range of instruments such as the Gambian kora, Korean drum, West Indian steel drums, Andean pipes, Cajun cello, Celtic and Baroque harps, guitars, violins, hammered dulcimers and musical saws. Performers are programmed at 43 MTA MUSIC locations throughout the transit system, including subway stations and MTA commuter rail terminals and the Staten Island Ferry terminal. MTA Arts & Design presents more than 7,500 musical performances in the transit system every year. The musicians perform in designated locations with a Music Under New York banner that features their name and the Music Under New York logo.

 

About MTA Arts & Designÿ

MTA Arts & Design encourages the use of public transportation by providing visual and performing arts in the New York metropolitan area. The Percent for Art program is one of the largest and most diverse collections of site-specific public art in the world, with more than 350 commissions by world-famous, mid-career and emerging artists. Arts & Design produces Posters, Digital Art, photographic Lightbox exhibitions, as well as live musical performances in stations through its Music Under New York (MTA MUSIC) program, and the Poetry in Motion program in collaboration with the Poetry Society of America. It serves the millions of people who rely upon MTA subways and commuter trains and strives to create meaningful connections between sites, neighborhoods, and people. To learn more, visitÿmta.info/artÿor follow on Twitter at@MTAArtsDesign.

 

About WE LOVE NYCÿ

WE LOVE NYC is a cross-sector campaign to showcase the city?s strengths and mobilize New Yorkers to make sure this remains the greatest city in the world. The citywide campaign celebrates New Yorkers who are making a difference ? the ?Do-ers? ? and features opportunities for civic engagement that everyone can join. No taxpayer dollars were used for this effort, and all New Yorkers are invited to get involved atÿwelovenyc.nyc.ÿ

[daveklepper]

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit (NYCT) President Richard Davey today honored Veronica Santana and the entire NYCT Lost and Found team for their heroic efforts to reunite a World War II heirloom with its family. 

Santana, who handles lost wallets and identification cards for the Lost and Found, was working through her pile last Tuesday, June 13, when she came across a Naval ID for Naval Aviator Robert Carroll from the 1940s. The ID card was turned in at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn  subway station in Downtown Brooklyn before being shipped to the NYCT Lost and Found office at Penn Station. 

“Moments this unique and special do not happen often, but they do provide a great insight into the important daily work of New York City Transit’s Lost and Found team,” said NYC Transit President Richard Davey. “The effort Veronica and the team made to ensure this special family heirloom was returned home speaks volumes to how they approach their jobs and embodies the type of customer service Transit strives for every day.” 

Santana, who comes from an army family, took a personal interest in getting this Naval ID back with its next-of-kin. Santana and the Lost and Found team called various branches of the military, searched all over the internet, looking for some type of contact information for next-of-kin to get the heirloom back home. That is when Santana found a Facebook post from Stephanie Carroll, the daughter of Naval Aviator Robert Carroll. 

Carroll brought her father’s Naval ID to a special showing of Top Gun: Maverick last fall for veterans in Upper Manhattan, which is the last time Carroll thought she would see the heirloom after being unable to locate it in her hotel room. Carroll then posted the picture of the ID that night on Facebook, the post Santana would use to validate that she found the right family member. 

During a stop-in visit to the Lost and Found, NYCT President Davey was pulled aside by Santana who told Davey the full story of this discovery. That is when Davey’s office performed outreach of their own and connected with Carroll, setting the stage for the reunion of the heirloom and the meeting between Santana and Carroll at Penn Station. 

The two met each other on Friday, June 23, and the heirloom of the Carroll family returned home to Stephanie Carroll. 

“I lost this months ago in the fall and I thought I would never see it again,” said Carroll. “I was showing it to people [at the Top Gun: Maverick viewing]. I showed it to producers and actors, they were interested to see it, and then I went to show it to someone and it was gone.” 

“When it came across my desk I had to, it was a mission,” said Santana. “I was thinking about my godfather because he was in World War I. For me it was personal. If he had lost his ID, he would want someone to return it back to the family.”

[Overmod]

OK, I see what's going on.  It's a colossally greater example of some of those posts Blue Streak used to make that were pasted from Amtrak and that ran down over the following posts.  You have something with pictures that won't render (those blue boxes with the question marks) and text that is running down over (and perhaps blocking display) of boxes of following posts that would 'line up' with the display of avatars on the left.

Someone from moderation needs to go in and delete that monster malformed post to let the later ones display.  That might not work, and if it doesn't they may have to kill the whole thread and Lion will have to start it again.  Or see if moving it from, say, Transit to Classic Trains lets them delete the malformed post, so they can move it back 'corrected'.

[daveklepper]

There is a misunderstanding!` I can use the Edit Button and directly add a reply everywhere except at this one post on Broadway Lion's New York Subway Thread, that holds my serious problem.  I doubt this a problem you have faced.

[Overmod]

daveklepper

What would you do if you posted something, quickly found you made a grievous error, and then suddenly, the thread was frozen, and there was no edit button?

I have myself been in this position, and very thankfully was allowed to 'atone' for a lapse of judgment and, after about two weeks, was taken off moderation and allowed to edit mistakes.

In theory, if there are bad mistakes in a 'mandatorily moderated' post, the idea is to contact a member of moderation, ideally via PM, send them a list of desired corrections (both typos and material to be removed or added) and they can make the desired edits, since you've given them the authority to change 'your' intellectual property as posted.  Interestingly they are not "authorized" to correct even obvious typos, or remove or edit any sections of your post, but can delete it in its entirety (which is something used much more than I think people recognize).

With the PM feature effectively inoperative (unless you've got history PMing a member of current moderation) or with moderation overworked or uninterested, there isn't much you can do -- other than try posting again with "corrections" and apologies for mistakes, etc.  Under such circumstances, THE approach to take is to write and edit a prospective post in a suitable word processor.  Then select the text as written and proofread, and paste it into the post window; I recommend that you use and save any such draft in Rich Text format (.rtf) and in fact that you save it in case the gremlins strike while trying to get it to go.  If you get a dreaded 'forbidden' error, you can try cutting, pasting, and formatting until the mystery issue goes away.  Note that you can use the 'quote' button to get a formatted quote into the post window, which you can select and paste directly into your word-processing document.  Note that the following paragraph after the close-quote tag has to be started IMMEDIATELY after the square close bracket of that tag, or additional worthless lines get pasted in "automagically" for you.

I'd tell you to ask moderation if your account can be taken off moderation, and have a frank discussion with them about what prompted their action and how you can 'repent and sin no more' going forward.  That, in fact, would be something they should have offered someone of your stature by now.  But for reasons I won't state here, I suspect they already think their summary action is 'justified' and will give you the same attention they give us when we ask about the progress of stage three of the Website reconstruction.

In the future, the only old threads I'll revive are those I initiated.

This is (very likely) not about 'reviving old threads' as there are appropriate ways that can be done, including threads that were left open-ended or unanswered, or that need important correction or additions, or that are 'niche' enough that a new post even 20 years later continues the discourse rather than requiring the whole subject to be rehashed from the beginning.  There are people, notably on the MR forum rather than here, who think that any necro/zombie thread is a prima facie violation of Netiquette... and a case can be made that just lazily responding to a necro thread as if it's current is Not A Good Thing To Do.  But it shouldn't be grounds for modac.

Review the different TOS and moderators' posts for the different forums you're interested in participating in, to be sure there aren't some little formal issues that might kick sensitive toes.  And don't do them if Kalmbach or its duly or self-appointed representatives say not to.

[daveklepper]

1.  I'll take your advice.  Distilling information and presenting it in my own (word-economical) is a lot more enjoyable, so thanks. 

2.  What would you do if you posted something, quickly found you made a grievous error, and then suddenly, the thread was frozen, and there was no edit button?  In the future, the only old threads I'll revive are those I initiated.

[Overmod]

Mr. Klepper:

With great respect intended: you have to stop quoting long chunks of copyrighted press releases verbatim... especially with formatting that makes it impossible to see the full pasted version on some devices.

Any of these can easily be provided as a simple URL to the original release, even if that means you have to go to the MTA or whatever Web site, when someone e-mails you cut-and-pasted text, and find 'their' version of it online.

If you then want to emphasize any specific information or points, do it quickly in your own words as a paraphrase; if you then want to provide pictures to which you have rights, they won't be lost at the bottom of a wall of text.

I might add, speaking for myself, that I dislike intensely the kind of press release that is largely or wholly self-praise or a long round of fulsome thanks to all the 'preferred stakeholders' that the releasing agency wants to schmooze.  Nearly everything I have read with the word 'Hochul' in it -- not to be partisan -- falls ringingly in this category, and I would prefer the two or three sentences of meaningful content simply be extracted and quoted or paraphrased.

I repeat that, in principle, moderating or shafowbanning a member of the forums otherwise in good standing -- let alone someone of long standing who is one of the pillars of the forum community -- is reprehensible and cowardly (it is many other things, but I'm trying to respect the principle of BNBR).  You, if not we, are clearly entitled to a full explanation why you've been moderated, and should be equally clearly be given any terms and requirements to be taken off mandatory moderation (which is the only way you can get the 'edit button' realtime privilege back).

Unfortunately, I doubt that the current implementation of moderation on what remains of the Kalmbach forums will be willing to make edits for you if you were to list and post them; even more unfortunately I do not think they will respect anything phrased as a demand or threat.

[daveklepper]

Moderator:   Please remove all MY postings on Broadway Lion's New York Subway threqad.   I'm askingv this because the last posting (mine) has no edit button.

March 30, 2023

 

Hundreds of Yankees Fans Join New York City Transit

President on Nostalgia Train Ride to Yankee Stadium for Opening Day

 

New York Transit Museum Ran Annual IRT Lo-V Nostalgia

Train and Train of Many Colors from Grand Central to

Yankee Stadium 

For First Time Ever, Long Islanders Can Take Train to Grand

 

Central, Connecting with Direct Service to Yankee Stadium via Metro-North or the Subway 

Metro-North Yankee Clippers Return, Offering Direct Service to Yankee Stadium on Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Lines; All Hudson Line Trains Make Additional Stop at Yankee Stadium During Game Days 

Subways, Buses, and Paratransit Provide Convenient Service to All Yankee Home Games 

View Video of Today’s News Conference 

View Photos from Today’s News Conference and Nostalgia Train Ride to Yankee Stadium 

View Video of Today’s Nostalgia Train  

Hundreds of New York Yankees fans joined New York City Transit President Richard Davey on the New York Transit Museum’s 1917 IRT Lo-V Nostalgia train for the Yankees home opener. Fans boarded the train at Grand Central for an express train unlike any other to Yankee Stadium. The train ride followed a news conference where Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) leaders reminded Yankees fans that the fastest way to Yankee Stadium is via public transportation.  

With the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) terminal at Grand Central, Yankees fans anywhere in the MTA region, from Montauk to New Haven, have easy transit access to Yankee Stadium, for the first time ever. 

“We welcome back baseball fans with plenty of service to get them to the stadium in time for first pitch,” said Metro-North Railroad President and LIRR Interim President Catherine Rinaldi. “This year the commuter railroads offer service to Yankee Stadium from New Haven to Ronkonkoma, with LIRR service now at Grand Central where customers can connect to a Metro-North gameday shuttle or a Hudson Line train. For Hudson Valley and Connecticut customers, the return of the Yankee Clippers offers one-seat rides to the stadium. Leave the driving to us this season.” 

“If Yankee Stadium is not the most mass transit friendly ballpark in the league, it is certainly the most diverse,” said New York City Transit President Richard Davey. “Two subway lines, five bus routes and an Access-A-Ride stop right at the front of the stadium—and that’s just New York City Transit. Yankees fans, and those visiting, have nothing but options and we will be here to get you to and from the game.” 

“There is nothing like baseball season in the Bronx, and with so many options available mass transit is a no brainer way to the game,” said MTA Acting Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara. “No matter where you are in the MTA region, if you can catch a bus or train, there is a quick way to the ballgame. The only thing a customer has to do is see which of the many ways works best for them.” 

The MTA will be providing the following service options to get to all New York Yankees home games. 

Take LIRR to Grand Central 

The opening of Grand Central Madison makes it easier than ever for Yankees fans on Long Island to get to the game.  

Prior to the terminal’s opening, a Yankees fan coming in from Long Island would have taken a longer subway ride from Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr, or transferred twice on the subway, or left Penn Station and walked to Herald Square to connect to a  train. 

Now, a LIRR customer can take a one-seat ride into Grand Central and finish their trip either on a Metro-North shuttle or the  train. Either option can take a customer to the stadium in less than 30 minutes from Grand Central. 

Metro-North's Yankee Clippers    

Metro-North Railroad announced the return of its “Yankee Clipper” trains as part of the new train schedules that took effect Sunday, March 26. The Yankee Clippers are special game-day trains which provide one-seat rides from theHarlem and New Haven lines to Yankees-E 153 St station for all evening and weekend home games.  

In addition to the Yankee Clipper trains, Metro-North will operate shuttle trains for all evening and weekend games between Grand Central Terminal, Harlem-125th Street and Yankees-E 153 St stations for fans departing from Manhattan or who are transferring at Harlem-125th station from additional Harlem and New Haven line trains.  Also, Metro-North will operate shuttle trains after weekday day games from Yankees-E 153rd Street to Harlem-125th Street and Grand Central. 

Many Hudson Line trains stop at Yankees-E 153 St station normally, and many express trains to and from Croton-Harmon and Poughkeepsie make a stop at the stadium on game days. For afternoon games customers can take any Hudson Line train to the game and will be accommodated by shuttle service following the game. 

New York City Subway  

The subway’s 161 St-Yankee Stadium station, with service on the  and  lines, is right in front of the stadium at the corner of 161 St and River Av.  trains stop at 161 St-Yankee Stadium during rush hours only, while  and  trains currently stop at 161 St-Yankee Stadium at all times.  

Starting Friday, April 28,  trains will resume peak-direction rush hour express service in the Bronx, however, Bronx-bound rush hour  trains will continue to stop at 161 St-Yankee Stadium on game days. 

New York City Buses 

The Bx6, Bx6 SBS, and Bx13 stop near the stadium at E. 161 St and River Av. In addition, the Bx1 and Bx2 both stop at E. 161 St and the Grand Concourse, a three-block walk east to the stadium. 

Customers can use the real-time bus arrival tracking feature on the MYmta app before boarding. 

Access-A-Ride 

Access-A-Ride has a designated stop in front of Yankee Stadium. To book a trip to the stadium, customers can call (877)-337-2017 or (718)-393-4999 and press prompt #2. 

New York Transit Museum’s Nostalgia Train is Back 

The New York Transit Museum offered fans a once-in-a-season way

to show off their pinstripe pride and ride to Yankee Stadium in style,

aboard a 1917 IRT Lo-V train and the Train of Many Colors. 

For one day only, the IRT Lo-V Nostalgia Train and Train of Many Colors

ran from Grand Central to Yankee Stadium. The IRT Lo-V Nostalgia Train

left the uptown train platforms of 42 St-Grand Central at approximately

11:00 a.m., and traveled non-stop on the Lexington Avenue Line, arriving

at 161 St-Yankee Stadium in about 25 minutes. The Train of Many Colors

arrived after to carry more riders to the stadium. 

The ride to the Bronx took fans to the stadium gates with plenty of time

before the first pitch at 1:05 p.m. 

Originally operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) system,

The IRT Lo-V began service in 1917. The vintage train cars and hundreds

of other similar cars served subway customers a few years before

the first pitch was thrown at the original Yankee Stadium. With rattan seats,

ceiling fans and drop sash windows, the train hearkens back to an earlier

age of subway travel and provides a photogenic counterpoint to the new

home of the New York Yankees. 

The Train of Many Colors includes a selection of cars manufactured in

the 1960s: the R-33, R-33WF and R-36 cars.   With “Tartar Red” and

“Gunn Red” redbirds, Kale Green "Green Machines", blue-and-silver

"Platinum Mist" and the striking two-tone robin's egg blue and cream

“Bluebird” paint schemes, the train represents several different eras

in New York City subway history

Low-V Lexington Avenue Express approaching 161St. Yankee Stadium Station from the north.   2nd photo shows thec Po9lo Grounds Shuttle remnasnt of the 9th Av. El., with a two-car train of composdites.  Its elevated structore is on 162nd Street.  The playiong field is noe the location of tghe new YHankee Stasdikum, and I weou,ld be under the south stands in  thner casmera;s location today. vphotos are from the Autumn 1947.

  

 

 Turning around, the old Yasnkee Stadium, wsith an ec-Manhattan 161st St. Crosstown streetcar.  A year earlier, it would have been a convertable, and a year later a bus.

Hope to post a many-colors train photo soon.

 

[daveklepper]

February 07, 2023

MTA Unveils First Dedicated Customer Service Centers in the New York City Transit System

Customer Service Centers Now Open at Three Subway Stations Station Agents Currently in Training for Out-of-Booth Customer Service Role Locations Will Assist in the Transition to OMNY for One Million Reduced-Fare Customers See Photos Of Today's News Conference and the Customer Service Center See Video Of Today's News Conference Today, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) opened its first-ever dedicated Customer Service Center in the subway system at the Coney Island-Stillwell Av  station, which includes an agent window with OMNY functionality, digital monitors displaying service status updates, MetroCard vending machines, and online kiosks for customers to access MTA websites. Coney Island-Stillwell Av is one of three Customer Service Centers opening today along with Atlantic Av-Barclays Center  and 161 St-Yankee Stadium . Twelve additional Customer Service Centers in all five boroughs will be opening over the course of 2023. “It drove me crazy when I found out that many transactions could only be done at the Stone Street facility next to MTA HQ in Lower Manhattan,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber.“That may be convenient for MTA staff, but it’s not for our customers. We are determined to bring service closer to riders in every borough and opening the first 15 Customer Service Centers is a big step in that direction.” “Bringing service to the stations that riders use every day is a physical demonstration of the North Star commitment at New York City Transit to the customer experience,” said NYC Transit President Richard Davey. “Modern, welcoming, and accessible Customer Service Centers will bring real benefits to riders, especially as we continue to transition to OMNY.” “The grand opening of Customer Service Centers is a win for the millions of daily riders who rely on the subway to get around,” said MTA Acting Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara. “Along with bringing station agents out of the booth, these centers will make transit more convenient and accessible for customers, especially as we encourage riders to tap and go with OMNY. We believe in bringing customer service into the communities riders live and work in, by the end of the year, customers will be able to access these services at 15 stations in all five boroughs.” “Customer Service Centers are a game changer for the more than one million Reduced-Fare customers across New York City,” said MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo. “As Reduced-Fare riders continue to make the switch to tap-and-go convenience with OMNY, these centers will bring many of the vital, in-person services previously available at 3 Stone St and Mobile Sales Vans to more neighborhoods where customers live in and travel to.” The MTA and Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100 announced the Customer Service Centers in December. The Customer Service Center model builds on the announcement from the Authority and the TWU of the enhanced station agent role, with station agents supporting customer needs outside of the booth. Customer Service Centers will be staffed by station agents as part of the enhanced role and located within the physical premises of subway stations, either through new build-out spaces or repurposed station booths. These centers will provide services historically provided exclusively at 3 Stone Street in Lower Manhattan. The centers will be comprised of repurposed booths and new retail outlets and feature enhanced accessibility, OMNY technology, and a dedicated, more welcoming visual presentation for customers through new lighting, branded wrapping, and canopies. Station agents working at Customer Service Centers will be able to assist customers with switching to OMNY including Reduced-Fare customers, and soon, will provide applications for the Reduced-Fare program. Additionally, Customer Service Centers will provide information about how to submit complaints, receive updates and information on travel delays, and act as a resource to assist with wayfinding through the transit system. Agents at the centers will receive dedicated training on OMNY equipment as well as dedicated customer service functions that will be provided at these locations, which will be staffed by station agents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Following the first three Customer Service Centers opening in February, additional centers will open in 2023 at the following stations: St. George: SIR 34 St–Penn Station:  Flushing--Main St:  Fulton St:  Myrtle–Wyckoff Avs:  74 St–Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Av:  E 180 St:  125 St:  Fordham Rd:   Times Square–42 St:  Sutphin Blvd–Archer Av–JFK Airport:  168 St:

 

 

 

 

 

[daveklepper]

Anyone who wants the pdf can email me at [e-mail]

[daveklepper]

Excerpted from additional material sent by Bill in pdf form.  I will process some more to post.  Not from a trade pubication, but from the manufacturer that is the Prime Contractor for the NY City system signal modernization & automation,  New York Technologies.  Primarily forv the use ofv its own staff and the Transit Authority employees working on the project.

 

 

 

 

[daveklepper]

Both Automatic Train Protection and Automatic Train Operation allow easier installationn of "Countdown Clocks" in the New York City rapid-transit stations to informj passengers how soon the next train is expected.

Apparently, the A and B Divisions use different technology.

B Division:

The grey hump objects typically installed in pairs between the running

rails contain RFID materiel that are energized by railcar CBTC

equipment to identify that precise location of track using STA track

survey marker, or other physical location ID, and is transmitted from

the train to central CBTC equipment that in tern controls train

movement.

 

 

Station train arrival countdown clocks.

 

 

 

On B division lines, including IRT #7 Flushing, station count down

clocks display estimated train arrival times based on RTO train

schedule and tracking tool, ITRAC. Station count down clock

information is displayed based on the train interval posted in ITRAC,

coupled with a Blue Tooth transmitter (BEACON) located in the

operating cab of unitized rail cars, and MoW C Division work equipment

(Diesels, Track geometry, etc).

 

 

 

UHF BEACON Blue Tooth receivers are located at each end of a subway or

elevated station to detect the UHF signal from any equipped railcar.

BEACON Blue Tooth transmitters are always On  so that if one

transmitter should fail, the following BEACON Blue Tooth transmitters

will ID the train since all car numbers in a train intervals are

inventoried by ITAC.

 

 

 

Train intervals typically will not be displayed at a down stream

station until the Terminal Dispatcher has “Clock’s Out” a train in

ITRAC as it is leaving the terminal station. The station train arrival

display will be blank with no train arrival information if a down

stream station is less than the estimated arrival time from an

originating terminal where the train interval has not left the

terminal station. Example, 86th Street 4th Avenue Brooklyn shows a

blank display if the next train at the 95th Street terminal has not

begun to leave the terminal station.

 

 

 

At terminal locations, the train arrival display will show an inbound

train arrival time, and an estimated outbound train departure time

based on schedule (ITRAC). The estimated outbound time is not

propagated to down stream station locations.

 

 

 

Beacon Train arrival displays at underground station were installed

using TA labor, and managed by my CPM Construction Management office.

Clock displays at above ground station were installed under contract

to Transit Wireless, LTD.

 

A Division

 

A Division train arrival countdown clocks are tracked by ATS track

signal circuits. I am not familiar with how ATS ties in with the ITRAC

tool.  (Comment by Dave:  I believe the future will see the A Division changed to the same system as the B Divfision.)1

 

 

William Demakakos

 

 

[daveklepper]

 

	January 06, 2022 ICYMI: Governor Hochul and MTA Announce Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Moves Forward Grant Request for Phase 2 of Subway Extension to 125th Street Moves to Engineering Stage  Extension Will Include Three New Subway Stations, at 106th St, 116th St and 125th St, with Connection to Metro-North   Governor Kathy Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority today announced that the Second Avenue Subway expansion project that would extend the Second Avenue line to 125th St in East Harlem has moved to the Engineering phase of the project timeline. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by President Biden in November provided $23 billion in new grant opportunities for transit expansion, a historic level of funding that doubled the amount of grants available for major projects like Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway (SAS2). The MTA submitted a request to the U.S. Department of Transportation to allow Phase 2 of the expansion to move forward and remain eligible for funding. Phase 2 will include the construction of three new subway stations, at 106th St, 116th St, and 125th St in East Harlem. The Federal Transit Administration has advanced SAS2 into the Engineering phase of the grant process, bringing the project one step closer to reality and allowing preliminary work to move forward. “Earlier this afternoon I spoke with Secretary Buttigieg who shared the exciting news that the U.S. Department of Transportation is making a huge step forward on Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway expansion, which will unlock incredible potential for the people of East Harlem in expanding transit equity and economic opportunity,” Governor Hochul said. “This moves us into the home stretch towards full funding and the start of construction on this incredibly important project. Last month I toured the site of the extension with MTA leadership and elected officials seeing firsthand the sheer grandeur of this exciting project. We made a clear commitment then to the people of East Harlem that we would keep this project moving swiftly, and now we see the first element of making that vision a true reality for so many New Yorkers. I want to thank Secretary Buttigieg, our Congressional leadership, and the MTA for their tireless advocacy for this project, and I can’t wait to get the trains running.” Approximately 70 percent of East Harlem residents use public transportation to get to work, much higher than the citywide average of 55 percent. The expansion of Second Avenue Subway would help advance the Biden Administration's and New York State's goal for transportation equity and would improve the local community's access to jobs, health care, and other services, while reducing congestion, both on the streets and on the Lexington Avenue subway line and improving air quality. MTA Acting Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “The East Harlem community has been waiting for the Second Avenue Subway for decades. Phase 2 will serve an area with one of the largest concentrations of affordable housing in the country where 70 percent of residents rely on public transportation to get to work. The new line extension will build on the success of Phase 1 and bring the total Second Avenue Subway ridership to 300,000, which is equivalent to the entire Philadelphia rail system. A big thank you to the FTA for moving the project to the next stage. My team is ready to go.” Phase 1 of the project extended the Q line from 63rd St to 96th St and was New York City's biggest expansion of the subway system in 50 years. Service opened on January 1, 2017, with additional stations at 72nd St and 86th St. Since its completion, the Second Avenue Subway has carried more than 130 million passengers and carried more than 200,000 passengers on a pre-pandemic day. A tunnel segment that will be used for Phase 2 was built in the 1970s from 110th St to 120th St along Second Avenue.    Fast Facts to Know ·This phase of the project will extend train service from 96th St north to 125th St, approximately 1.5 miles. ·There will be new stations at 106th St and 116th St on Second Ave and 125th St at Park Ave. ·Phase 2 will provide direct passenger connections to the Lexington Avenue (4/5/6) subway line at 125th St and an entrance at Park Ave to allow convenient transfers to the Metro-North Railroad 125 St Station. ·Each station will have above-ground ancillary buildings that house ventilation mechanical, and electrical equipment. These will include space for possible ground-floor retail. ·Expansion will serve an additional 100,000 daily riders. ·Will provide three new ADA accessible stations - raising the bar for customer comfort and convenience. ·Increased multimodal transit connectivity at the 125th St station - with connections to the 4/5/6, Metro-North trains and the M60 Select Bus Service to LaGuardia Airport, allowing convenient transfers to other subway and commuter rail lines, facilitating smoother, faster transportation across the city and region. U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer said, “The Second Avenue Subway Phase II project advancing into project engineering is great news for the people of East Harlem and all of New York City. Long envisioned – but unfortunately too long delayed – the project is now full-speed ahead. I was pleased to secure the historic $23 billion in grant funding for mass transit capital projects in the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs law, and will fight to ensure this critical project gets its fair share.” U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “This federal investment would make a real difference in the lives of East Harlem residents, and I’m very pleased that Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway project has moved forward in the grant process. The expansion of the Second Avenue Subway line would ease commute times, reduce congestion, create local jobs, and connect the community more seamlessly with the rest of the city. I’m proud to have worked to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that provided the funding to make projects like this possible and I’ll keep fighting for resources for New York’s straphangers.” Representative Jerrold Nadler said, “This is fantastic news for New York City Subway riders. The extension of the 2nd Avenue subway line to 125th Street in East Harlem will serve communities that so desperately need expanded subway service and will alleviate crowding and congestion on the Lexington Ave line. I am thrilled that this project is moving forward and I am especially proud to have supported the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that has made this phase of the extension possible. I want to thank Governor Hochul for her partnership on this project and I look forward to continuing to work with her to improve New York City’s infrastructure” Representative Carolyn Maloney said, “I am thrilled that Secretary Buttigieg and the FTA are prioritizing 2nd Avenue Subway expansion by shepherding the project into the engineering phase and bringing it one step closer to federal funding approval. Bringing the Q Train to 125th Street will be a game changer for our City as we rebuild from the COVID-19 crisis, and it will help reduce transit deserts by connecting East Harlem to midtown, lower Manhattan, and Brooklyn. It will reduce the dangerously overcrowded Lexington Avenue line while also committing to the City’s century-old promise to our people to create another east side line. I was proud to lead the fight to build Phase 1, and I thank Governor Hochul, Secretary Buttigieg, Congressmember Espaillat, and MTA CEO and Acting Chair Janno Lieber for their continued partnership in completing this vital project.” Representative Adriano Espaillat said, “As New York City continues to rebuild while working towards economic recovery and addressing the inequalities faced by communities of color that were exacerbated during the pandemic, investing in transit equity improvements is critical and today’s announcement to begin the Second Avenue Subway extension will have resounding effects throughout New York State and particularly in New York City. Successfully expanding services and reliable transportation to this region will support the livelihood of over 100,000 East Harlem residents who currently experience barriers to job opportunities, educational advancement, and access to hospitals and medical care due to lack of public transportation – and will ultimately reshape the fabric of our neighborhoods along the way.”         ReplyForward
	January 06, 2022 ICYMI: Governor Hochul and MTA Announce Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Moves Forward Grant Request for Phase 2 of Subway Extension to 125th Street Moves to Engineering Stage  Extension Will Include Three New Subway Stations, at 106th St, 116th St and 125th St, with Connection to Metro-North   Governor Kathy Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority today announced that the Second Avenue Subway expansion project that would extend the Second Avenue line to 125th St in East Harlem has moved to the Engineering phase of the project timeline. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by President Biden in November provided $23 billion in new grant opportunities for transit expansion, a historic level of funding that doubled the amount of grants available for major projects like Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway (SAS2). The MTA submitted a request to the U.S. Department of Transportation to allow Phase 2 of the expansion to move forward and remain eligible for funding. Phase 2 will include the construction of three new subway stations, at 106th St, 116th St, and 125th St in East Harlem. The Federal Transit Administration has advanced SAS2 into the Engineering phase of the grant process, bringing the project one step closer to reality and allowing preliminary work to move forward. “Earlier this afternoon I spoke with Secretary Buttigieg who shared the exciting news that the U.S. Department of Transportation is making a huge step forward on Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway expansion, which will unlock incredible potential for the people of East Harlem in expanding transit equity and economic opportunity,” Governor Hochul said. “This moves us into the home stretch towards full funding and the start of construction on this incredibly important project. Last month I toured the site of the extension with MTA leadership and elected officials seeing firsthand the sheer grandeur of this exciting project. We made a clear commitment then to the people of East Harlem that we would keep this project moving swiftly, and now we see the first element of making that vision a true reality for so many New Yorkers. I want to thank Secretary Buttigieg, our Congressional leadership, and the MTA for their tireless advocacy for this project, and I can’t wait to get the trains running.” Approximately 70 percent of East Harlem residents use public transportation to get to work, much higher than the citywide average of 55 percent. The expansion of Second Avenue Subway would help advance the Biden Administration's and New York State's goal for transportation equity and would improve the local community's access to jobs, health care, and other services, while reducing congestion, both on the streets and on the Lexington Avenue subway line and improving air quality. MTA Acting Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “The East Harlem community has been waiting for the Second Avenue Subway for decades. Phase 2 will serve an area with one of the largest concentrations of affordable housing in the country where 70 percent of residents rely on public transportation to get to work. The new line extension will build on the success of Phase 1 and bring the total Second Avenue Subway ridership to 300,000, which is equivalent to the entire Philadelphia rail system. A big thank you to the FTA for moving the project to the next stage. My team is ready to go.” Phase 1 of the project extended the Q line from 63rd St to 96th St and was New York City's biggest expansion of the subway system in 50 years. Service opened on January 1, 2017, with additional stations at 72nd St and 86th St. Since its completion, the Second Avenue Subway has carried more than 130 million passengers and carried more than 200,000 passengers on a pre-pandemic day. A tunnel segment that will be used for Phase 2 was built in the 1970s from 110th St to 120th St along Second Avenue.    Fast Facts to Know ·This phase of the project will extend train service from 96th St north to 125th St, approximately 1.5 miles. ·There will be new stations at 106th St and 116th St on Second Ave and 125th St at Park Ave. ·Phase 2 will provide direct passenger connections to the Lexington Avenue (4/5/6) subway line at 125th St and an entrance at Park Ave to allow convenient transfers to the Metro-North Railroad 125 St Station. ·Each station will have above-ground ancillary buildings that house ventilation mechanical, and electrical equipment. These will include space for possible ground-floor retail. ·Expansion will serve an additional 100,000 daily riders. ·Will provide three new ADA accessible stations - raising the bar for customer comfort and convenience. ·Increased multimodal transit connectivity at the 125th St station - with connections to the 4/5/6, Metro-North trains and the M60 Select Bus Service to LaGuardia Airport, allowing convenient transfers to other subway and commuter rail lines, facilitating smoother, faster transportation across the city and region. U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer said, “The Second Avenue Subway Phase II project advancing into project engineering is great news for the people of East Harlem and all of New York City. Long envisioned – but unfortunately too long delayed – the project is now full-speed ahead. I was pleased to secure the historic $23 billion in grant funding for mass transit capital projects in the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs law, and will fight to ensure this critical project gets its fair share.” U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “This federal investment would make a real difference in the lives of East Harlem residents, and I’m very pleased that Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway project has moved forward in the grant process. The expansion of the Second Avenue Subway line would ease commute times, reduce congestion, create local jobs, and connect the community more seamlessly with the rest of the city. I’m proud to have worked to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that provided the funding to make projects like this possible and I’ll keep fighting for resources for New York’s straphangers.” Representative Jerrold Nadler said, “This is fantastic news for New York City Subway riders. The extension of the 2nd Avenue subway line to 125th Street in East Harlem will serve communities that so desperately need expanded subway service and will alleviate crowding and congestion on the Lexington Ave line. I am thrilled that this project is moving forward and I am especially proud to have supported the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that has made this phase of the extension possible. I want to thank Governor Hochul for her partnership on this project and I look forward to continuing to work with her to improve New York City’s infrastructure” Representative Carolyn Maloney said, “I am thrilled that Secretary Buttigieg and the FTA are prioritizing 2nd Avenue Subway expansion by shepherding the project into the engineering phase and bringing it one step closer to federal funding approval. Bringing the Q Train to 125th Street will be a game changer for our City as we rebuild from the COVID-19 crisis, and it will help reduce transit deserts by connecting East Harlem to midtown, lower Manhattan, and Brooklyn. It will reduce the dangerously overcrowded Lexington Avenue line while also committing to the City’s century-old promise to our people to create another east side line. I was proud to lead the fight to build Phase 1, and I thank Governor Hochul, Secretary Buttigieg, Congressmember Espaillat, and MTA CEO and Acting Chair Janno Lieber for their continued partnership in completing this vital project.” Representative Adriano Espaillat said, “As New York City continues to rebuild while working towards economic recovery and addressing the inequalities faced by communities of color that were exacerbated during the pandemic, investing in transit equity improvements is critical and today’s announcement to begin the Second Avenue Subway extension will have resounding effects throughout New York State and particularly in New York City. Successfully expanding services and reliable transportation to this region will support the livelihood of over 100,000 East Harlem residents who currently experience barriers to job opportunities, educational advancement, and access to hospitals and medical care due to lack of public transportation – and will ultimately reshape the fabric of our neighborhoods along the way.”         ReplyForward

 

 

 

[daveklepper]

ICYMI: Governor Hochul Announces Plans to Move Forward With Major New Expansion of Transit Service in Brooklyn and Queens: The Interborough Express

Governor Directs MTA to Begin Environmental Review Process for Transformative New Transit Line   Would Serve More than 100,000 New Yorkers and Connect to Up to 17 Subway Lines and the Long Island Rail Road, Expanding Access to Jobs and Supporting Economic Development        Travel Time End-to-End Expected to be Less Than 40 Minutes        Governor Kathy Hochul today announced plans to move forward with the Interborough Express as part of her 2022 State of the State. Governor Hochul is directing the MTA to immediately begin the environmental review process for this transformative project, the first step in building this major infrastructure investment that would connect communities in Brooklyn and Queens to as many as 17 subway lines and the Long Island Rail Road.       "It's time to invest in the bold, cutting-edge infrastructure projects that will make a real difference in the lives of everyday New Yorkers," Governor Hochul said. "New Yorkers deserve reliable public transit that connects them from work to home and everywhere in between. The Interborough Express would be a transformational addition to Brooklyn and Queens, cutting down on travel time and helping neighborhoods and communities become cleaner, greener and more equitable."       "This project would smartly repurpose existing infrastructure to add mass transit and create access to jobs, education, and opportunity for so many residents of Queens and Brooklyn," said MTA Acting Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. "I applaud Governor Hochul's leadership, and we are enthusiastic to work with her, and Federal and State partners to advance the Interborough concept."       Governor Hochul will direct the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to begin the environmental review process for the Interborough Express. This historic project would use the existing right of way of the Bay Ridge Branch, which is a freight rail line that runs through Brooklyn and Queens, connecting the ethnically and economically diverse neighborhoods of: Sunset Park, Borough Park, Kensington, Midwood, Flatbush, Flatlands, New Lots, Brownsville, East New York, Bushwick, Ridgewood, Middle Village, Maspeth, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights with several new stations in communities not currently served by rail transit.      If adopted, this new service would improve transit and job access to underserved communities along this corridor that is currently home to about 900,000 residents and 260,000 jobs, and with growth expected by at least 41,000 people and 15,000 jobs in the next 25 years. For many residents along this corridor, crossing from neighborhood to neighborhood is slow and tedious because existing subway lines are oriented towards Manhattan, even as many new work opportunities, schools, and services are located in the outer boroughs. The project would provide critical mobility, creating better links for travel to and from Manhattan as well as key connections among neighborhoods, across boroughs, and opening up new opportunities for reverse commuting into Nassau and Suffolk Counties.           Each day, more than 100,000 commuters make daily trips within or across Brooklyn and Queens, often relying on buses that get caught in traffic along a tangled and crowded street network. Results from this historic and necessary step could lead to a new service that would provide end-to-end travel time of less than 40 minutes, although most trips would be along shorter segments of the line. This would provide significant time savings for interborough Brooklyn and Queens trips compared with existing transit options.       In addition to transit service, the existing Bay Ridge Branch corridor can service cross harbor rail freight and would dramatically reduce truck congestion regionally and expand goods movement facilities, thereby fortifying supply chains still struggling to recover from the pandemic. Transportation planners believe that cross harbor rail freight and passenger service on the Interborough Express can work together in concert, which could be a game-changer for the region. To that end Governor Hochul is also directing the Port Authority to complete environmental review for the Cross Harbor Rail Freight Tunnel.

[daveklepper]

 

October 10, 2021

ADVISORY: MTA To Participate In Air Sampling Study With U.S. Department of Homeland Security, NYC Agencies, MIT

Select subway stations throughout the system will be included among testing sites as part of a study by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, various New York City agencies, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology-Lincoln Laboratories that takes air samples later this month across the city, at both above and below ground locations.  The testing will take place on five separate days between Oct. 18 and 29 as part of a broader federal initiative aimed at yielding actionable data for emergency preparedness authorities. During the course of testing, customers using the system may see staff performing test and sampling operations. The study will track movement of non-toxic material and the results from these tests will be used to learn more about the relationship between airflow in street level and underground environments.  The testing is part of the federal Urban Threat Dispersion program and follows earlier testing in New York (2016), Washington and Boston. This study poses no health risks to the public, using materials that have repeatedly been used in prior outdoor and indoor airflow tests. Customers may see signage identifying specific locations involved in the study as they travel around New York City. WHEN: Five separate days between Oct. 18 and Oct. 29.  WHERE: Approximately 120 locations including above-ground areas and underground stations operated by multiple transit agencies

 

[BEAUSABRE]

It's a bit dated, but still a great book

Amazon.com: Under the Sidewalks of New York: The Story of the Greatest Subway System in the World: 9780823216185: Brian J. Cudahy: Books

[daveklepper]

ICYMI: New York City Adopts Zoning Rules to Advance Transit Accessibility

Elevate Transit: Zoning for Accessibility Will Expand Zoning Tools to Deliver Transit Station Accessibility Improvements Initiative Incentivizes Private Developers to Incorporate Station Accessibility Projects or Build Improvements at Nearby MTA Stations While Saving Taxpayer Dollars NEW YORK—Mayor Bill de Blasio, the New York City Council, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced the approval of Elevate Transit: Zoning for Accessibility, a collaboration between the MTA, City Council, the Department of City Planning (DCP) and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) to boost New York City’s push to make its transit system fully accessible. The initiative will allow the MTA to leverage planned private development to achieve a fully accessible transit system faster, while saving taxpayer dollars as the MTA faces financial challenges caused by the ongoing pandemic. Zoning for Accessibility incentivizes private developers to design their buildings to incorporate public station accessibility projects or build the improvements at nearby MTA stations. It creates a new set of tools – and strengthens existing ones – that build off the MTA’s commitment of over $5 billion of funding for 77 accessible subway, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad and Staten Island Railway station projects within New York City in the 2020-2024 MTA Capital Plan. “Building a recovery for all of us means making public transportation accessible to everyone who rides it – especially seniors, young families, and New Yorkers with mobility disabilities,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I’m proud to work across government to drive greater investment in these accessibility improvements, and I look forward to collaborating on more creative ideas to make our city fairer and more equitable.” "Elevate Transit: Zoning for Accessibility is an important step in advancing a fair and equitable recovery for all New Yorkers. These zoning levers add another tool in our toolkit to meet our accessibility goals and better serve people with mobility disabilities, senior citizens, and transit riders as a whole," said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been. “We thank the City Council, the MTA, and all the city agencies involved for their collaboration and leadership to make this creative idea a reality." “Everyone deserves access to our transit system but unfortunately only a third of New York City’s train stations are easily accessible for people with disabilities. We can do better, which is why in my 2019 State of the City address, I outlined a plan for developers to help build new elevators and take other measures to make more subways and train stations ADA compliant. This is a game-changer for millions of New Yorkers, including seniors, disabled people, parents of young children, and anyone who has a harder time getting around. I’m proud of the Council’s role in helping bring together the Department of City Planning and the MTA to advance this proposal. This success shows the Council’s effectiveness in convening solutions to complex citywide problems and I hope it’s something we do more in the future,” said Speaker Corey

[daveklepper]

Regarding the photo of the car with the experimental interior, a friend writes:

This car is the only one of those mockups that was never in a completed state that could be put in service; it was just a work in progress, a place to try a variety of internal fittings.   The 484, 744 and 1575 and were all serviceable,  I don.t know how long the 744 was in regular service before it was returned to its original lighting, but the 484 and 1575 served for a normal life, and are still in service in the vintage train operations.

[daveklepper]

Statement from MTA Chief Safety and Security Officer Patrick Warren on Arrest of Karon Agurs With loaded gun and More Than 300 Rounds of Ammunition at Brooklyn Bridge Subway Station September 30, 2021

“This kind of smart and alert patrolling by the NYPD is a key reason why we wanted more officers in the subway system and why crime has dropped dramatically since the spring. This arrest makes our customers and transit workers safer.

[daveklepper]

Here is an R-10 interior photo, from the R-10 delivery thread.

Compare with the previous photo.

[daveklepper]

 

The car in the photo was modified with several different arrangements, with small differences even left and right.  A friend says it was an R-4, but doesn’t know the number.  1575 appeared in 1947, completely rebuilt with an interior identical to the R-10s that were delivered in 1948-1949.  It still exist, and is used on fan-trips, Nostalgia-Specials, and display at the Transit Museum.

 

The visit must have been in 1947, not 1949, since there are no R-10s in the yard.

 

I was 15+ at the time.  If anyone really wishes to know what a skinny little kid I was when those photos were taken (and many others on this website), just ask for the appropriate photo at

 

[e-mail]

 

[Overmod]

daveklepper

And for an international rapid-tranist door-chime experience:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fi0m8ei_B4&t=11s

Do I not remember NYC subway cars with an alarm-bell 'brrrrring' as the doors ran closed?

They should have included early Amfleet.  I don't remember now whether it was the closing-doors or the doors-remaining-open alarm, but it was exactly the sound, perhaps exactly the circuit, that you hear at McDonald's when the fries are ready.

[Overmod]

daveklepper

not either an R10 interior or that of 1575, but of another R-1-9, temporarily modified with a different interior...

You might want to tell 'the rest of the story'.  IIRC that was the 'test mule' for the production R10 interior, and hence made as much like what would go into the R10s as possible.

The way I dimly remember this story was that the 'test mule' was scrapped after the interior design was 'proofed' -- I remember thinking that I'd have kept it running with its 'modernized' interior...

[daveklepper]

Another error uncovered:  The photo on the posting of the John Kneiling-orfganized 207th Street Shop visit, with my High-School classmate Mark Steele, is not either an R10 interior or that of 1575, but of another R-1-9, temporarily modified with a different interior, and later, after the photo, returned to standard configuration or scrapped.

[daveklepper]

Errors:   Six-car trains,ly one wide island plantform in use, side-pkatform for historical preservation only, no conductor, on operator each end.

Go to:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuKln8N5auw

And for an international rapid-tranist door-chime experience:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fi0m8ei_B4&t=11s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[daveklepper]

Two trains, each with three men, conductor and a motorman at each end, for quick reversal at both stations, six people, same number as three trains with two people each, and new platform arrangement speeding loading and unloading.  Faster operaton, so rush-hour sevice will be better.  Same number of trips each way per hour, but done with two four-car trains instead of three three-car trains.

[blue streak 1]

dave how about the rebuilt times square shuttle ?  Longer trains but just 2 tracks.

[daveklepper]

A 1949 John Kneiling-arranged tour of the 207th Street Shops.   Does this belong here or on the Classic Trains Forum?

All passenger equipment in the photos are R-1-9 cars, except the interior is either R-10 or rebuilt sample 1575.

 

 

[daveklepper]

MTA Launches Welcome Back Campaign at Event Marking Opening of Brand New 42 Street Shuttle

Authority Unveils Major Improvements Including Signature New 42 Street Shuttle Connector as Customers Begin to Return to System in Larger Numbers  Shuttle Riders Will be Greeted by a Mosaic Installation Created by Artist Nick Cave  MTA Officials Also Announce Launch of ‘Welcome Back New York’ Campaign Aimed at Bolstering Ridership, Touting Benefits of Mass Transit, and Providing Financial Incentives to Return The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today celebrated the completion of the new 42 St Shuttle that connects Times Square and Grant Central Terminal. The work is the centerpiece of the broader 42 St Connection Project, a series of major improvements to  the highly-trafficked corridor. Despite the pandemic, the work was completed on time and on budget. It also includes a striking mosaic installation from world renowned artist Nick Cave.   Authority officials also used the opening of the new Shuttle service to formally launch a new ‘Welcome Back New York’ campaign that touts the benefits of mass transit as New Yorkers begin to return to work and school in the aftermath of the pandemic. The campaign includes a range of specific initiatives to entice riders to come back to the system, including the extension of discounted fares during off-peak hours until the end of the year and a new goal of doubling the number of New York City residents engaged in the City’s Fair Fares program that provides discounted MetroCards to customers in need of financial assistance.  “This project had been talked about for literally decades and now we’ve finally gotten it done,” said MTA Acting Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber. “The new, fully ADA-accessible Shuttle is easier to navigate, with straightened tracks and a single, wider platform that will allow us to run longer trains during peak hours and speed up boarding times. This is a huge win for our customers as they continue to return to the system.”  “I’ve been at the MTA for over thirty years and rebuilding the Shuttle has been a topic of discussion that entire time. It’s amazing to finally see it get the renovation New Yorkers deserve, especially at this critical moment for the system and our region,” said New York City Transit Interim President Craig Cipriano. “I’m hopeful that in the months and years ahead, daily use of the new Shuttle will eventually tick back up the roughly 80,000 customers who rode it on a typical day before the pandemic.”   “By many accounts, New York City is now the most congested city in America,” said MTA Chief Customer Officer Sarah Meyer. “That’s why we’re launching a campaign to encourage more people to take public transit. It’s a faster, safer, cheaper and greener way to get around town.  For $2.75, you can experience everything that makes New York great.  Ditch your cars and ride the subway or bus as you return to the city.”  “I can tell you from personal experience that navigating the shuttle transfer before this modernization was incredibly challenging,” said MTA Chief Accessibility Officer Quemuel Arroyo. “The improvements we’re celebrating today are transformative and more accessibility upgrades are forthcoming. We’re taking a phased approach to improving accessibility at 42nd Street that includes accessibility at both ends of the 42 St Connector – bringing us another step closer to making 100 key stations accessible.”  The transformative 42 St Connection Project brings straightened tracks and expanded platform space, allowing more room for customers and ensuring that shuttle access is fully accessible in compliance with ADA standards. The consolidated platform will make it easier to identify and board the next available train as quickly as possible, and simplified and extended tracks allows the Authority to run longer cars. This, in turn, increases customer capacity by 20% during peak times. Prior to the pandemic, the 42 St Shuttle carried some 80,000 customers daily, including upwards of 10,000 per hour during morning and evening rush periods. The project also includes free underground connection to the 42 St Bryant Park Station, wider stairwells on the Grand Central mezzanine, a new street-to-mezzanine elevator at the Times Square Station, and new electrical, communications, signal and fire safety systems.  The 42 St Shuttle Connection Project also features the first and largest section of a striking mosaic installation by artist Nick Cave. Commissioned by the MTA’s award-winning public arts program, MTA Arts & Design, ‘Every One’ is one piece of the larger Each One, Every One, Equal All mosaic and runs the length of the new walking transfer between the Shuttle at Times Square and Bryant Park.  ‘Every One’ is an expansive installation on the North and East walls of the 42 St Connector. It runs 360 linear feet and covers over 3,200 square feet. The artwork includes more than two dozen of Cave’s iconic Soundsuits, brought to life in a companion video piece of the same name. ‘Every One’ will be displayed on eleven OUTFRONT live digital screens centrally displayed in the 42 St Connector. On each quarter hour, a short digital work will be shown. The video depicts the Soundsuits, many of which can be seen in the surrounding mosaic, fully activated by the movement of dancers.  The “Welcome Back New York” campaign extolls the virtues of riding mass transit for those returning to the system after the worst days of the pandemic. Informative and at times irreverent messages will appear throughout stations, on media outlets, and on billboards throughout the region. It will also highlight the wide ranging benefits of mass transit compared to the available alternatives. As part of the campaign, the MTA also announced an extension of an extant policy that placed discounts on off-peak fares for customers on both the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad.  The Authority will also offer businesses a sales program in which companies may purchase MetroCards in bulk to help the City’s efforts at encouraging customers to return to the system and discounts to combat climate change by encouraging mass transit use. Off-peak fares on the LIRR and on Metro-North will be in effect until December 31, 2021. Commuter rail customers using single-ride trips and ten-trip tickets can benefit from savings up to nearly 40% of the normal price depending on distance traveled. In addition, for eleven fall weekends, Sept. 11 – Nov. 21, monthly ticket holders will enjoy Autumn Weekends, which entitles up to four people to ride along for only $1.00 per person. There is also Friends and Family Wednesdays, when monthly ticket holders may bring an extra person to ride for only $1.00, between Sept. 15 and Oct. 27. These incentives are specifically targeted at attracting customers with new telework schedules.  A poignant video entitled “Opening Doors” accompanied the rollout of the new campaign. It celebrates New York’s reopening and the transit system that moves the region.