A Forum reader asked for advice, and rather than reply just on my own thread, I thought the advice would be useful generally.
https://www.nytransitmuseum.org/subwayday/
The Interborough Rapid Transit subway opened on October 27, 1904 with 28 stations along a 9.1-mile line extending from City Hall to 145th Street. Since it first opened in 1904, New York’s subway has been the fastest and most popular mode of personal transportation in the city. Today, it is the largest 24-hour operating subway system in the world, with 472 stations, over 800 track miles and a fleet of more than 6,000 passenger cars.
Founded in 1976, the New York Transit Museum is dedicated to telling and preserving the stories of mass transportation – extraordinary engineering feats, workers who labored in the tunnels over 100 years ago, communities that were drastically transformed, and the ever-evolving technology, design, and ridership of a system that runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
The New York Transit Museum in Downtown Brooklyn and our Grand Central Gallery & Store will open at 10am on October 27th! Plan your visit now.
Ride the New York Transit Museum’s 1917 Lo-V train cars on the 2/3 line between Times Square and 96th Street from 12:30pm to 4pm.
View historic New York Transit Museum Collection photos of our system and city before, during, and after the construction of the subway on screens throughout the subway. Stop by the stations along the original IRT route to see what each station looked like when the subway opened in 1904!
City Hall station, on loop still used for reversal by No. 6 A-Division (IRT) trains, but closed except for special tours and inspections and railfan trips.
Why does the Transit Museum use what appears to me to be an IND R car to illustrate an invitation to ride Lo-V equipment?
Just a few more comments that might be helpful:
Senior citizens can ride the subway for 1/2 price. Go to an agent booth, show proof of age (65 and up), pay $2.75. The agent will sell you a metrocard good for two rides. Agents will only sell one reduced card per person.
The Staten Island Ferry is FREE! There are scammers at the Terminal who try to sell tourists "reduced fare" tickets. The SIRT is part of the subway system and uses the same Metrocards.
Coney Island is worth a ride. Four lines (D.F.N.Q) go to Stillwell Avenue (right across the street from Nathan's) and the B ends at Brighton Beach, two stops from Stillwell Ave. I recommend taking the N to Stillwell Ave., it runs through the yards at the Coney Island shops, which are huge.
If you take the A train to the Rockaways as Dave suggested, be aware that there are two branches of the A train in Queens: the Rockaways (which you want), and Lefferts Blvd. (which you don't want). If you go, look at the top of the subway cars. At certain times of the day, the local seagulls "commute" between Howard Beach and Broad Channel stations by riding on the tops of the cars.
Not all of the subway lines cross the East River in tunnels. The J and M lines cross on the Williamsburg Bridge, the B,D,N, and Q cross on the Manhattan Bridge (B&D on the north side, N&Q on the south). These offer great views of the East River that you can't see from anywhere else.
I'll add more if I think of anything else.
It's interesting to ride the original 1 line (ex-IRT) to the viaduct over Manhattan Valley (between the 116th and 137th St. stations) and then up to the stations deep in the rock around 168th St which I think still preserve much of their turn-of-the-twentieth-century character. (Shrimp salad sandwich at the old University Food Market around 114th is still one of the best, too...)
Here is an improved version of the City Hall Station photo posted earlier:
December 16, 2019New Data Showing Trips Taking Less Time on Every Line as Subway Performance & Ridership Continue
Months-Long Improvement TrendsTime it Takes for Trains to Go from Terminal to Terminal Has Improved on Every Line from November 2018
to November 2019 – Data Available Thanks to Recent Tech Advancements at NYC Transit Weekday On-Time Performance in November Reached 81.8%, up 17% from November 2018 – the Sixth
Straight Month Over 80% Subway Ridership on Upswing, by One Measure Breaking a Three-Year Record MTA New York City Transit today announced new subway statistics showing continued performance
improvements thanks to the sustained success of the Subway Action Plan and the Save Safe Seconds
campaign, including preliminary November 2019 numbers for on-time performance and a newly discussed
metric called ‘running times,’ which are the time it takes for trains to travel from terminal to terminal.
Running times are faster on every line in November 2019 compared to a year ago, meaning trains are
getting through the system more quickly, shaving minutes off of many trips. The ‘running times’ metric
uses new technology to better track the locations of trains in large parts of the subway system. “The data doesn’t lie: subway service is demonstrably better, more customers are taking the subways,
and the service continues to improve each month thanks to the hard work of our employees and smarter
operations,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Patrick J. Foye. “I am proud of everyone at New York City Transit
for their dedication and laser focus in improvements that have yielded these results that prove our
subway service has truly turned around.” “This new metric we’re talking about today, running times, is yet another meaningful way to quantify
what the 50,000 employees of New York City Transit have been working so hard to achieve: months of
sustained improvement in service,” said MTA NYC Transit President Andy Byford. “We have much more
work to do to deliver the service that New Yorkers need and deserve; the consistency that we have
achieved shows the Subway Action Plan and the Save Safe Seconds campaign laying a strong foundation
for the major improvements we expect from upgrades that are part of the next MTA Capital Plan.” “I am hugely encouraged by the consistent and sustained improvements we are seeing across all subway
performance metrics, reflecting significantly improved service for our customers,” said Sally Librera, MTA
NYC Transit Senior Vice President for Subways. “By improving our ability to measure service in different
ways, we are now able to better pinpoint areas for improvement, as well as identify gains being made,
such as the improving run times through the system meaning customers are getting where they need
to go faster.” Overall subway performance continued its steady improvement last month, with preliminary data for
the month of November 2019 and for the average of the past 12 months showing every weekday metric
better than it was in November 2018. Compared to 2018 and 2017, trains are taking less time to go from terminal to terminal on every line of
the subway system today, shaving minutes off of many trips. Overall, ‘A’ Division trains (the numbered
lines) are running close to 4%, or about two and a half minutes, faster than last year, and close to 6%,
or about three and a half minutes, faster than in 2017. On the ‘B’ Division (lettered lines), trains are
running about 2%, or about one and a half minutes, faster than 2018, and close to 3%, or about two
minutes, faster than in 2017. The biggest improvement on any line in 2019 is on the 7 and 7 Express, whose running times were,
respectively, 9.2% (three and a half minutes) and 10.5% (more than four and a half minutes) faster
last month than in November 2018. At the end of 2018, the 7 line was upgraded to modern
Communications Based Train Control signaling. See the attached table for a line-by-line breakdown of
running time improvements. This systemwide analysis of running times was performed for the first time during the past year using
new technology that enables officials to better track the locations of trains on the lettered lines, and the
analysis of massive amounts of new data by NYC Transit personnel. A Division trains have long been
able to be tracked using a computerized train location system. The B Division, largely built by different
builders up to a century or more ago, has long had far less data due to the lack of automatic, computerized
recording of exact train locations at all times. Over the past two years, NYC Transit has been working in an
effort to acquire better data about the movements of B Division trains using various innovations, including
wireless sensors and transmitters on tracks and trains. The technology is undergoing an ongoing
refinement process for greater and greater accuracy. Even more precise information about train movements
is expected with each line that is newly outfitted with modern computer-based signaling systems – a major
component of the current and next MTA Capital Plan. On-time performance (OTP) has registered above 80% for the sixth straight month – the last time this
happened was in 2013. November’s weekday OTP was 81.8%, a 17% improvement from a year ago when
it was 69.9%. Weekday Major Incidents decreased 49.3% from November 2018, dropping from 67 to 34 in November 2019.
Furthermore, weekday train delays decreased 42.5% from last November, from 51,964 to 29,863. Positive numbers were also realized in NYC Transit’s other customer-focused metrics, including Service
Delivered, Additional Platform Time, Additional Train Time, and Customer Journey Time Performance, as all
metrics were better than one year ago and better than their average performance over the past 12 months.
Highlights for November included:Additional platform time, which measures the average added time customers wait for trains compared to the
schedule: Time savings of 8 seconds, or a 10.3% drop from last year
Additional train time, which measures the average added time customers spend on a train compared to the
schedule: Time savings of 21 seconds, or a drop of 27.3% from last year
Customer journey time: More than 83% of customers completed their journeys within five minutes of the
scheduled time, compared to 79.2% last year. A contributing factor to the reduction in delays has been the significant progress made in reducing track
debris fires, which are significantly down since NYC Transit started attacking this problem with new equipment
in 2017. This has included clearing debris at an unprecedented rate using new platform-based mobile vacs,
and vacuum trains that move around the system picking up trash. Year to date, track debris fires are down 83,
from 321 to 238, and they are down 119 for the previous 12 months, from 377 to 258. There are signs that the recent trend in improving performance is attracting customers back to the subway
system. October 2019 – the most recent month with confirmed data – had six days with more than 6,000,000
customers on the subway, the first time that has happened since December 2016. October was the fifth
consecutive month of year-over-year weekday ridership increases, which also occurred in eight of the past10
months. October was also the third consecutive month of year-over-year weekend ridership increases, which
also occurred in five of the past six months. In terms of customer satisfaction, NYC Transit’s Customers Count survey saw a 13.1 percentage point
improvement in satisfaction for the 3rd quarter of 2019 compared to the same period last year, with the
greatest improvements in waiting time, travel time, and unexpected delays. ABOUT THE SUBWAY ACTION PLAN
The Subway Action Plan launched at the direction of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo in July 2017, and was funded
by the Governor, Legislature and the City. With the goal of stabilizing and improving the 115-year old subway
system, the plan’s extraordinary measures have been critical to recent performance improvements. Since the
Subway Action Plan launched, MTA workers and contractors have:
Cleared more than 80,000 street grates to prevent ingress of litter and leaves that build up on the tracks,
causing fires and clogging drains.
Sealed more than 7,900 leaks to prevent water ingress that causes power and signal problems,
deterioration
of track and other equipment resulting in unplanned service changes, delays and track fires.Installed 54 miles of Continuous Welded Rail (CWR) across the system, replacing jointed rail, which is more prone to rail defects that delay trains.Repaired more than 27,000 minor track defects that if not repaired can cause delays.Performed more than 180 miles of track rail grinding to improve ride quality and reduce defectsCompleted more than 1,500 priority maintenance and repair tasks to improve reliability of signal and switch equipment.Rebuilt and modernized more than 430 signal stops to be moisture proof and avoid service interruptionRepaired door control units on over 1,000 cars in our oldest fleets to improve reliability of this critical component that cause 40 percent of car breakdownsCompleted a deep cleaning initiative of more than 100 subway stations.Enhanced 217 stations via a focused cleaning and repair campaign led by Group Station Managers ABOUT THE SAVE SAFE SECONDS CAMPAIGNThe Save Safe Seconds Campaign was launched in 2018 as part of NYC Transit President Andy Byford’s Fast Forward Plan directive to improve subway service, particularly by focusing on the root causes of delays. Personnel have been engaged to help come up with ways to immediately improve subway performance and reduce delays, simply and affordably (or even at no cost) through better operating and service practices. The campaign has led to the intelligent and focused management of day to day train operations, including the repair of faulty speed-regulating signals, increase of speed limits and new instructions to train operators, in such a manner that allows for the safe increase of train speeds and, in turn, safely making subway trips take less time for customers. The campaign is led by NYC Transit’s Department of Subways Senior VP Sally Librera, in a partnership with NYC Transit’s labor partners, with the efforts of thousands train crew members and other front-line NYC Transit employees. Charts-subwayperformance-12.16.19.pdf <https://apps.cio.ny.gov/apps/mediaContact/public/download.cfm?attachment_uuid=98B4FC75-EFDC-4612-8C3259DB9D713129>
Apologize for being late on this:
“The list of stations being announced today will ensure that New Yorkers with disabilities across our entire City will have greatly improved access to the subway system in the coming years,” said Sharifa Abu-hamda, President Civics League for Disability Rights. “While we remain committed to having the MTA meet the goal of full system accessibility, this is a big step forward when it comes to making our subway system more accessible to all of us. We will continue to work with the MTA to ensure that this goal is realized.
Do they still anounce "MIND THE GAP" at the battery station?
Although the tracks and platform are intact, the South Ferry loop station is no longer used. The station in uee is a stub-end terminal. The platforms and tracks a straight within the station. I can be corrected, but I think there are two tracks with three platforms. The outer platforms are for exiting the trains and system, the center one for boarding.
$246M Contract Awarded to Install Communications-Based Train Control System and Other Significant Upgrades on Major Corridor Between Manhattan & BrooklynNYCT to Deploy Modern Axle-Counter Technology for First Time to Replace Track Circuits & Further Improve Signal System Reliability
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that a $245.8 million contract has been awarded to install a modern computer-based signaling system and a multitude of other significant upgrades on the Eighth Avenue ACE line, which serves hundreds of thousands of customers and connects Manhattan’s West side with Brooklyn and various subway lines that interface with nearly every subway line throughout the system. The corridor includes some of the busiest station complexes and transfer points in New York City, including Columbus Circle, Times Square and the Port Authority Bus Terminal, Penn Station and West 4th Street. The project corridor serves more than 700,000 riders each weekday, however because problems in one area can affect an entire line, all users of the ACE lines across New York City will benefit from this work. “A modern signaling system will help transform commutes for our millions of customers and bring our transit system into the 21st century by providing modern, reliable, safe service that can carry more riders than ever,” said MTA NYC Transit President Andy Byford. “This progress in our Eighth Avenue line resignaling project is a major milestone and a sign of what’s coming as we push forward to modernize the system as quickly as possible.”
The MTA’s new approach to “bundling” work in order to minimize disruptions to customers will be heavily employed in this project. In addition to performing a wide variety of upgrades in the contract simultaneously, the MTA’s new Construction and Development Company (C&D) will accelerate and coordinate millions of dollars of additional improvement work planned for the corridor so that it happens at the same time, thereby minimizing the amount of service disruption experienced by customers. “The new MTA is customer-centric and delivering projects better, faster and cheaper,” said Chief Development Officer Janno Lieber, head of MTA C&D. “We are bundling projects in order to minimize impacts on customers and this project will be our biggest effort yet.” Modern signaling allows more trains per hour to operate, increasing passenger capacity; provide improved and more reliable service; and make more efficient use of its track and car fleet.
Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) is more flexible than the current block signaling system because CBTC continuously updates train positions, distances and travel speeds, allowing for faster and more efficient operations. Continuous updates allow the subway system to recover quickly from delays and restore consistent wait times at subway stations. NYC Transit has successfully installed and implemented CBTC on the Canarsie L and Flushing 7 lines, where the new signaling system has boosted performance improvements to more than 90 percent and helped to attract new ridership as those lines grow in reliability, capacity and performance.
In November 2019, the on-time performance of the Flushing 7 line was more than 92 percent, and the on-time performance of the Canarsie L line was more than 95 percent. In comparison, the combined average on-time performance of the ACE lines was 73.5 percent.
The project also enhances safety for customers and employees alike, since NYC Transit using CBTC can program a “work zone” so trains cannot exceed a set speed, adding an extra layer of safety for workers on the tracks. The modern signaling system also provides precise real-time train arrival information that can be shared with customers on public address systems and electronic screens such as countdown clocks or data-driven mobile apps.
CBTC will be installed on local and express tracks serving the ACE lines from 59 St-Columbus Circle to High Street AC in Brooklyn. This project will connect with the CBTC project underway on the portion of the CE lines as part of the Queens Boulevard signal modernization project, which spans the entire Queens Boulevard Line to midtown Manhattan north of the 47-50 Sts/Rockefeller Ctr station on the FM Lines and south of the 50 St CE station.
After the successful implementation of both CBTC systems on the Eighth Avenue ACE and Queens Boulevard EF MR lines, the entire length of the E line will use the modern signaling system, enabling NYC Transit to increase capacity on one of the most popular subway lines in the city and one of two subway lines that provides access to John F. Kennedy Airport via the JFK AirTrain at Jamaica.
The scope of this comprehensive Eighth Avenue line modernization project includes the complete installation of the new signaling system from south of the 59th Street Interlocking in Manhattan to the High St AC station in Brooklyn, as well as two interlockings at 30th and 42nd Streets in Manhattan, power supply, zone controllers, cables, fire suppression, HVAC, lighting, and construction of facilities to house infrastructure such as relays and power.
This project also represents the first time NYC Transit will use axle counters in the place of traditional track circuits, which will help reduce delays and reduce installation and maintenance costs. Axle counters, compared to track circuits, use less equipment and more resilient components than traditional track circuits, which are more susceptible to water and debris-related problems. Track repairs and replacements can also happen more quickly on tracks using axle counters rather than continuous track circuits.
The MTA awarded the contract to L.K. Comstock & Company. It includes penalties for delays and was the outcome of a procurement method called “A+B bidding,” which uses both price and impact on customers as criteria in order to be as customer-friendly as possible.
As part of the contract, Siemens Mobility Inc. will provide the CBTC system and equipment. Once the contract is awarded, design work will start immediately with construction beginning as early as the end of this year.
This project represents the first corridor in the NYC subway system receiving modern signaling designed to coincide with the delivery of new CBTC-enabled train cars built from the ground up – the R211 model.
NYC Transit previously announced plans to bring CBTC to the Culver F line in Brooklyn, and the historic MTA 2020-2024 Capital Plan also includes $7.1 billion to resignal six additional subway line segments, including the system’s busiest, the Lexington Avenue 456 line. By the end of the 2020-2024 program, more than 50 percent of the system’s total ridership will benefit from modernized signals and new power substations to support advanced signaling on a total of 11 lines.
In September 2019, the MTA and the Transit Innovation Partnership announced a new collaborative effort designed to leverage private sector expertise and innovation in an effort to achieve signal modernization more quickly |
Dave: This is more a history question, but what are the modern equivalents of the old BMT, IRT and IND lines?
The numbered routes are the former IRT and the lettered routes are the now combined BMT and IND.
CSSHEGEWISCH The numbered routes are the former IRT and the lettered routes are the now combined BMT and IND.
Thanks!!
Note that the BMT and IND are thoroughly integrated. The A, B, D, F, M (part-time), and V operate on routes that are partly old BMT and partly IND, plus new connecting tracks and in some cases a new service sompletely (Far Rockaway, former LIRR for the A, for example).
Also the 7 is serviced and overhauled at the B Division, former BMT Coney Island Shop, rather than 207th St. with 1 - 6, because of much less miloeage. 207th is ex-IND. The A Div. does not have its own main overhaul shop, since 149th and Lenox was closed about 40 years ago. 207th has a direct ramp to the 1 adjacent to it as well as the A as original.
January 17, 2020MTA Unveils Integrated 42 St Connection Project Along 42 St Corridor Eight Separate Rehabilitation Projects Merged into One Comprehensive Plan Under New MTA Construction & Development, Cutting Costs and Expediting Timelines In The Process Holistic Approach Includes Accessibility Improvements and Wide-Ranging Capacity and Reliability Initiatives, Including Overhaul of the 42 St. Shuttle In Just Five Months Since Implementing New Project Management Approach, MTA Already Cut Cost By $10M; Continuous Shuttle Service Remains in Effect for Customers The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today unveiled the integrated 42nd Street Connection project along 42 St Corridor. As a result of the MTA’s new approach to project management under MTA Construction and Development, several rehabilitation projects between Times Sq-42 St and Grand Central-42 St – including the redesign and rebuild of the 42 St Shuttle – have now been unified under one project CEO. In just five months since implementation, the new project management approach has cut costs by $10 million without interruption to subway service at one of the busiest station complexes in the nation. When completed, the 42 St Connection Project will more seamlessly connect the transit corridor underneath 42 Street to make transferring easier, reduce the overall commute time for customers, and expand system access for customers with disabilities by making the 42 St Shuttle line accessible. Renderings of the project are available here <https://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/49397221547/in/dateposted/>. The ongoing work continues to serve as an example of how the MTA’s new agency-wide capital project group, MTA Construction & Development, is achieving both cost and schedule savings by bundling projects together, leveraging design-build and modern construction techniques and putting them under the leadership of a single, more accountable Project CEO. “The newly integrated 42 St Connection Project demonstrates the real customer benefits that come from rethinking how we manage projects and deliver better, faster and cheaper,” said Janno Lieber, MTA Chief Development Officer. “By bundling this work and bringing on one dedicated CEO to lead the effort, we’re cutting costs and reducing timelines—all without sacrificing service to our customers. The 42 St Connection Project will connect more of New York for more New Yorkers, and serve as a model for how to build other projects.” Making the 42 St shuttle accessible was originally scheduled to take 49 months, but MTA Construction & Development has managed to reduce that time frame by over a year and the work is now set to be completed in just 36 months. Work to improve access to the Lexington and Flushing subway lines at Grand Central is now set to take place in just 20 months, a 13 month reduction from the originally forecast estimate of 33 months. More than 1.1 million people pass through the 42 St corridor every day—a figure higher than the ridership of the entire subway and bus system of Boston in a full day. Pieces of the work will wrap up as soon as next month, with the entire project expected to be completed in 2025 for an expected $750 million. Specific improvements that will now be overseen by Lieber, Soliman and MTA Construction & Development include: 42 St Shuttle <https://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/49397221547/in/dateposted/>Expanded capacity on the train by 20% during peak timesADA-compliant by reconfiguring and straightening the tracks to remove the gaps between the platform and the trainsNew signaling system, which is configurable to the latest signaling technology New project management approach has reduced the construction schedule by 25% from 49 months to 36 months and improved subway service during constructionWork will ultimately bring greater reliability and accessibilityFree transfer to Bryant Park Station Complex New street elevator, wider street stairs and larger fare control areas. 42nd Street Passageway Subway Entrance <https://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/49397022026/in/dateposted/>Re-phase Project to Improve Customer Experience and Reduce Duration of Closures during Escalator and Elevator ReplacementsReduced Construction Schedule from 26 Months to 19 MonthsRe-built Stairs in 7 Weeks instead of 8 Months and Re-opened for Customer Use SoonerReduced Escalator Outage from 14 Months to 8 Months Grand Central Station (Lexington and Flushing lines) <https://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/49397236482/in/dateposted/>Fully ADA-compliant facilityAlready reduced schedule by two months on capacity and accessibility improvementsAlready begun column, floor and wall finishing work earlier to improve the customer experience.Work will bring 12 widened platform stairwells and five brand new stairs.Work will bring new and redesigned escalators and elevators22,000 sq-ft. Shuttle platform—the widest platform in the entire New York City Transit subway systemReduced schedule on elevator replacement for Lexington and Flushing lines from 33 months to 20 months Bryant Park Station ComplexNew in-system transfer between 42 St-Times Sq and Bryant Park, providing access there to the 6 Av BDFM linesWork expected to begin next year Times Square <https://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/49397022026/in/dateposted/>Fully ADA-compliant facilityNew turnstilesDigital information screensEnergy-efficient LED lightingRebuilt Shuttle station, including a centralized platform serving two tracks To help customers get to the know the 42 St Connection Project, new signage and tools to keep customers informed was unveiled at the event:Customers will find blue and gold-themed signage throughout the Grand Central, Bryant Park and Times Square stations for information and navigation adviceAt the station booths or from an MTA employee, dedicated brochure with travel tips and information are availableA website about the 42 St Connection Project, which will be kept up to date with information about construction progress and changes is here: <http://new.mta.info/42ndStreet>Customers can also subscribe to email updates about the project here: <http://bit.ly/42-St-Subscribe>
OMNY SURPASSES 5 MILLION TAPS AHEAD OF EXPANSION TO 60 MORE STATIONS
BY THE END OF JANUARY: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)announced today that its new OMNY contactless fare payment system willbe installed at 60 more subway stations during the month of January,including major station complexes such as Herald Square and 47-50Sts-Rockefeller Center in Manhattan and Jay St-MetroTech in Brooklyn.The MTA also celebrated the OMNY system's system's 5 millionth tap,which took place last Friday, mere months after OMNY launched at ahandful of stations. To mark the expansion of OMNY, the MTA alsoannounced today a new public information campaign including stationannouncements by NYC Transit President Andy Byford and MTAadvertisements coming to more than 1,100 subway cars. The ads, some ofwhich can be seen here, feature slogans such as "Save the swipingfor your dating app" and graphics showing the evolution of farepayment in New York City. Click here for the audio of Byford greetingcustomers at OMNY-enabled stations. Adoption rates continue to exceedthe MTA's most ambitious internal estimates, and work to bring OMNYto the entire subway and bus system by the end of the year remains onpace. “The rate at which New Yorkers and visitors are using OMNY hassurpassed our most ambitious estimates, and that's a testament tothe system's popularity" said MTA NYC Transit President AndyByford. "Five million taps this quickly is outstanding, and thatpace will grow even faster as we add more stations. By the end of thisyear, this quick, easy and seamless way to pay will be available atevery subway station and every MTA bus to help everyone movefaster." (MTA - posted 1/07)
The Cuomo - Byford flap:
R-42 Subway Cars Make Their Final Trip, Ending 51 Years of ServicePhotos of the Final Run are Available at This Link<https://flic.kr/s/aHsmLmzxNt>MTA New York City Transit retired the last remaining R-42 subway cars fromservice today, ending a 51-year run. The cars have been used on two dozenlines, each traveling more than seven million miles. They had a memorablerole in an iconic car-vs.-train chase in the classic 1971 film FrenchConnection.The final run followed a send-off ceremony at the New York Transit Museum,and was scheduled to proceed through a final trip on the line from EuclidAv to Far Rockaway to 207 St, before returning to Euclid Av to close itsdoors for the last time. Subway enthusiasts joined MTA Chairman and CEOPatrick J. Foye and NYC Transit President Andy Byford riding the last R-42in passenger service.“These cars have served the MTA well as a reliable fleet over the last 50years,” said Sally Librera, Senior Vice President, Department of Subways forNew York City Transit. “As technology advances, we’re looking to modernizeour fleet of subway cars to best serve New Yorkers.”“Two of the R-42 cars will continue to live here at the Transit Museum,where they will be used to educate the public about the city’s masstransportation history, and visitors will get the chance to come aboard andtravel back in time," said Transit Museum Director Concetta Bencivenga.R-42s were built by the St. Louis Car Company, and were the first carsreceived by the newly branded MTA in 1969, eventually totaling 400 cars in
the NYC Transit fleet. The first cars were used on the BMT Broadway Line,known today as the N-train. Along with the R-32, the R-42 is the onlypost-war car to reach the 50-year service mark. The R-32 still runs on theand .These were the first cars in the New York City Subway to arrive in servicecompletely air-conditioned. The R-42 was the last car type to be designed asmarried pairs,” which means every two cars are semi-permanently linkedtogether in order to reduce the amount of components that are required tooperate a train. The cars that are retiring today traveled an average of 400miles a day. They were kept in good repair by senior mechanics with longtimeexperience maintaining R-42s.The R-160 fleet is replacing most of the R-42s. A majority of the R-42 fleetwas retired between 2006 and 2009, and most of those cars were submerged inthe Atlantic Ocean to form artificial reefs. After the reefing program endedin April 2010, retired R-42s were sent to Sims Metal Management to bescrapped.The remaining R-42s will be replaced by the newest NYCT subway cars,including R-179s that were recently placed into service, and R-211s (whenthose cars are delivered).About the Historic R-42Seated capacity on the R-42 is 44.Car length: 60 feet Width: 10 feet Height: 12.08 feet
Weight: 74,388.pounds Maximum speed: 55 MPHThe cars over the years have been used on the following lines: , ,A, B, C, E, F, G, L,Q, R, M, J, L, M, N, R, Z , , , , , , , , and .As well as the no longer in use: AA, CC, EE, GG, K, LL, QB, RR, SS, T,. and VThe R-42 was featured in the famous car-vs.-subway chase in WilliamFriedkin’s 1971 thriller The French Connection. The two cars, #4572 and#4573, are part of New York Transit Museum’s collection.1969 was a big year: Sesame Street debuted, the New York Mets won the WorldSeries, Woodstock drew more than 350,000 people to a farm in upstate NewYork, and Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk onthe moon.
Dave: I askws why rhese cars were retired while older R-32s continue in service, and the
answer was: "The all stainless-steel bodies of the R-2s are in better shape."
February 18, 2020MTA Posts Best January Metrics in Seven Years for NYC Subway, EightYears for LIRR, and Best Month on Metro-North in Almost Six YearsGains Come as Agencies Undertake Historic Capital Renewal andExpansion and Report Ridership GainsMillions of New Yorkers Getting Where They Need to Go Faster and MorePredictably with Less Travel TimeSubway On-Time Performance Best January in Seven Years; Number ofMajor Delay-Causing Incidents Decreased to Lowest Since Record KeepingBegan in 2015Metro-North Posts Highest Monthly On-Time Performance in 69 Months,14th Consecutive Month of Year-Over-Year Improvement; Railroad SetAll-Time Ridership Record in 2019 and Growth Continues in JanuaryLIRR Posts Best January Since 2012, Building on Last Year’s BestAnnual On-Time Performance in Three Years; Posts Modern Record forRidership in 2019 and Growth Continues in JanuaryMetropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) officials today announcedthat on-time performance and other measures of service on the New YorkCity Subway, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad continuedto improve markedly in the month of January, reaching historicallyhigh levels. In tandem with improving performance, subway and railroadridership increased in 2019, reaching 1.7 billion trips on the subway,or 1.1% above last year, 91.1 million trips for 2019 on the LIRR, thehighest since 1949, and 86.6 million on Metro-North, an all-timerecord.“We said we were going to improve and become more customer-focused,and we’re proving it month after month,” said MTA Chairman and CEOPatrick J. Foye. “These numbers affirm that our programs to improveperformance at all agencies have taken root and are bringing realresults to improve the commutes of everyone on our system. The creditfor this goes to our dedicated workforce, who are putting in the timeand effort that make gains like these possible.”“Safety and performance are everything for the MTA, and these figuresare a sign that we are continuing to build momentum,” said MTA ChiefOperating Officer Mario Péloquin. “We know that there’s still a lot ofwork to do. We’re ready for it and motivated to become even better tokeep this region moving and deliver for our 8 million daily customers.Our push to bring the system into a level of performance thatcustomers are satisfied with is only in its early stages.”New York City TransitWeekday subway on-time performance was 83.3% in January – the highestof any January since 2013. Major incidents that cause disruptions aredeclining dramatically to the lowest monthly figure since recordkeeping began five years ago, and customer-based performance numbersare also pointing higher.January data also shows a continued trend of faster trip times in thesystem. Rush hour train trips were faster this January than last onnearly every line in the system.“Our operating statistics continue to show significant improvement,meaning customers’ trips are faster, more reliable, and less likely tobe delayed,” said Sally Librera, MTA NYC Transit Senior Vice Presidentfor Subways. “We are encouraged by our progress, but know we have moreto do. Each day, thousands of subways employees are working hard todeliver for our customers, and these vast improvements in service arebecause of their dedicated efforts.”There were just 29 major weekday incidents causing delays in January,a 44% improvement from last year, and the fewest of any month sincerecord keeping began in 2015. Weekday train delays in January were30,318, a reduction of 28% from January 2019. January was the 17thconsecutive month to meet the delay reduction target, which wasincreased to 34,000 per month as of January.Train mechanical reliability also improved significantly. The averagenumber of miles subway cars travel before experiencing a mechanicalfailure in January was 26.4% higher than a year ago, and was thehighest of any January in five years. This continues a trend ofimprovements, with 12-month average mean distance between failures upnearly 8% from a year ago.Metro-North RailroadMetro-North’s on-time performance rose to 97.4% in January, 1.5percentage points better than the prior year. The improvement marksthe 14th consecutive month of improved on-time performance forMetro-North and the railroad’s best performance in 69 months, sinceApril 2014.Ridership on Metro-North’s trains and the connecting ferries and busesoperated by the railroad was 6,957,330 in January, or 0.3% above lastJanuary. Last year Metro-North carried 86.6 million passengers, anincrease of 100,000 over the prior year and the highest ridership onthe railroad since it was founded in 1983. Every year for the past tenyears, Metro-North has broken or essentially tied its all-timeridership records.The percentage of peak-period trains operating at their full length inJanuary increased 2.4 percentage points over the prior year, to 99.2%.Trains’ mechanical reliability exceeded its goal, with trainstraveling 278,297 miles between experiencing a mechanical failure,meaning trains are traveling more than 39,000 more miles beforeexperiencing a service issue, a 16.3% improvement from 239,188 milesbetween failures a year prior.The improved performance measures follow tremendous progress under theMetro-North Way Ahead plan, a roadmap that details actions to enhancesafety, service, infrastructure, communications, and transformcustomers’ day-to-day commuting experience.“Our January on-time performance results are the best in more than sixyears, and this strong performance is thanks to the hard work anddedication of the men and women of Metro-North,” said CatherineRinaldi, President of Metro-North Railroad. “We are working hard todeliver superior service to our customers, while not letting up on ourcommitment to perform the work necessary to keep the Metro-Northsystem safe.”Long Island Rail RoadLIRR’s on-time performance of 93.3% for the month of January is 0.6percentage points higher than a year earlier, and the best record forany January since 2012. The improvements build on the trend ofimprovement set in 2019 when annual on-time performance rose by 2percentage points to 92.4%, its best performance in three years.LIRR ridership for January was 7,171,719, or 0.1% above last January.Last year the LIRR carried 91.1 million passengers, an increase of1.45% from 2018’s total of 89.8 million riders and the highestridership on the railroad since 1949.The percentage of peak-period trains operating at their full length inJanuary increased 2.1 percentage points over the prior year, to 99.1%.Trains traveled 197,551 miles between experiencing a mechanicalfailure, exceeding its goal for 2019. The number of cancelled trainsfell to 42, from 65 last January.“These numbers show the railroad’s efforts under LIRR Forward toaggressively improve our infrastructure. We are putting ourselves in astronger position to provide a safe and more reliable trip for ourriders,” Long Island Railroad President Phil Eng said. “This is aboutfinding new ways to effectively solve longstanding problems. It’s alsoabout hard work of our employees who rise to the challenge every day.”
> MTA Appoints Sarah Feinberg as Interim President of New York City Transit> > > The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has named MTA Transit> Committee Chair and former Federal Railroad Administrator Sarah E. Feinberg> as interim president of New York City Transit. As interim president,> Feinberg will oversee the 48,000 person workforce of the NYCT, as well as> operations for New York City subways, buses, paratransit services, and the> Staten Island Railway.> > Feinberg brings a wealth of experience to the position, having previously> served in a number of high-ranking leadership posts under President Obama.> Feinberg was the second woman in history to lead the Federal Railroad> Administration, which acts as the sole safety regulator of the U.S. rail> system. Feinberg also previously served as Chief of Staff at U.S. DOT and> Special Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor to White House Chief> of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Feinberg has also spent time in the private sector,> at Facebook and Bloomberg, LP. > > “We’re thrilled to have Chair Feinberg lead New York City Transit at this> important time in the MTA’s history,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Patrick J.> Foye. “I am confident she will carry forward the progress we have achieved> to bring performance to record levels, modernize our system for customers> and build on the success of the Subway Action Plan.”> > “As an MTA board member Sarah has been outspoken in support of our eight> million daily customers and I know she will bring that same passion as she> leads the agency as interim president,” said MTA Chief Operating Officer> Mario Peloquin. “Sarah is eminently qualified to push New York City Transit> to new heights and she will advance New York City Transit’s commitment to> improve customers’ commutes and get our riders where they need to go faster> and safer.” > > "I’m thrilled to be serving as president of New York City Transit – as a> transportation professional there’s no greater impact on public service than> working with the people responsible for the safe and efficient> transportation of eight million New Yorkers every day,” said Feinberg. “I> could not be happier and more proud to join this incredible team and look> forward to jumping into the work right away."> > “This is fantastic news for New York City Transit and our hard working,> dedicated employees,” said Sally Librera, NYC Transit Senior Vice President> for Subways. “Having someone with her proven leadership abilities will be> key in continuing to improve subway performance for our customers. Chair> Feinberg is one of the best in the business and we’re fortunate to have> her.”> > “I am excited to hear that Chair Feinberg will be leading the agency,” said> Craig Cipriano, NYC Transit Senior Vice President for Buses and President of> the MTA Bus Company. “This is a time of so much positive momentum and> renewal for New York City Buses, and I know Chair Feinberg shares the> enthusiasm we all do to continue our progress. She has been instrumental in> the development of the recent achievements the bus system has made, such as> automated bus lane enforcement and been very supportive of our redesign> efforts. I can’t think of a person with more proven leadership ability to> take on the challenges we face.”> > As FRA Administrator, Feinberg developed and enforced rail safety> regulations for both freight and passenger rail and managed a multi-billion> dollar rail investment portfolio. During her time at FRA Feinberg also> completed and signed two of the largest loans in USDOT history, focused the> rail industry’s attention on emerging safety threats such as the opioid> crisis, and after many years of delay, helped force the US rail system to> begin full implementation of Positive Train Control.> > Prior to joining FRA, Feinberg served as US DOT Chief of Staff, where she> provided strategic advice and counsel to the Secretary of Transportation> regarding operational and legislative initiatives across all modes of> transportation, and helped lead and direct the agency and its more than> 57,000 employees.> > From 2009-2010, Feinberg served in the Obama Administration as Special> Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor to White House Chief of Staff> Rahm Emanuel. As the Chief of Staff’s liaison to the Obama economic team,> the national security team, and the press and communications departments,> she most notably worked on the White House’s strategic response to the> country's fiscal and economic crisis, the H1N1 flu pandemic, and other> significant crises that arose during the first two years of the Obama> administration.> > Feinberg previously served on the Amtrak Board of Directors, and currently> serves on the StoryCorps Board of Directors and the NHP Foundation Board of> Directors. Feinberg is a native of Charleston, West Virginia, and she and> her family reside in New York City.> > Feinberg's first day as NYCT President will be Monday, March 9. The MTA will> conduct a search for a permanent replacement.> >
All I can say Mr. K is that I can understand why tipping is encouraged for meal service and for services provided by on-board coach and sleeping-car attendants.
But tips on rapid transit?
If GM "killed the electric car", what am I doing standing next to an EV-1, a half a block from the WSOR tracks?
Are you on a crusade to remove imprecision from the English Language?
If you are in a crusade for more precise English:
A tip of my hat to you!
And this confusion is only the tip of an iceburg.
daveklepper Are you on a crusade to remove imprecision from the English Language?
Just looking for the humor in the ambiguity in English-language words.
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