Comments on: DC’s WMATA considers cutting late-night service http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/08/15/dcs-wmata-considers-cutting-late-night-service/ A New York City Subway Blog Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:16:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Eric http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/08/15/dcs-wmata-considers-cutting-late-night-service/#comment-1182 Eric Sat, 18 Aug 2007 07:42:59 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/08/15/dcs-wmata-considers-cutting-late-night-service/#comment-1182 Unfortunately, the sad state of affairs you describe with the WMATA is also par for the course here in San Francisco, on all counts, including running over pedestrians -- twice just this week, I think? Due to the lack of additional track, BART trains stop running around 12-1 am everyday, with no additional late-night weekend service at all. Evening headways are 20 minutes. In the past couple of years, they've buffed up the all-nighter owl bus service to mirror BART routes -- it used to be even more pathetic -- but this is run by the usual compendium of agencies that attempt timed transfers. Lately, seismic retrofits of the SF-Oakland Bay Bridge have forced bridge closures a few times, and BART runs for 24 hours to compensate, though only hourly, with limited station stops. Still, it's a treat and an interesting experiment. But the expense and lack of alternate track to use during nighttime maintenance pretty much seals the deal of no nighttime service. It's been interesting to read on your blog about a clear need for significant infrastructure upgrades to NY's aging subway system, but I must wholeheartedly agree with the end of your post. In terms of frequent, robust service -- the kind where you can just spontaneously drop into a station at any time and generally not wait an eternity for a train -- nothing in this country can beat the NY subway. Unfortunately, the sad state of affairs you describe with the WMATA is also par for the course here in San Francisco, on all counts, including running over pedestrians — twice just this week, I think? Due to the lack of additional track, BART trains stop running around 12-1 am everyday, with no additional late-night weekend service at all. Evening headways are 20 minutes. In the past couple of years, they’ve buffed up the all-nighter owl bus service to mirror BART routes — it used to be even more pathetic — but this is run by the usual compendium of agencies that attempt timed transfers.

Lately, seismic retrofits of the SF-Oakland Bay Bridge have forced bridge closures a few times, and BART runs for 24 hours to compensate, though only hourly, with limited station stops. Still, it’s a treat and an interesting experiment. But the expense and lack of alternate track to use during nighttime maintenance pretty much seals the deal of no nighttime service.

It’s been interesting to read on your blog about a clear need for significant infrastructure upgrades to NY’s aging subway system, but I must wholeheartedly agree with the end of your post. In terms of frequent, robust service — the kind where you can just spontaneously drop into a station at any time and generally not wait an eternity for a train — nothing in this country can beat the NY subway.

]]> By: Larry V http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/08/15/dcs-wmata-considers-cutting-late-night-service/#comment-1183 Larry V Thu, 16 Aug 2007 10:27:43 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/08/15/dcs-wmata-considers-cutting-late-night-service/#comment-1183 Oh, the T. One of the most infuriating things about Boston. I toil all day in college classes, then figure I might head over to the North End to grab a calzone or something. Oops, wait. The T will be closed before I can make it back! Luckily, from a New Yorker's POV Boston is obscenely small, and walking back across the Charles is certainly within my limits. Even at 1 in the morning. Oh, the T. One of the most infuriating things about Boston.

I toil all day in college classes, then figure I might head over to the North End to grab a calzone or something. Oops, wait. The T will be closed before I can make it back!

Luckily, from a New Yorker’s POV Boston is obscenely small, and walking back across the Charles is certainly within my limits. Even at 1 in the morning.

]]> By: Victoria Jeter http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/08/15/dcs-wmata-considers-cutting-late-night-service/#comment-1184 Victoria Jeter Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:55:35 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/08/15/dcs-wmata-considers-cutting-late-night-service/#comment-1184 Oh no, I hope Boston doesn't do the same thing! Oh WAIT, the T already closes before 1 on every day of the week. Stupid non-New York City cities. Oh no, I hope Boston doesn’t do the same thing! Oh WAIT, the T already closes before 1 on every day of the week. Stupid non-New York City cities.

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