Second Ave. Sagas

Category: Asides

  • The end of the MetroCard is somewhat near!

    Near, of course, being a relative term in MTA speak. Anyway, as I mentioned in October, the MTA is looking to do away with the swipe-and-go MetroCard, a relic of the 20th Century. But instead of just adopting RFID smartcard technology as London and Washington, D.C., currently employ, the agency is, according to the New York Post, “seeking bids on ‘a study of existing and new technologies and [recommendations for] a new/fare toll payment system.’”

    So the MTA is going to ask to study existing technologies before figure out the best one. Then the MTA will have to figure out how to overhaul the rather inflexible current system. At that rate, we should see new fare card technology some time before the polar ice caps melt.

  • MTA to delay and pare down, but not cancel, big-ticket projects

    The MTA will delay but not cancel big capital construction projects in an effort to address nearly $1 billion in cost overruns, Marlene Naanes writes in amNew York. While disappointing, this development comes as no surprise after the news this week has focused on runaway inflation and over-budget MTA projects.

    Despite these delays, however, MTA officials and transit advocates have stressed that the city will still enjoy the benefits; we just might have to wait a little while longer. And when it comes to the Second Ave. Subway, what’s one more year added to the 70 we’ve already been waiting? The MTA will decide in February just how they will delay or modify their capital construction plans to meet budget expectations. [amNew York]

  • Sheldon, criticizing the MTA, ignores the easy solution

    As the MTA and its capital projects are getting slammed with rising costs due to inflation, New York’s politicians are jumping on the Bash the MTA Bandwagon. First up, of course, is State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. On Wednesday, he issued a statement.

    “The MTA’s plan to reduce the size of the Fulton Street Transit Center in Downtown Manhattan is outrageous and unacceptable. Those who live, work and visit Downtown have been misled for far too long with grand plans and unrealistic timetables for projects, and enough is enough,” Silver said. “What was promised to this community by the MTA must be funded and built.”

    To Sheldon, I offer up my reply: Fork over the dough. The City and the State have long shirked their MTA fiscal responsibilities. With a looming budget crisis and important capital projects in limbo, now is the time for these bodies to step up. Fund the Fulton St. overruns. Fund the Second Ave. Subway. That’s a pretty easy solution.

  • MTA consolidation to save $40 million

    The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced plans to move ahead with its institutional initiative information, a consolidation plan designed to eliminate institutional redundancies. Among the plans are agency-wide programs for Accounting, Human Resources, Payroll and Procurement processing that will save the agency $40 million (and, oh yeah, 240 jobs as well). Now if only the New York legislature would allow the MTA to consolidate the management of their seven divisions. Just imagine the savings potential there. [MTA HQ]

  • A transit free-for-all

    Ted Kheel, the 93-year-old public advocate, has unveiled the $100,000 plan he funded to advocate for free transit. Unfortunately, I don’t have time right now to really drill down on the 55-page report, but it’s a good plan. I was originally skeptical, but now I think it can work. The short of it: Kheel was a 24/7 $16-per-car, $32-per-truck congestion fee that is earmarked for transit only. More later. [The Free Transit Report (PDF)]

  • It’s time for another ribbon-cutting ceremony

    New York City Transit and Bloomingdale’s are gearing up for a Friday ribbon cutting ceremony. After extensive renovations, the subway entrance from the 59th St. stop that leads into the men’s department at the Midtown department store will reopen tomorrow. As the old saying goes, “All Cars Transfer to Bloomingdale’s.” [PR Newswire]

  • Haberman: Name the bridge after someone more deserving

    Clyde Haberman, writing his NYC column in The Times, argues that the City shouldn’t rename the Triborough Bridge after Robert F. Kennedy. I agree. Interestingly, Haberman proposes naming the bridge after Andrew Haswell Green, a 19th-century urban planning who has been nearly completely overshadowed by Robert Moses. [The New York Times]

  • Fulton St. hub beset with more problems

    The Fulton St. Transportation Hub, originally set to open this month, may be facing even more delays as the MTA received just one bid for the contract to construct the ornate glass-domed centerpiece of the project. As Bobby Cuza details at NY1, this news belongs very firmly in the “Not Good” category. I’ll have more on this development later. [New York 1]

  • NYCT will not let you pee

    According to a story in the Daily News, if you’re driving a New York City Transit bus and you have to pee, you better hold it in. William Torres was driving an overtime shift along the shuttle bus route mirroring the G train this weekend when, at the end of one ride, he had to relieve himself. The supervisor warned him against it and then sent him home when Torres made the pit stop anyway. The MTA is now investigating why a supervisor would not let a driver use the facilities at some point during a nine-hour shift. [Daily News]

  • NYCT is on top of the weather

    Despite the fact that the NOAA is now predicting just 1-2 inches of snow for New York City, the MTA is on the case. New York City Transit says they are prepared for 5-7 inches and have the de-icing machines ready to go. They don’t expect any A.M. rush hour problems, and neither do I because, well, it just won’t be snowing that much. [New York City Transit]