Archive for July, 2007

MTA may cut beneficial services to save money

Tuesday, July 31st, 2007

So the MTA seems to be taking this whole financial crisis thing pretty seriously. They’re even going to start cutting small problems that they consider to be non-essential.
In The Daily News today is a report stating the MTA may cut its in-station EMTs. The Authority currently posts emergency response teams at seven of the […]

Maybe the MTA should just ask for that money

Tuesday, July 31st, 2007

Growing up, I learned to always say please when I wanted something. Now, one New York State Assembly member is suggesting that maybe the Metropolitan Transportation Authority should try the same approach.
Richard Brodskey (pictured at right), representative from the 92nd Assembly District in Westchester, suggested last week that the MTA should ask Albany for […]

Just why is it going to take so long to build a new subway?

Monday, July 30th, 2007

If you squint, you can almost see a subway. (The hole in the ground at Second Ave. from Curbed).
78thAnd2nd, an online friend of Second Ave. Sagas, is guest blogging at Curbed this week. For his post, he hit upon an interesting question: Why is it going to take so damn long to get this Second […]

New York should take its cue from London Transport

Monday, July 30th, 2007

Every subway rider has his or her own vision for a better subway system. (Click here or on the image for guypak’s full version.)
Every few months, a thread such as this one pops up on the Straphangers Riders Diaries board or on Subchat. One person proposes the ways in which the New York City subway […]

New signs announce weekend service changes

Friday, July 27th, 2007

When the MTA unveils something new, the Transit Fan in me totally geeks out. That’s what happened this week when I arrived back home in New York after my trip out west. I saw one of these posters (at right) announcing the service changes.
Now, every week these posters pop up, and most people have come […]

Fare hike returns seem meager

Friday, July 27th, 2007

As the MTA tries to figure out whether or not there are better ways to raise revenue than implementing a fare hike, some of the details of the fare hike have been seemingly ignored. What, for instance, are we subway riders going to get for our increased fare?
Well, the MTA has released preliminary details […]

Behind the numbers of the subway sexual harassment survey

Thursday, July 26th, 2007

So while Norman Seabrook’s plan to Disney-fy the subways took the headlines this morning, another story made the rounds. As numerous news outlets noted, a recent survey revealed that two-thirds of subway riders claim to be victims of sexual harassment while riding the rails.
The Daily News summarizes:
Two-thirds of people responding to an online survey […]

Selling out the subway a ‘balm for hurt minds’

Thursday, July 26th, 2007

As we take our rides on the subway these days, advertising is just another part of our daily commute. Ubiquitous subway ads have always been there and seemingly will always be there. Now, as one MTA Board member is looking for creative ways to draw in revenue without raising fares, subway advertising has been […]

Details emerging about upcoming fare hike

Wednesday, July 25th, 2007

Update: As expected, the MTA’s announcement jibes with the details we already knew. Of note is that the MTA is committed to provide more service to complement these fare hikes. The public will be much more accepting of this hike if more servide becomes a reality. More later.
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As the Day of the Fare Hike […]

MTA struggling to upgrade key technologies

Wednesday, July 25th, 2007

As we await news of the fare hike, let’s instead check in with some technology problems plaguing New York City Transit. Both concern flooding in the system; one’s about the water and the other, people.
Last week, as Midtown Manhattan exploded in a burst of steam, subway problems in Queens were seemingly neglected. However, that […]