Transit

Only 48 percent of straphangers satisfied with the subway, according to latest MTA survey

Central Park North at 110th Street was rated the worst subway station by commuters; Photo by Adam Moss on Flickr

September 21, 2022

Only 48 percent of straphangers satisfied with the subway, according to latest MTA survey

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday announced the results of its spring 2022 customer satisfaction survey for New York City transit. According to the survey, just 48 percent of respondents were satisfied with the subway system, with safety and security as the top issues for disatisfied riders. When looking at specific subway lines, straphangers rated the D as the worst and the L train as the best.
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MTA to install security cameras in every subway car

Photo courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

September 20, 2022

MTA to install security cameras in every subway car

By Aaron Ginsburg

Two security cameras will be installed in every subway car in New York City, under a new initiative announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul and the MTA on Tuesday. The $5.5 million project, paid in part by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, includes the installation of nearly 13,000 cameras on 6,355 train cars by 2025. The enhanced security measure is an expansion of a pilot program that launched this summer following a mass shooting on the subway in Brooklyn in April. There are surveillance cameras in the more than 470 subway stations across the city, but none in cars before the program.
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Travel back in time on vintage NYC subway trains this month

Photo courtesy of Ron Yee

September 9, 2022

Travel back in time on vintage NYC subway trains this month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Here's a rare opportunity to ride on some of New York City's oldest subway trains spanning over a century of the city's transportation history. The New York Transit Museum's Parade of Trains returns this month, offering transit buffs a chance to travel on four historic trains from the museum's collection of vintage fleets. The rides will run continuously from Brooklyn's Brighton Beach B and Q express train platforms from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on September 17 and September 18. Admission is free with subway fare.
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All renderings courtesy of Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

September 8, 2022

Work begins on JFK Airport’s new $9.5B international terminal

By Devin Gannon

Construction officially kicked off on Thursday on John F. Kennedy International Airport's new 2.4 million-square-foot terminal, set to be the largest at the Queens airport. In December, Gov. Kathy Hochul first unveiled plans for the state-of-the-art Terminal One, which is estimated to cost $9.5 billion, up from the projected cost of $7.4 billion in 2019.
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New York lifts mask mandate on public transit

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

September 7, 2022

New York lifts mask mandate on public transit

By Aaron Ginsburg

Masks are no longer required on public transportation in New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday. During a press conference in Harlem, the governor said masks are now optional for riders traveling on New York City's subways and buses, as well as MetroNorth and Long Island Rail Road. The state's mandate has been in place since April 2020 at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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MTA to replace all MetroCard vending machines with OMNY by end of next year

Photo by Arun D on Flickr

September 6, 2022

MTA to replace all MetroCard vending machines with OMNY by end of next year

By Aaron Ginsburg

After 23 years of service, the New York City subway system's iconic MetroCard vending machines will be replaced. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will start swapping out the classic machines for OMNY ("One Metro New York") vending machines during the first half of 2023 after finalizing hardware and software testing, as NY1 reported. The entire MetroCard system is expected to be replaced by the end of 2023.
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NYC is looking for volunteer artists to paint its garbage trucks

Image courtesy of James O’Connor/DSNY on Flickr

August 31, 2022

NYC is looking for volunteer artists to paint its garbage trucks

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is looking for volunteer artists to paint murals on their garbage collection vehicles as part of "Trucks of Art," the department's new zero-waste challenge. Artwork that encourages New Yorkers to use litter baskets or that honors DSNY workers will have a higher chance of being selected. The department is accepting applications until September 18, and the trucks are expected to hit the road by October.
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NYC receives $7M federal grant to expand greenway network in underserved communities

Image courtesy of Elvert Barnes on Flickr

August 23, 2022

NYC receives $7M federal grant to expand greenway network in underserved communities

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City received a $7.25 million federal grant that will be put towards the expansion of the city's greenway network, Mayor Eric Adams announced Monday. The expansion aims to improve the greenway network's reach in historically underserved, lower-income neighborhoods that lack access to public transportation and jobs by filling in "critical gaps" in the network, improving cyclist and pedestrian safety, and enhancing green transportation alternatives and waterfront access.
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MTA’s new app combines LIRR, Metro-North ticket purchasing and trip planning

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

August 19, 2022

MTA’s new app combines LIRR, Metro-North ticket purchasing and trip planning

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Metropolitan Transporation Authority on Wednesday launched an enhanced version of its TrainTime app that combines ticket purchases for the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad and includes a seat availability tracker, real-time train movement, and in-app customer support. The app allows users to log in using their Apple ID, Google account, or through text message, and purchase tickets using Apple Pay.
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Transit

Manhattan officials renew push for new Hell’s Kitchen subway station

Photo by Jenna Day on Unsplash

August 11, 2022

Manhattan officials renew push for new Hell’s Kitchen subway station

By Aaron Ginsburg

The plan to extend the 7 train to the far west side of Manhattan announced more than a decade ago included building a subway station in Hell's Kitchen. But because of budget cuts, the station was never built. New York City officials this week renewed calls for a subway station at 10th Avenue and 41st Street, claiming the neighborhood's growing population needs better access to public transportation. The 7 line currently runs straight from Times Square to Hudson Yards, without stopping in Hell's Kitchen.
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Transit

Manhattan congestion pricing toll could cost up to $23 for drivers

By Aaron Ginsburg

MTA officials on Wednesday released the highly-anticipated environmental assessment of the Central Business District (CBD) Tolling Program, known as congestion pricing. The analysis says that the program could cut traffic congestion in Manhattan's busiest areas by nearly 20 percent while raising $1 billion a year to fund mass transit improvements. Under the proposal, the plan could cost drivers who enter the borough south of 60th Street anywhere between $5 and $23, depending on the time of day and type of vehicle.
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NJ Transit wants feedback on its Newark Penn Station revitalization project

Photo of Newark Penn Station by King of Hearts on Wikimedia

August 8, 2022

NJ Transit wants feedback on its Newark Penn Station revitalization project

By Aaron Ginsburg

Newark Penn Station is set to undergo a major renovation and NJ Transit wants feedback from riders who travel through the historic terminal. The transit agency will host three virtual public meetings about the $191 million restoration, with the first scheduled for August 9. First introduced by Gov. Phil Murphy in 2020, the project includes immediate aesthetic improvements and refurbishment of historic elements, as well as longer-term upgrades to the overall customer experience.
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Iconic New York Harbor sailing experience returns to the Seaport after 9 years

Photo Credit: Mike Szpot courtesy of The Howard Hughes Corporation

August 5, 2022

Iconic New York Harbor sailing experience returns to the Seaport after 9 years

By Aaron Ginsburg

After a nine-year hiatus, the Howard Hughes Corporation on Friday announced the return of Manhattan by Sail to Pier 17. Clipper City Tall Ship, its newly-renovated sailboat that will offer daily specialty sails and private charters, will launch this month. Departing from the east side of Pier 17 at 89 South Street, Clipper City will operate seven days a week, taking four trips a day with an additional late-night departure at 10 p.m.
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Foster + Partners and Epstein to design new $10B Port Authority bus terminal

All renderings courtesy of Foster + Partners

August 5, 2022

Foster + Partners and Epstein to design new $10B Port Authority bus terminal

By Aaron Ginsburg

Plans to replace the dingy Port Authority bus terminal are rolling forward. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Friday announced the selection of two architecture firms to lead the project: Norman Foster's Foster + Partners and Chicago-based engineering and design firm Epstein. Roughly 10 years in the making, the plan involves demolishing the existing station and building a new world-class facility that can better meet passenger demand. The $10 billion project will also help get idling buses off the streets and create new green spaces.
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Transit

MTA unveils new 18-foot ceilings at Penn Station’s LIRR concourse

Photo courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

August 3, 2022

MTA unveils new 18-foot ceilings at Penn Station’s LIRR concourse

By Aaron Ginsburg

Let there be light! The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Tuesday unveiled the first section of new 18-foot ceilings at Penn Station's Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) concourse. Installed by Skanska/AECOM, the new soaring ceilings consist of lighted panels supported by an inventive structural framing system that allowed work crews to remove "head knockers," aging structural beams that limited the height of passageways within Penn Station, earlier this year.
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Manhattan pol wants to turn lane of traffic on West Side Highway into a two-way bike lane

All images courtesy of Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine’s Office unless otherwise noted

August 2, 2022

Manhattan pol wants to turn lane of traffic on West Side Highway into a two-way bike lane

By Devin Gannon

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine wants to turn one lane of car traffic on the West Side Highway into a two-way protected bike lane. The proposal aims to reduce pedestrian and cyclist congestion on the Hudson River Greenway, the busiest bikeway in the nation, by repurposing one of the highway lanes into a four-mile bike lane between Chambers Street and 57th Street.
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Transit

Image courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

August 2, 2022

NYC speed cameras now operate 24/7

By Aaron Ginsburg

As of Monday, New York City's system of 2,000 speed cameras is now operating 24 hours a day for the first time. Previously the cameras were authorized by the state to operate only on weekdays between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., missing "59 percent of traffic fatalities" that occurred when the cameras were inactive, according to Mayor Eric Adams' office. The activation of the round-the-clock cameras aims to reduce speeding and prevent dangerous driving. Drivers going more than 10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit will be fined $50.
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Amtrak launches direct service from NYC to Burlington, Vermont

Photo Credit: Amtrak / Hello Burlington

July 29, 2022

Amtrak launches direct service from NYC to Burlington, Vermont

By Devin Gannon

For New Yorkers looking for an escape from the city without dealing with traffic or chaos at the airport, Amtrak on Friday launched new train service from New York City to the city of Burlington, Vermont. The scenic trip takes around 7.5 hours and travels through the Hudson Valley, Green Mountains, and along Lake Champlain, with new stops in Middlebury and Ferrisburgh-Vergennes before ending in Burlington, a small city with New England charm and vibrant culture. It's the first time since 1953 that Amtrak service will connect New York City and Burlington.
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MTA proposal would expand cell phone service and Wi-Fi to entire subway system

Photo by Philip Ho on Unsplash

July 27, 2022

MTA proposal would expand cell phone service and Wi-Fi to entire subway system

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced on Tuesday plans to expand cellular service and Wi-Fi throughout the entire subway system. While commuters have been able to use their mobile devices at all underground subway stations since 2017, the proposed project would bring cell connectivity to all tunnels between stations and in above-ground stations. The MTA estimates it would take 10 years to turn the subway system into a fully digitally connected network.
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NYC Ferry’s reservation-only ‘Rockaway Rocket’ offers direct service from Wall Street to the beach

Rockway Line NYC Ferry on Sunday, April 08, 2018. Benjamin Kanter/Mayoral Photo Office on Flickr

July 20, 2022

NYC Ferry’s reservation-only ‘Rockaway Rocket’ offers direct service from Wall Street to the beach

By Devin Gannon

New York City will launch express weekend service from Lower Manhattan to Rockaway Beach on Saturday. NYC Ferry's "Rockaway Rocket" will run on summer weekends from Lower Manhattan to the Rockaways and cost passengers $8 each way. The shuttle pilot program is an effort by the city to raise revenue and increase ridership and is part of a broader overhaul of the ferry's fare system.
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Transit

NYC increases ferry fare, but offers discounted rides for low-income New Yorkers

Image courtesy of NYC Ferry

July 15, 2022

NYC increases ferry fare, but offers discounted rides for low-income New Yorkers

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's ferry system will soon be cheaper to ride for some New Yorkers, but more expensive for less frequent riders. Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday revealed phase one of the city's new "NYC Ferry Forward" plan—a new fare system aimed at making the ferry more equitable and reducing the system's huge public subsidy. Beginning in September, low-income New Yorkers, seniors, and people with disabilities can purchase a single ferry ride for $1.35. The price of a single trip will increase from $2.75 to $4.
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Hoboken approves transit-oriented mixed-use project on the waterfront

All renderings courtesy of LCOR

July 11, 2022

Hoboken approves transit-oriented mixed-use project on the waterfront

By Devin Gannon

After 15 years of delays, the plan to revitalize the southern end of the Hoboken waterfront is officially moving ahead. Mayor Ravi Bhalla on Thursday signed a redevelopment agreement that paves the way forward for Hoboken Connect, a mixed-use development that includes new office space, housing, and public open space near the transit hub Hoboken Terminal.
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July 7, 2022

City underreported NYC Ferry costs by $224M, according to audit

By Devin Gannon

The city agency that operates New York City's ferry system failed to report nearly a quarter of a billion dollars in expenditures during Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration, according to a new audit released by City Comptroller Brad Lander on Wednesday. The 50-page audit says the Economic Development Corporation spent $758 million on ferry operations from July 1, 2015 through December 31, 2021, but only reported $534 million. The report also details tens of millions in unnecessary expenses as a result of the agency's "poor financial management."
Details here

Hudson River rail tunnel project moves forward as NJ, NY reach agreement

Photo courtesy of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office.

July 6, 2022

Hudson River rail tunnel project moves forward as NJ, NY reach agreement

By Michelle Cohen

Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York and Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey announced Tuesday that they've agreed in a Memorandum of Understanding that they would split the local portion of the cost of the long-stalled Gateway Project's Hudson River tunnels, the New York Times reports. The agreement on who would pay the $14 billion tab for the project's first phase is a step ahead in one of the nation's most ambitious infrastructure plans.
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NYC is putting the last ‘Redbird’ subway car up for auction

R33 #9075 on display at Queens Borough Hall; Photo via Wikimedia

June 23, 2022

NYC is putting the last ‘Redbird’ subway car up for auction

By Devin Gannon

Here's a chance to own a piece of New York City history. The city's Department of Citywide Administrative Services is selling the last remaining "Redbird" subway car, which was in use from the 1960s until it was retired in 2003. The historic subway car is now up for auction online, with a starting bid of $6,500.
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