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Asides

Is it ever OK to hop the turnstile?

by Benjamin Kabak May 30, 2012

written by Benjamin Kabak on May 30, 2012

In terms of gems from the City Council, here is another one, courtesy of The Daily News. Recently, while speaking with reporters, City Council member Robert Jackson told a tale involving his wife and an unstaffed subway entrance. Apparently, the MetroCard Machines at 181st St. weren’t working, and no station agents work at the entrance in question.

Instead of hoofing it to another entrance or seeking out a way to buy a fare, Jackson urged his wife to skip out on the $2.25. “I told her to go under,” Jackson said. “I would have gone under…Whoever goes to buy a MetroCard should be entitled to a free ride if the machines aren’t working, if there’s no token booth clerk there.”

For its part, the MTA was less than impressed with Jackson’s ethics. “Farebeating is a crime,” Adam Lisberg said to The News. “It’s wrong. It’s illegal, and it deprives the MTA of the money it needs to carry you on the subway.”

I want to pose this a different way: Do you ever consider a fare jump acceptable? Personally, I’m never without at least one and usually two MetroCards. I keep my unlimited on hand and have an emergency pay-per-ride back-up just in case. That way, I’m never faced with the possibility that I can’t board a bus or ride the subway. Furthermore, as every station complex has at least one staffed entrance, I also don’t think walking to that entrance with a person or working machines is too onerous. Apparently, though, politicians whose lack of support for the MTA has led to the dismissal of those station agents disagree.

May 30, 2012 40 comments

Asides Transit Labor

A hefty reward to better protect transit employees

by Benjamin Kabak May 25, 2012

written by Benjamin Kabak on May 25, 2012

Over the past few years, some high-profile incidents aboard city buses has led to an increased attention on Transit worker safety. Oftentimes, these rank-and-file employees bear the brunt of rider frustrations, and assaults have remained a problem and concern. In fact, assaults are up by nearly 20 percent this year, and earlier this week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Transit Watch, an MTA-funded program that will reward anyone with information of such an assault with $2000.

“Thousands of men and women work on the front lines of the MTA system every day to make sure millions of people can get to work safely,” Governor Cuomo said. “We need to ensure they stay safe as well. Transit Watch puts criminals on notice that if they assault a bus, subway or train employee, everyone who sees it happen is going to help put them in jail.”

Union leaders immediately praised the move. “This is a big win for transit workers, who face physical assaults, verbal abuse and threats every day on the job, and who have long felt that transit assaults are given a low priority,” TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen said in a statement. “We very much appreciate Governor Cuomo’s immediate action to turn a good idea into reality virtually overnight.” The MTA, which is working on a plan to install safety partitions and security cameras in buses across the city, will begin promoting the new reward program soon.

May 25, 2012 1 comment

Asides Second Avenue Subway

Lhota reaffirms Second Ave. Subway timeline

by Benjamin Kabak May 24, 2012

written by Benjamin Kabak on May 24, 2012

With word that the East Side Access would likely be delayed until mid-2019 and cost a billion more than last announced, New Yorkers expecting part of a new subway line on the East Side were growing skittish. Would Phase 1 of the Second Ave. subway truly wrap on time or would the MTA have to, once again, delay this project?

Yesterday, MTA head Joseph Lhota addressed the issue head-on. “Things are proceeding in the Second Avenue subway as we projected it a year or so ago,” he said to reporters. “I’m very comfortable that we will be proceeding as planned.” In other words, revenue service is still projected for December 2016, and the project is currently tracking on this pace.

Of course, long-time watchers now that even with this new on-time date, SAS is still years behind schedule, and today on City Room, Clyde Haberman penned a sadly hilarious (or hilariously sad) look at how all NYC transit projects are delayed. From bridge replacements to new tunnels, from subway lines to transit centers and depots, nothing follows the original schedule. The MTA has once again vowed to improve their on-time delivery rate, but history is not on the agency’s side.

May 24, 2012 25 comments

Asides Taxis

For the summer, an impending cab fare hike

by Benjamin Kabak May 22, 2012

written by Benjamin Kabak on May 22, 2012

New Yorkers could be in for a fare hike of another kind later this summer as the Taxi & Limousine Commission is gearing up to boost cab fares by around 20 percent, according to reports. The price jump would be the taxi industry’s first since 2006, and the Commission is considering the hike at the request of workers who are feeling the pinch of ever-rising gas prices and other associated costs. “The fare hasn’t changed since 2006, so it is reasonable for taxi drivers and fleet owners to put this on the table,” David Yassky, T&LC chairman, said. “We will consider their petitions over the next couple of months.”

The taxi rate increases, likely to hit this summer, a few months ahead of the next MTA fare hike, would boost the average ride from $11.82 to just over $14, and the rate to Manhattan from JFK could climb above $50. Drivers and owners, though, are at odds over one aspect of the hike. Car owners have asked for a similar 20 percent jump in the lease cap for taxis, but the drivers do not support such a hike as it would negate any increase in their take-home pay.

As an infrequent taxi rider, I’m not in love with the idea of paying more for these rides, but at the same time, cab drivers need to earn their living as well. The Taxi and Limousine Commission will host a hearing on the rate hike at the end of the month before moving forward, and it’s unclear what impact this will have on the Outer Borough street hail plan.

May 22, 2012 5 comments

Asides New York City Transit

Report: 10 workers facing arrest for signal inspection scandal

by Benjamin Kabak May 17, 2012

written by Benjamin Kabak on May 17, 2012

Transit’s ongoing signal inspection scandal may be coming to a head as 10 MTA workers are facing arrest, according to reports. As The Daily News first reported, eight signal inspectors and two “low-level” supervisors could be arrested as early as this week in an investigation related to the faked signal inspection reports. The workers will be arraigned tomorrow in a Manhattan court and with face felony charges of tampering with official records and a misdemeanor charge of official misconduct.

While MTA officials haven’t said much about the pending arrests or charges, union leaders are outraged that no one in management has been charged yet. “It’s astounding to us that the senior level bosses that orchestrated this entire charade, this entire issue that led to fraudulent signal inspections, have been untouched by the district attorney,” TWU President John Samuelsen said.

These arrests and any subsequent trial could be very explosive for the MTA. I’ll continue to follow this story.

May 17, 2012 4 comments

Asides MTA Politics

Some comings and goings for MTA execs

by Benjamin Kabak May 11, 2012

written by Benjamin Kabak on May 11, 2012

A small item in the print edition of Crain’s New York caught my eye earlier this week: According to the trade pub, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is putting his stamp on the MTA as some key top executives are shuffling through the organization. Former COO and current Director of Strategic Initiatives Charles Monheim and Linda Kleinbaum, the deputy executive director of government affairs, have both retired. Hilary Rign, the current director of government affairs, is taking over Kleinbaum’s spot as deputy executive director, and Steve Morello, who has worked for both Gov. Cuomos as well as Mayor Bloomberg, will step into Ring’s position.

All in all, shakeups like these are fairly common as new agency heads come and go. Cuomo has not been a vocal advocate for transit himself, but those in charge are doing the job. “There’s a desire for a stronger connection between the governor’s office and the MTA, and that’s not a bad thing,” William Henderson of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee, said to Crain’s.

May 11, 2012 2 comments

Asides MTA Technology

Boingo, Transit Wireless team up for underground WiFi

by Benjamin Kabak May 3, 2012

written by Benjamin Kabak on May 3, 2012

As Transit Wireless is hard at work bringing cell service to the New York City subway stations, the company has announced a deal to bring WiFi underground as well. Transit Wireless announced a deal today with Boingo that will see the company manage and operate a WiFi network within the city’s underground subway stations. The roll-out for the service will be gradual over the next five years and will cover stations in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens.

“Boingo has a proven expertise in operating easy-to-use wireless services in high-traffic venues serving people on-the-go,” Transit Wireless CEO William A. Bayne Jr. said in a statement. “Our partnership with Boingo helps us deliver on our commitment to providing best-in-class technology amenities to our community of commuters and visitors to the Big Apple.”

Boingo, known for its vast array of airport networks it operates, will be charging for the service. It’s roaming partners, which include Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon may be able to use the service for a lesser charge as well. On the one hand, this is a positive development for New York City subway riders. On the other, it’s somewhat redundant as smart phone users will be able to use Transit Wireless’ own network to access the Internet. Still, this move should further the push toward technological innovation in the transit space.

May 3, 2012 8 comments

Asides Public Transit Policy

Lhota not so keen on the ferry fare idea

by Benjamin Kabak April 27, 2012

written by Benjamin Kabak on April 27, 2012

Yesterday, I wrote about the need to better integrate the East River ferries with the rest of the city’s MTA-run transportation network. Today, MTA head Joe Lhota splashed some cold water on that idea. While speaking at the Regional Plan Association’s annual conference — more on that on Sunday night — Lhota spoke broadly of supporting a MetroCard-based fare payment system with the ferries but stressed that a free transfer isn’t the way to go. “The MTA is in no position to share its revenue with the ferries,” he said.

So let’s amend the idea a bit: Instead of a free transfer, the ferries become another part of the MTA payment network akin to the express buses. These rides cost more than a regular fare, but you can still use a pay-per-ride card on them. Still, though a transfer has to be a part of the equation somehow to make sure riders are being encouraged to use transit without having to pay two fares. Somehow, the revenue and subsidies have to work out so that the MTA isn’t losing money, but riders shouldn’t be either.

April 27, 2012 7 comments

Asides MTA Politics

Chris Ward: Next mayor must prioritize transit

by Benjamin Kabak April 27, 2012

written by Benjamin Kabak on April 27, 2012

It seems that I’m not alone in calling for someone with political might to better prioritize transit in New York City. Chris Ward, the former head of the Port Authority, issued a similar plea on New York 1’s “Inside City Hall” earlier this week. As Capital New York reported, Ward urged the next mayor to make the MTA a number one priority.

The region, he said, needs more rail capacity. “By not building that capacity into the lifeblood of this region, which is, for better or for worse, Manhattan,” he said, “we’re gonna get sprawl. You’re going to be seeing the city moving away from its core, you’re going to get inefficient development and the west side of Manhattan won’t get that strong demand for commuters to fill up the office space that hopefully Related will be building very quickly.”

He elaborated on the need for politicians to focus more on transit as well. “The people who rely on the MTA, the men and women who are coming into their job or going out to their job, they’re not taking a car, they’re not taking a limousine, they’re not taking a taxi,” he said. “They’re taking the MTA.”

Ward hits upon a key topic here. For better or worse, the MTA is transit in the New York City region, and we’re stuck with it. So we can either work against it or work to improve it. But the real issue is that while Ward is correct in issuing this call, New York’s mayor can’t do much about the MTA. As I mentioned earlier this week, it’s a creature of the state, and the state exerts far more power over it than the city can. Maybe it’s time to have a serious conversation about returning control over the subways to the city, but we can’t go down that path without fiscal assurances from Albany. Welcome to New York transportation politics.

April 27, 2012 6 comments

Asides View from Underground

Link: A blunt subway etiquette campaign

by Benjamin Kabak April 25, 2012

written by Benjamin Kabak on April 25, 2012

One of the more irksome parts of riding the subways in New York City are all the other people. Now, I don’t mean that in a curmudgeonly loner sort of way; rather, I mean that in the sense of proper etiquette. From folks who can’t lower their iPod volume to those unaware that in front of doors isn’t the best place to stand, the New York subways are home to some of the most egregious etiquette violations in the city, and no amount of announcements telling us that courtesy is contagious will change that.

If gentle reminders do not work, what about a more direct approach that speaks to New Yorkers on a baser level? That’s what Streeter Seidell has proposed in his latest effort. The PSAs are laden with profanity so click through at your own risk. The messages, though, are universal. Your bag does not needs its own seat in the subway, and you really shouldn’t leave your half-empty Snapple bottle on the platform. And really, folks, take your MetroCard out before you reach the turnstile. [StreeterSeidell.com]

April 25, 2012 10 comments

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