Transit

December 22, 2014

The NYC Subway Still Runs on 1930s Technology, Pen and Paper

Most of our commutes are rife with subway delays, over-crowding and shutdowns, and while you can credit some of those to the sick passengers (and a handful of dizzy dieters), a lot of the blame falls on the fact that our subway still runs on an antiquated system built in the 1930s. Transit authorities are only now beginning to replace the eight-decade-old system, which still uses—wait for it—pencil and paper to track train progress. The update is a long overdue one, yes, but don't expect your commute to get any more comfortable in the near future. With 700 miles of track to cover, the time estimated to make the switch won't be much of a boon for us six million riders now boarding daily.
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December 16, 2014

Brand New NYC Water Taxi Stop Makes It Easier to Explore Red Hook

Those who've been dying to check out up-and-coming Red Hook will now have a much easier, much more comfortable way of getting to the cozy, cute nabe. The New York Water Taxi Commission has just added a brand new stop that will ferry passengers to Van Brunt Street from Lower Manhattan, DUMBO and Midtown on the West Side. Locals residents have been championing for a stop for the last few years, citing that it would be a boon to business development in the area, particularly for those still hurting from the effects of Superstorm Sandy.
Find out more here
December 15, 2014

Google-Backed Pedal-Powered Pod Cars Coming to a City Near You?

JPods, East River Skyway, an expanding Citi Bike—if one thing is clear, New York City's rapidly growing population has gotten a lot of people worried about how our already taxed infrastructure is going to account for all of these new bodies. The latest transportation idea to come out of the woodwork is not necessarily a new one, but it's one that's recently found a new boost thanks to interest and funding provided by everyone's favorite search giant: Google. Called "SkySMART," this new idea for mobility utilizes a series of sun- and pedal-powered pods that run along an elevated rail high above city traffic.
More on Skysmart here
December 12, 2014

How Bike-Friendly Architecture Can Transform Cities for the Better

NYC is well on its way to becoming a bike-friendly city. With Citi Bike expanding and designs for bikes of all shapes and sizes growing in popularity, it's only a matter of time before we start seeing architecture built specifically for cyclists' use. In his article, “10 Points of a Bicycling Architecture”, originally published on ArchDaily, Steven Fleming explores ten ways major cities, like New York, can make this happen. A revolution is occurring in street design. New York, arguably the world’s bellwether city, has let everyday citizens cycle for transport. They have done that by designating one lane on most avenues to bicyclists only, with barriers to protect them from traffic. Now hundreds of cities are rejiggering to be bicycle-friendly, while in New York there is a sense that more change is afoot. Many New Yorkers would prefer if their city were more like Copenhagen where 40% of all trips are by bike. But then Copenhagen wants more as well. Where does this stop? If you consider that we are talking about a mode of transport that whips our hearts into shape, funnels many more people down streets than can be funneled in cars, has no pollution, and costs governments and individuals an absolute pittance, you won't ask where it stops, but how close to 100% the bike modal share can possibly go and what we must do to achieve that.
It's a beautiful day for a bike ride
December 1, 2014

This Map Shows the Holiday Craziness of NYC Airport Taxi Trips

Still recovering from a Thanksgiving travel fiasco? Or maybe you haven't even made it home yet. Either way, this map is probably not going to make you feel better. It's a visualization of taxi trips from NYC-area airports between Thanksgiving and New Year's. The project was inspired by a previous mapping endeavor, NYC Taxis: A Day in the Life, and was created by designers at ImageWork Technologies. They looked at taxi trips originating from JFK and LaGuardia in 2013, and even have a feature that allows users to filter the results by individual airline terminals.
More details ahead
November 26, 2014

World Trade Center Transportation Hub Gets Its Final Steel Rafter

Just weeks after One World Trade Center and the Fulton Center Subway Station opened their doors for business, the last of the 114 steel rafters was installed on Santiago Calatrava's long-overdue, majorly over-budget flying bird-looking transportation hub. This is just one of many steel components in the project; it’s made up of 618 steel pieces which weigh more than 12,000 tons. The rafters were supposed to be completed by August, but though they were three months behind schedule, the hub is still expected to open in late 2015.
Read more here
November 24, 2014

IDEO’s Three Concepts for Self-Driving Cars Will Change How We Work, Live and Play

Self-driving cars are definitely in our future. Some states–Nevada, Florida, Michigan, California–and Washington, D.C. are already allowing them on their streets (at least for testing purposes) and a number of others are considering doing the the same. Though the road to a hands-free life has been paved, the future of it all is still up in the air. What would allowing self-driving cars on the road en masse mean for our safety? How will we communicate our needs to them? In what ways will they change how we live day to day? And can they enrich our lives? International design group and think tank IDEO wants to explore what this new technology could mean for urban life over the next 15 years. With their study "The Future of Automobility" they offer up a wildly vibrant vision through three concepts grounded in the use of autonomous vehicles.
Check out their fantastic proposal here
November 21, 2014

The Verrazano Bridge Opened 50 Years Ago, but There’s Still a Myth About Its Toll

Bridges and tolls are on everyone's mind these days, thanks to the MTA's latest proposed fare hikes. If approved, this would raise the toll of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to $16. And today, on the 50th anniversary of the bridge's opening, most Staten Islanders still think that driving across the bridge was supposed to become free once it was paid off. No one's really certain where this myth came from, but those who believe it are quite passionate about the subject.
More on the urban myth here
November 10, 2014

Ingenious Vello Bike Folds Up for Easy Commuting

Admit it; we've all rolled our eyes at the person taking up four spots on a rush hour subway car with their bulky bicycle. And while we applaud their eco-friendly commuting habits, we admit it can be a little frustrating when we're running late for work. Enter the Vello Bike to save the day. The lightweight, handmade folding bike’s 20-inch wheels (as opposed to traditional 26- or 28-inch wheels) are perfect for gaining speed, but also save space on crowded public transportation or when packed away in luggage. The bicycle features high-performance, top-end features not typically found in folding bikes, and it’s built to sustain various terrains (think cobblestone streets in the Meatpacking District or rocky hills during an upstate weekend camping adventure). Another detail that has us smitten with Vello? The bikes come equipped with unique QR codes that link to riders’ online profiles and help locate them if stolen.
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November 6, 2014

Fulton Center Subway Station to Open This Monday with Its Impressive Oculus

It's a busy couple of weeks for the Financial District. On Monday, Condé Nast moved in to One World Trade Center, and this coming Monday, November 10th, at 5:00pm, the Fulton Center subway station will finally open. The new station, which connects ten subway lines, was first conceived in 2002 as part of downtown revitalization efforts following 9/11, but also because the station had needed improvements for decades. It was initially supposed to open in 2007, but funding hurdles and escalating costs delayed the progress. More recently, Hurricane Sandy and systems testing problems pushed back the opening further. But the $1.4 billion transit hub is now ready to welcome commuters and dazzle them with its giant 120-foot-tall oculus.
Take an advance look inside Fulton Center
October 29, 2014

Bike Activists Demonstrate the Absurd Size of Cars for Single Drivers

In New York, where a parking spot can cost up to $1 million, it's important to realize just how much space one single car really takes up. As part of the 2014 edition of European Mobility Week, a group of Latvian activists got this message across with some truly out-of-the-box methods. The activists are part of the advocacy group Let's Bike It, and the goal for their recent project was to create a visual commentary about the space taken up by cars on a typical road. In doing so, the group fabricated bamboo structures that resembled the shape of a car and mounted them to their bicycle frames. They then road their cycle-monstrosities through the streets to demonstrate the absurdity of operating large cars to transport a single person.
More on the activism here
October 22, 2014

NYC Subway Carries a Record-Breaking 6.1 Million Riders in One Day

If you feel like your subway rides are starting to feel more and more like squeezing into a sweaty sardine can, you're right on the money. According to the MTA, ridership is at an all-time high with 149 million passengers cramming into cars during the month of September alone. The MTA also met another milestone last month on September 23rd, when a whopping 6,106,694 took to the rails—this is the most of any day since ridership was first tracked in 1985; and it broke last year's record of 5,987,595 passengers on October 24th.
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October 21, 2014

Why You Can’t Find a Cab in NYC When it Rains

Nobody likes getting stuck out in the rain especially when you've got places to go and people to see. This poses a problem for many New Yorkers because more often than not when its raining, finding a vacant taxi is damn near impossible. In a city that normally puts convenience at your finger tips, it's somewhat perplexing as to why this is not also true for taxi cabs in NYC. One would think that the number of taxis on the road would increase when demand for their services is at its highest. As it turns out the opposite is true, and there are many people looking into this peculiarity. In an attempt to find some answers, a recent article published on citylab.com examines a few theories surrounding the conundrum that have been developed by some scholars studying economic behavior.
Find out more on why here
October 15, 2014

75% of Grand Central’s $210M Renovation Money Will Go to the 4, 5, 6 Trains

New York City's most taxed line is about to get a sizable cash infusion. Of the $210 million that developer SL Green Realty has budgeted for improving Grand Central's subway station for the green light to construct a 65-story office tower next door, more than 75% will go toward the Lexington Avenue line, Crain's reports. Yesterday, a 63-page study was delivered to Manhattan's Community Board 5 and to transportation advocates who have called for Midtown East's rezoning to include improvements to transportation infrastructure to meet current demand as well as the influx of nearly 16,000 workers as new lines are drawn. So where exactly will the money go?
Where will the money will go?
October 1, 2014

Could Jet Taxis Make Waves in NYC?

New York is often criticized for being a city that doesn't take advantage of its waterfront location in the way that Chicago or Baltimore, for example, do. But with new developments like Brooklyn Bridge Park and ideas for floating pools, we are well on our way to becoming an aqua-fied metropolis. But are we ready for the newest water transportation model, the jet taxi? Luca Solla and Pierpaolo Lazzarini of Italian-based company Jet Capsule are launching their 8-12-passenger vehicle in their home country in 2015, but expect other major cities around the world will want to get in on the action. They envision the jet functioning in hybrid, electric, private, personal, diving, and ambulance versions.
More on the sleek vehicle here
September 30, 2014

The Price of Parking: There’s More Than One $1 Million Parking Space in Manhattan

Car-owing New Yorkers can probably recite year-round alternative-side parking laws on cue, but most will also tell you how they loathe circling their block for 20 minutes, tracking which days to stay put, the inconvenience of babysitting a spot before the switch, figuring out a cluster of parking signs or, worse yet, arguing with a paid-for parking squatter. It often drives one batty. Yet, there is an option and that’s paying for a monthly but costly sliver of asphalt—hopefully an elevator ride away or at the very least, a quick walk a few doors down. However, the key word here is “paying” and if you live in New York, that slice of space could put you back a pretty penny, especially if you're shoveling out dollars for one in a new development. Unless you’ve been living under a real estate rock, there’s no doubt you’ve read about the $1 million dollar spaces at 42 Crosby Street’s garage in SoHo. Is this lofty price tag for parking a market first? Nope.
more on the price of parking here
September 19, 2014

Norman Foster-Designed Yacht is a Sleek Way to Cruise the Open Seas

Norman Foster has designed some of the most futuristic structures in the world. From the Gherkin in London to the Heart Tower in New York, his creations are unexpected and tech-focused. But did you know that Foster + Partners dabbles in boat design? They've just launched (no pun intended) the new Alen Yacht 68. The sleek schooner is not quite as ground-breaking as the firm's architectural works, but it "combines the elegant social spaces of a cruising yacht with the fun of a day boat."
See what this expertly-designed yacht has to offer
September 17, 2014

POLL: Is the East River Skyway the future of NYC transportation?

Yesterday, Dan Levy, the president and CEO of CityRealty, presented his proposal for the ‘East River Skyway,’ an aerial gondola system that would run along the Brooklyn waterfront and into Manhattan, bringing commuters over the river in just 3.5 minutes. Now, we want to know what you think about the idea. Images: East River Skyway, courtesy of CityRealty […]

September 16, 2014

REVEALED: East River Skyway Will Bring Brooklyn Commuters to Manhattan in Under Four Minutes

There's no stopping the Brooklyn development boom, but getting to and from the borough from Manhattan will increasingly become a nightmare with thousands of new residential units hitting the market in the coming years. If you've commuted from Brooklyn to Manhattan (and vice versa) you know that the subway system is already taxed. But as more and more homes are added throughout the borough, it's surprising that no plans have been made to alleviate the transportation stress that will soon come with it. Until now. Today, Dan Levy, the president and CEO of CityRealty*, will present his proposal for the 'East River Skyway', an aerial gondola system that would run along the Brooklyn waterfront and into Manhattan, bringing commuters over the river in just 3.5 minutes.
Find out more about the proposed project
September 9, 2014

REVEALED: $210 Million Upgrade for Grand Central’s Subway Station As Part of One Vanderbilt Tower

As part of a five-year, $210 million plan to significantly upgrade Grand Central's subway station, developer SL Green hopes to install new staircases to the train platforms, two new street-level entrances and a refurbished mezzanine level, and a 4,000-square-foot ground-level commuter waiting area. The improvements were conceived in conjunction with the MTA and the de Blasio administration earlier this year as the first component of the Midtown East Rezoning project. The transit upgrades must all be completed before tenants can occupy One Vanderbilt (planned for completion in January 2020), SL Green's new 65-story office tower planned for the entire block west of Grand Central and north of East 42nd Street. Designed by Kohn Pederson Fox, the tower will be the second-tallest building in the city when completed.
More on the upgrades ahead
August 22, 2014

Could JPods’ Solar-Power Commuter Pods Make Their Way to Manhattan?

Every day the NYC subway carries more than 1.3 million riders to all corners of our fair city. A feat yes, but if you're a rush hour commuter, you know the hellish conditions that can arise when trying to pack several hundred (though it can feel like thousands) of people into a line of sardine cans. If you're one of the many who constantly curse the MTA, try not to get too green-eyed as you read on. As it turns out, our neighbors in grid-locked Secaucus, New Jersey are gearing up to test a out new form of solar-powered public transit called JPods. This innovative new system uses a combination of light rail and self-driving car suspended above roads, and unlike the NYC subway, you can leave your running shoes at home. This rail network is designed to get you as close to your final destination as possible.
More on the new venture here
August 19, 2014

New App Wheely Will Make the NYC Subway More Accessibilty Friendly

If you ride the New York City subway you likely have some type of app installed on your smart phone that provides a map of the underground system or calculates the time to the next train. And it's just as likely that your app doesn't have a feature for accessibility. For those who cannot push through a crowd on the stairs or bolt up the left side of the escalator, the subway is extremely hard to navigate and oftentimes quite useless, as only 18% of stations have accessible elevators. To address this major flaw in our mass transit system, Anthony Driscoll developed a new app called Wheely, which helps those with accessibility needs (wheelchair users, the elderly, parents with strollers, injured people, etc.) better navigate the subway.
All the details on the smart new app here
August 15, 2014

Technicon Design’s IXION Windowless Jet Offers Panoramic Views of What’s Outside

Admit it--you've perfected your selfie pose. And now that you've got the duck face and skinny arm down pat, why not explore the art of the skyline selfie? We're not talking an upward-gazing shot of the Empire State Building or semi-panoramic view of Manhattan; we mean full-on aerial photos taken from 40,000 feet up in the air. That's exactly what the IXION windowless jet from Technicon Design is doing. The firm's groundbreaking new design has removed windows from the cabin and, using near-future technology, displays the surrounding environment on interior cabin surfaces via external cameras. Not only does this provide incredible views, but greens the aircraft by reducing weight (thereby requiring less fuel and maintenance), simplifying construction, and opening doors for a variety of design possibilities. To boot, expansive solar panels would power the on-board, low-voltage systems, creating a one-of-a-kind visual for the jet's exterior body.
More on the sky-high design here
August 11, 2014

Light at the End of the Tunnel: The Second Avenue Subway Already Sending Real Estate Prices Soaring

Plans for a Second Avenue subway have been on the drawing boards since flapper dresses were all the rage. But not until now has this pipeline dream started to take shape. One of the hottest discussions among the locals is undoubtedly the new line, and according to the MTA, 65 percent of Phase I is now complete. When it debuts in December 2016, it is slated to carry 200,000 straphangers, which in turn will reduce overcrowding on the Lexington Avenue Line by as much as 13 percent (that’s 23,500 fewer passengers on an average weekday). Phase II will extend the line from 96th to 125th Street, and the MTA just announced that $1.5 billion (only a third of the total estimated cost) is now set aside with the hope that the federal government will chip in, too. But those who wonder when the 8.5-mile stretch of tracks (125th Street to Hanover Square), you’d better hold onto your hat—it's 2029! Though this is still 15 years away, that hasn't stopped the prices of properties flanking the SAS from riding high in anticipation.
Why buyers are looking at construction workers starry-eyed