Transit

Adams announces $250M more for Fifth Avenue redesign plan

Images by Field Operations, courtesy of City Hall

May 21, 2025

Adams announces $250M more for Fifth Avenue redesign plan

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is investing another $250 million to transform Fifth Avenue into a pedestrian-centric corridor. Mayor Eric Adams announced the new funding on Wednesday, bringing the total investment in the project to $400 million, including $152 million the city had previously committed. Focused on the stretch between Central Park and Bryant Park, the Fifth Avenue redesign will reduce traffic lanes from five to three, nearly double the width of sidewalks, shorten crosswalks, and add more than 230 trees, as well as new seating and improved lighting.
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NYC unveils plan for dedicated busway on 34th Street

Images courtesy of NYC DOT

May 21, 2025

NYC unveils plan for dedicated busway on 34th Street

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City plans to transform a busy stretch of 34th Street in Manhattan into a busway to improve sluggish crosstown commutes. The Department of Transportation (DOT) unveiled plans for a dedicated lane along 34th Street between Third and Ninth Avenues for buses, trucks, and emergency vehicles, which could boost speeds by up to 15 percent for the more than two dozen bus routes that use the corridor. Modeled after the successful 14th Street busway, the plan would still permit other vehicles to enter but require them to make the next available legal turn off the street.
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NJ Transit strike ends, service to resume Tuesday

Photo by James Petts on Flickr

May 19, 2025

NJ Transit strike ends, service to resume Tuesday

By Aaron Ginsburg

NJ Transit and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) reached a tentative agreement on Sunday, ending the first strike at the agency in 42 years. Regular weekday train service will resume on Tuesday, May 20, giving workers a day to inspect and prepare tracks and rail cars. The strike began on Friday when 450 unionized workers walked off the job over engineers' wages. While details of the agreement have not been released, Gov. Phil Murphy called the contract settlement "fair and fiscally responsible" with a "generous wage increase" for union members.
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NJ Transit strike: The best travel alternatives for getting to NYC

NJ Transit gated off the concourse at Penn Station as a result of the strike. Photo © 6sqft

May 14, 2025

NJ Transit strike: The best travel alternatives for getting to NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

NJ Transit engineers are now on strike for the first time in more than 40 years, impacting commutes for hundreds of thousands of residents. According to the New York Times, about 450 unionized workers went on strike on Friday as the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and NJ Transit failed to reach a long-delayed contract agreement. The engineers' demands include pay parity with engineers at nearby commuter railroads. With no train service as of Friday morning, here’s how you can still get to New York City from the Garden State.
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Queensboro Bridge to open separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians

Credit: David Wilson on Flickr

May 13, 2025

Queensboro Bridge to open separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Queensboro Bridge will finally have separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians, starting this weekend. Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced that the bridge’s north outer roadway is now a dedicated bike lane and the south outer roadway, a pedestrian-only path. Originally announced in 2021, the project was expected to open in March, but was abruptly delayed by the mayor, who required a "full briefing" before the path could open, as Streetsblog reported.
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A train service to the Rockaways will resume this month

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

May 9, 2025

A train service to the Rockaways will resume this month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Just in time for summer, A train service to the Rockaways will resume later this month following a four-month shutdown. On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that regular service will return on May 19, restoring subway access for the more than 9,000 daily commuters who travel in and out of the Rockaways. The shutdown, which began in January, allowed the agency to strengthen infrastructure against extreme weather and repair viaducts and bridges damaged during Hurricane Sandy.
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New York to open 24/7 homeless outreach centers in subway stations

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

May 2, 2025

New York to open 24/7 homeless outreach centers in subway stations

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York will open a network of 24-hour "welcome centers" in the subway system, where social workers will help connect homeless New Yorkers with supportive services and shelter. As first reported by Crain's, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office plans to open up to five of these facilities in subway stations to assist people struggling with mental health issues who have taken up residence in the transit system. The initiative is part of a $40 million investment in the state budget to fund outreach teams to build relationships with the unhoused and connect them with aid.
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Abstract subway mosaic in Grand Central captures a spiritual journey through NYC

Credit: Etienne Frossard / MTA on Flickr

April 29, 2025

Abstract subway mosaic in Grand Central captures a spiritual journey through NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new glass mosaic in Grand Central offers a vibrant interpretation of New Yorkers' journeys through the city. Unveiled on Monday by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), "Abstract Futures" spans 600 square feet at the 42nd Street/3rd Avenue entrance to the 7 train. Created by artist duo Sharmistha Ray and Dannielle Tegeder, the glass mosaic explores themes of "portals" and "journeys," serving as a metaphor for the spiritual transformations many experience while navigating life in New York City.
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Transit

MTA to test new fare gates at 20 subway stations this fall

Credit: MTA on Flickr

April 28, 2025

MTA to test new fare gates at 20 subway stations this fall

By Aaron Ginsburg

Fare evaders at certain subway stations will soon encounter new gates designed to stop turnstile hopping. This fall, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will begin testing four modern gates at 20 stations across New York City, featuring elements that make it much harder for commuters to jump over. The gates are part of the agency’s broader effort to curb fare evasion across the public transit system, a metric that has dropped by 30 percent on the subway from the second quarter of 2024 to the first quarter of 2025, according to the MTA.
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Trump threatens federal funds for NYC transportation projects over congestion pricing

Photo by Zoshua Colah on Unsplash

April 22, 2025

Trump threatens federal funds for NYC transportation projects over congestion pricing

By Devin Gannon

President Donald Trump's administration ramped up its threats to New York and set a new deadline to end congestion pricing over the weekend. In a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the state needs to end New York City's congestion pricing program or risk losing federal funding for transportation projects. Duffy's letter came one day after his previous April 20 deadline to stop the program; Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have said the tolls will continue until a judge rules otherwise.
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Trump administration says it will take over Penn Station reconstruction project from MTA

Penn Station 33rd Street entrance. Photo courtesy of D. Benjamin Miller on Wikimedia Commons

April 17, 2025

Trump administration says it will take over Penn Station reconstruction project from MTA

By Devin Gannon

President Donald Trump's administration said it was taking over the reconstruction of Penn Station from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Gov. Kathy Hochul. In a statement released on Thursday, Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that Amtrak, which owns Penn Station, would spearhead the overhaul instead of the state agency.
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Amtrak, NJ Transit reveal progress in fixing equipment that caused outages last summer

Credit: David Wilson on Flickr

April 16, 2025

Amtrak, NJ Transit reveal progress in fixing equipment that caused outages last summer

By Aaron Ginsburg

Amtrak and NJ Transit say they’re making significant progress on infrastructure improvements to avoid the breakdowns and delays that plagued the rail lines last summer. At a working summit on Tuesday, rail officials announced that more than $12 million in upgrades and repairs have been completed, including the inspection and repair of overhead wires that power both rail companies’ trains. The improvements target key "hot spots" near Penn Station and in Secaucus, New Jersey, where trains frequently break down.
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NYC’s congestion pricing could continue into the fall

Credit: Jorge Ramírez on Unsplash

April 8, 2025

NYC’s congestion pricing could continue into the fall

By Aaron Ginsburg

President Donald Trump's administration and New York transit officials reached a deal to allow the city’s congestion pricing program to continue until at least mid-summer and likely through the fall, according to new court filings. Both parties will present their arguments under a newly determined timeline expected to extend until at least October as part of a lawsuit filed by the MTA against the federal government. The Trump administration originally gave the state until March 21 to end the program but granted a 30-day extension one day before the deadline.
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Car-free Earth Day celebration kicks off NYC’s Open Streets season

Credit: NYC Department of Transportation on Flickr

April 4, 2025

Car-free Earth Day celebration kicks off NYC’s Open Streets season

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's Open Streets season kicks off on April 26 with its largest Car-Free Earth Day celebration ever, turning more than 54 streets across the five boroughs into vibrant public spaces. The Department of Transportation (DOT) on Thursday announced that the city's annual Car-Free Earth Day will include a record-breaking 54 streets and plazas, along with expanded programming in Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island.
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MTA unveils first new NYC subway map in 50 years

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

April 2, 2025

MTA unveils first new NYC subway map in 50 years

By Aaron Ginsburg

The official New York City subway map has received a major makeover for the first time in 50 years. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Wednesday unveiled the redesigned map, which features bolder colors and straighter lines, a simplified display that hearkens back to Massimo Vigenlli's iconic 1972 map. The updated map, which first appeared on digital screens throughout the system last fall, also offers more precise information on transfers and has an easier-to-read legend.
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Transit

Q70 bus service to LaGuardia Airport will get $160M upgrade

Credit: MTA

March 26, 2025

Q70 bus service to LaGuardia Airport will get $160M upgrade

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York has revealed a $160 million plan to fund the long-awaited expansion of bus service to and from LaGuardia Airport. Gov. Kathy Hochul, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Tuesday unveiled the proposed upgrades, which includes creating a bus-only lane, installing traffic signals that prioritize the Q70 bus, increasing service during peak hours, adding a dedicated pick-up and drop-off zone at LGA, and improving lighting and signage, and more. Recommended by an expert panel in 2023, the proposal is an alternative to the controversial AirTrain, a 1.5-mile elevated rail line to the airport scrapped by the governor.
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NYC’s congestion pricing raised $52M in February amid Trump pushback

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

March 25, 2025

NYC’s congestion pricing raised $52M in February amid Trump pushback

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's congestion pricing program brought in nearly $52 million in revenue last month, keeping it on track to reach its $500 million goal by the end of the year. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Monday released new data on the tolling system showing congestion pricing collected $51.9 million in revenue between February 1 and 28, about $3 million more than January. While the figures are promising, the program’s future remains uncertain due to ongoing tensions between New York State and the Trump administration, which ordered Gov. Kathy Hochul to shut it down.
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Trump administration delays congestion pricing deadline by a month

Credit: Zhen Yao on Unsplash

March 21, 2025

Trump administration delays congestion pricing deadline by a month

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Trump administration said it would give New York a 30-day extension on its deadline to end congestion pricing. A day before the original March 21 deadline, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the extension in a post on X, calling Gov. Kathy Hochul's refusal to end the tolling program "unacceptable." The governor and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have repeatedly defended the program and pledged to keep it running until a federal judge makes a ruling; the agency filed a lawsuit to protect the program last month.
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MTA to stop selling MetroCards by end of the year

Photo by Mr.TinMD on Flickr

March 20, 2025

MTA to stop selling MetroCards by end of the year

By Aaron Ginsburg

After more than three decades of service, the MetroCard is nearing its final ride. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced the final day for MetroCard sales will be December 31, another step toward the full transition to the OMNY tap-and-go payment system. Retail partners, including bodegas and drugstores, will stop selling MetroCards this fall. Riders will still be able to pay with their MetroCards through 2026, with the MTA set to announce that end date at a later time.
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Trump administration threatens to withhold MTA funds over transit safety

Credit: Jenna Day on Unsplash

March 19, 2025

Trump administration threatens to withhold MTA funds over transit safety

By Aaron Ginsburg

President Donald Trump's administration threatened to withhold federal funding for the New York City transit system unless the Metropolitan Transportation Authority submits a plan addressing transit safety. In a letter sent to the MTA on Tuesday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urged Chair & CEO Janno Lieber to provide a detailed plan to reduce crime, combat violence against transit workers, minimize injuries and fatalities from suicide events and subway surfing, and address fare evasion. In response, transit officials pointed to publicly available data that shows major crimes trending down this year.
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MTA to host open houses for Interborough Express

Image courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

March 18, 2025

MTA to host open houses for Interborough Express

By Aaron Ginsburg

New Yorkers, here's your chance to learn more and ask questions about the Interborough Express (IBX) train line, a proposed project to connect Brooklyn and Queens by public transit. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced on Friday that it will host open houses to share information and answer questions about the IBX project. The first open house takes place at the Queens Public Library in Ridgewood on March 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
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NYC proposes allowing mopeds on Brooklyn and Queensboro bridges

Photo by Marcin Wichary on Flickr

March 17, 2025

NYC proposes allowing mopeds on Brooklyn and Queensboro bridges

By Aaron Ginsburg

Moped riders may soon be allowed to ride alongside cars on the Brooklyn Bridge and the lower level of the Queensboro Bridge. Under a proposed rule by the Department of Transportation, registered mopeds with license plates would be allowed on the Brooklyn and Queensboro Bridges. The ban would remain on Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges, and the upper level of Queensboro. There is currently no legal route for mopeds to travel across the East River, as riders are prohibited from using the motor vehicle lanes and protected bike lanes on all roadways. As first reported by Streetsblog, the city hopes the rule change prevents conflicts between moped riders, pedestrians, and cyclists.
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Ride a vintage NYC subway train to the Yankees’ and Mets’ home openers

Images courtesy of the New York Transit Museum

March 13, 2025

Ride a vintage NYC subway train to the Yankees’ and Mets’ home openers

By Aaron Ginsburg

Kick off baseball season with a retro subway ride on opening day. The New York Transit Museum will run vintage trains for the Yankees' and Mets' home opener games on March 27 and April 4, respectively. The old-school trains depart from Grand Central-42nd Street to 161st Street-Yankee Stadium and from 34th Street-Hudson Yards to Mets-Willets Point. The event is free with subway fare.
all aboard!

Penn Station proposal moves Madison Square Garden, calls for classical train hall

Renderings courtesy of the Grand Penn Community Alliance, unless noted otherwise

March 11, 2025

Penn Station proposal moves Madison Square Garden, calls for classical train hall

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new proposal for the long-stalled redesign of Penn Station would move Madison Square Garden across the street and replace the existing station with a new train hall reminiscent of the its original grandeur. Spearheaded by architect and former chief urban designer for New York City Alexandros Washburn, the "Grand Penn" plan would create a public space the size of Bryant Park and a commuter train hall inspired by the original station, while relocating the famous arena across the street. The plan now joins two stalled proposals, including one from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and another from a private developer.
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Redesign of Central Park drives will add space for pedestrians and cyclists

Photo by Dietmar Rabich on Wikimedia

March 10, 2025

Redesign of Central Park drives will add space for pedestrians and cyclists

By Aaron Ginsburg

The redesign of Central Park's six-mile loop road is moving forward, with repaving set to begin next week. On Thursday, city officials announced milling and repaving work will begin on Monday, March 17, to improve the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and e-vehicle users along the route by clearly separating their spaces. The project will begin by revamping the middle and southern sections of the Central Park loop, from 96th Street on the West Drive to 90th Street on the East Drive, with repaving of the northern section scheduled for next year.
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