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New B&T Fares Starting Dec 30th

Posted by
on December 21st, 2010 at 8:58 pm

The inevitable day is fast approaching as new fares across the MTA spectrum take effect on December 30th. The MTA sent out reminder press releases with complete information. Let me start with information on their bridges & tunnels:

Tolls on MTA’s seven bridges and two tunnels will go up at 2 AM on Thurs., Dec. 30th, increasing to $6.50 at most crossings for cash customers and increasing 23-cents to $4.80 at most crossings for E-ZPass customers. The difference between the cash and E-ZPass tolls encourages the use of E-ZPass,which is good for customers, is good for the environment and helps keep traffic moving. Approximately 75 percent of all customers currently use E-ZPass at MTA crossings.

Customers looking for the best value can open an account with the New York E-ZPass Customer Service Center by calling 1-800 333-TOLL or visiting the website at www.ezpassny.com. Anyone can open an account with the New York E-ZPass Customer Service Center (NYCSC). With a NYCSC tag, the difference between cash and E-ZPass tolls ranges from $1.45 to $1.80 depending on the crossing. For a complete list of car and truck crossing charges, please visit www.mta.info.

The toll changes will be displayed on electronic message signs at MTA toll plazas. Customers can also request toll rate cards at cash booths. Customers also have the option of purchasing a pre-paid, ready to use.E-ZPass On-the-Go tag (a great holiday gift idea) at one of 365 locations throughout New York City and Long Island. For a list of retailers who sell On-the-Go tags visit www.ezpassny.com.

On-the-Go tags are sold for $30. Once purchased, $20 can be used immediately for tolls and $10 is a tag deposit. If linked for replenishment to a credit card, the $10 deposit also becomes available to pay tolls. After first use, customers have 48 hours to register the tag. Since the program began in 2008, some 75,000 MTA On-the-Go tags have been sold.

In addition to the changes in crossing charges, beginning Dec. 30th tokens will no longer be accepted at the Henry Hudson toll plaza. The number of customers who still use tokens at the Henry Hudson averages about 100 a month. Token refund kits can be requested by going to www.mta.info and clicking on the “contact us” section.

MTA Bridge and Tunnel crossings include the Throgs Neck, Bronx-Whitestone, Henry Hudson, Verrazano-Narrows, Robert F. Kennedy, Cross Bay Veterans Memorial and Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Bridges, as well as the Queens Midtown and Brooklyn-Battery Tunnels.

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LIRR Christmas Service Info

Posted by
on December 21st, 2010 at 8:42 pm

Lastly, here are the Christmas service plans from the Long Island Rail Road courtesy of a press release:

In wishing its customers a safe, joyous and stress-free, holiday season, the MTA Long Island Rail Road is offering an economical and convenient alternative to car travel this Christmas holiday by providing extra trains and discount fares.

Fourteen extra trains will depart Penn Station on Thursday, December 23 and on Christmas Eve (Friday, December 24) between 12:43 PM and 3:40 PM. And, for holiday travel with the children, the LIRR’s deeply discounted Family Fare program will also be in effect throughout the weekend (December 25 & 26).

With the Family Fare, up to four children ages 5-11 can ride weekend off peak trains for the advance purchase fare of 75-cents per child each way when accompanied by a fare-paying parent or guardian. Weekly and monthly ticket holders just pay for the kids. Children under 5 ride free on the LIRR.

The extra service for Thursday, December 23 & Friday, December 24 includes:

Ronkonkoma Branch:

• 12:43 PM stopping at Woodside, Jamaica, Mineola, Hicksville and all stops to Ronkonkoma

• 1:43 PM stopping at Woodside, Jamaica, Mineola, Hicksville and all stops to Ronkonkoma

Babylon Branch:

• 1:28 PM express to Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon

• 1:53 PM stopping at Jamaica, Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon

• 2:16 PM express to Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon

• 2:22 PM express to Lynbrook, then all stops to Babylon

• 3:00 PM stopping at Jamaica, Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon

• 3:31 PM express to Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon

• The 5:59 PM from Penn Station to Babylon will not operate on Thursday, December 23, or on Christmas Eve, Friday, December 24. Customers will be accommodated by the 6:05 PM from Penn Station, which will make all stops from Merrick to Babylon on those days.

Port Jefferson Branch (to Huntington):

• 2:10 PM stopping at Jamaica, Carle Place, then all stops to Huntington

• 2:29 PM stopping at Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Jamaica, New Hyde Park, then all stops to Huntington

• 3:24 PM stopping at Jamaica, Mineola, Westbury, Hicksville

Port Washington Branch:

• 3:18 PM stopping at Woodside, Flushing, then all stops to Port Washington.

• 3:40 PM stopping at Woodside, Flushing, then all stops to Great Neck

Far Rockaway Branch:

• 3:48 PM stopping at Locust Manor, Laurelton, Rosedale, Valley Stream, then all stops to Far Rockaway

The LIRR will operate on a weekend/holiday schedule Christmas Day (Saturday, December 25).

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Metro-North Railroad Christmas Service Info

Posted by
on December 21st, 2010 at 8:33 pm

Now on to the Metro-North Railroad’s service plan information for Christmas courtesy of the press release:

MTA Metro-North Railroad aims to make the holidays happier with special train schedules designed to make traveling, shopping, sightseeing and visiting easier.

Get a jump on the holidays with early afternoon getaway service on Thursday December 23rd. There will be 16 extra trains departing Grand Central; between noon and 4 p.m. There will be a normal AM peak, but a reduced PM peak after 5 o’clock with 10 trains canceled and six trains combined into three. All changes are in the October 17 public timetable.

On Christmas Eve, Friday December 24th there will be a special Saturday schedule with additional trains to be operated during the morning inbound (6 – 9 am) and outbound (4 – 6 pm).

On Christmas Day, Saturday, December 25, a Sunday schedule will be in effect. Please note that Shoppers’ Specials will not operate on Christmas.

On Sunday December 26, Metro-North will operate on a regular Sunday schedule and Shoppers Specials will operate for the last day.

On December 27, 28, 29 and 30, trains will operate on a weekday schedule. However, there will be more trains arriving in Grand Central between 10 a.m. and noon. To accommodate this, some AM peak trains will be cancelled.

Metro-North wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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SI Railroad Christmas Get-Away Service Info

Posted by
on December 21st, 2010 at 8:26 pm

It is that time of year where different facets of the MTA offer special service plans for the Christmas holiday. First up is the Staten Island Railroad which once again will be running its “Get-Away” service plan. Here are the complete details via a press release I received:

Staten Island customers looking to get a head start on their holiday celebrations will be able to catch earlier afternoon express train service on Thursday, December 23 with Staten Island Railway’s Early Departure Get Away schedule. This schedule means extra SIR trains will be added earlier in the afternoon beginning at 2:30 p.m. from the St. George Ferry Terminal. There will be one express train and one local train awaiting every boat until 7:50 p.m. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, SIR will operate on a Weekend schedule.

The Get Away service plan on SIR is also available on the Thursday (December 30) before New Year’s Eve, the Friday before President’s Day weekend, the Friday before the Memorial Day weekend, the day before Independence Day, the Friday before Labor Day weekend, and the day before Thanksgiving.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Service Diversions 12-20-10

Posted by
on December 20th, 2010 at 5:01 am

I have just updated the Service Diversions page by removing all of the work that just wrapped up just a minute ago. The latest information for the upcoming week & beyond in some cases is at the forefront. Throughout the week, I will be removing individual diversions as they expire. The next full update should be sometime Wednesday or Thursday after I receive the scheduled work from the MTA.

As always, I suggest you print out a copy of the diversions to have with you while riding. You may also use any phone or electronic device to access the mobile friendly version of Transit Blogger. Have a safe & wonderful week while trying to keep warm.

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