As Friday winds down, I have two stories of note from the MTA’s suburban commuter rail areas. In one, Assembly representative Ellen Jaffe, a Democrat from Rockland County, would like to ban smoking on Metro-North and LIRR platforms. “Obviously, we kind of overimposed restrictions, but I do believe on a platform it is a contained area,” Jaffe said to WCBS. “Even though it is outdoors, it is contained.” New Jersey Transit banned smoking on its platforms a few years ago, and New York City Transit does not permit smoking on its outdoor platforms. While non-smokers seem to support the ban, smokers have requested a special section if the state legislature approves Jaffe’s measure.
Meanwhile, the new M8 cars set for use along the New Haven line have been delayed once again, CBS reports. Due to the winter weather, ConnDOT has been unable to complete the 4000-mile test for the six-car prototype. They hope to have passengers on board these cars “in a matter of weeks,” but they sure have been a long time coming.
7 comments
This smoking discussion seems entirely academic – we have “no smoking” signs plastered all over the outdoor SEPTA stations in Philly, and I’ve never seen so much as a stink-eye from a non-smoker about it.
There’s something very wrong with a train that can’t be tested in winter.
Amen to the platform smoking ban! Jamaica Station is horrible, waiting for the diesel trains on crowded Track 8 while those preparing for the long haul to Patchogue or Montauk get their last few drags in before the train arrives. I’ve actually seen passengers stand in the vestibule of a train, hanging their lit cigarette out the door as the train waits for its scheduled connection.
I pity the passengers (myself, at times) who sometimes get stuck sitting next to a chain-smoker. In an ideal world, the platform would be a place for passengers to air-out, not to stink up.
It’s not that the M8s can’t be tested in bad weather- I saw a consist on the main line last Thursday or Friday night- it’s that with all the weather delays it has been tough to carve time for them on the tracks. It’s been a bad few weeks with wires coming down, trains disabled, and restricted speeds due to the cold and ice.
At least Metro-North has been focused on providing full service. The catenary and bridge replacement projects on the line have resulted in much less capacity, and with the M2s gasping their last breaths in this weather, the M8s have taken the back seat.
I had no idea you could smoke on a rail platform. That is crazy. What do they do with the butts? Where is someone supposed to go if they want to breath?
I don’t see what the big deal is over smoking on the platform, it’s out doors. If the person walks away from the crowd to do it, I don’t see why others should complain. As for butts, responsible smokers put it out near a garbage can and dispose of it properly.
Because it is not really outdoors and you can’t always walk away. Also, assuming that responsible smokers put it out near a garbage can and dispose of it properly is a big leap of faith.