Track Work Disturbing Locals
Every couple of months I come across these kind of stories in the New York Daily News. The formula usually goes something like this, MTA NYC Transit is doing construction on a subway line. The construction leads to complaints from locals who feel the noise is ruining their lives in some ways. This is once again the case as some Bensonhurst locals are complaining about track work on the 
. Mike McLaughlin of the New York Daily News has more:
you hear something, say something.
Recent track work by the MTA on an elevated line in Bensonhurst has left locals covering their ears because of an ear-splitting, screech from overhead trains.
“I’ve been here 30 years. It used to be noisy, but livable. Now, it’s killing me,” said Hilna Motors owner Louis Gellman, whose auto repair shop is beneath the D train at 86th St. and Stillwell Ave.
“I can’t even talk to people outside. I have to bring my customers into my office,” added Gellman, who believes the racket has caused hearing loss.
The disturbance began last year when the Metropolitan Transportation Authority installed new tracks along the route.
A TA spokesman said the increased volume was a temporary headache because the track work required that they stop greasing the rails, which reduces the din.
After a series of noise complaints were lodged with the MTA, the agency inspected the site on Dec. 21, prompting the agency to add extra lubricant to the rails to fight the problem.
“These corrective measures have greatly reduced the noise level,” said TA spokesman Charles Seaton in a statement. “We expect further reduction as the new track wears in.”
Assemblyman William Colton (D-Brooklyn) said that noise is not just a public nuisance: It’s also a symbol of financial waste at the MTA.“Noise is not only something that’s detrimental to people’s lives and health, but it’s also detrimental to the system” he said.
Click here for the complete story.
Seriously I am starting to get sick of locals always finding something to complain about. Construction on a system 100+ years old is inevitable so noise is a natural part of the process. While it can be disturbing, it is just part of the pain you must endure for the better good of everyone.
If they had it their way, the construction would stop so the noise could go away. However we all know that these same people would be complaining about things not being fixed. Sorry, you can’t have it both ways so deal with it & find something else to worry about.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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Stony Brook Station Renovations To Begin Soon
Just a short time ago, the MTA Long Island Rail Road announced that station renovations at the Stony Brook station would begin. Here are the complete details courtesy of a press release I received:
The MTA Long Island Rail Road’s Stony Brook Station, on the Port Jefferson Branch, will undergo a $2.7 million renovation project starting Monday, February 1. A temporary trailer will serve as a waiting room during part of the work and will be open from 4:00 AM through 5:00 PM daily. Nine parking spaces will be temporarily out of service in order to stage materials and the trailer.
The project includes refurbishing the two station restrooms, replacing station building interior walls, installing new platform shelters, and light poles. The station building work is expected to be completed by mid-April, 2010, while the exterior work is expected to be completed by January, 2011.
Funding for the work in the MTA LIRR Capital Program was secured by State Senator John Flanagan.
The total daily ridership to and from Stony Brook is approximately 1,450.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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Service Diversions 01-29-10
I have just updated the “Service Diversions” page with the latest planned information for the upcoming weekend, next week, & beyond in some cases. Also as a reminder for those who plan on riding the LIRR’s Long Beach line, please read this entry for important diversion information. I suggest you print out a copy of the “Service Diversions” page to carry around with you or use your mobile device to access it while outside.
Have a great weekend!
xoxo Transit Blogger
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LIRR Long Beach Service Reminder
Two weeks ago, I wrote an entry highlighting the loss of service on the LIRR’s Long Beach line for two weekends due to planned construction. MTA Long Island Rail Road sent out a reminder press release to me earlier this afternoon. Here are the details:
There will be no train service along the Long Beach Branch this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, January 30-31 due to the installation of two new MTA Long Island Rail Road bridges over Powell Creek and Hog Island Channel.
Buses will serve LIRR customers between Long Beach and Valley Stream throughout this weekend. Regular weekday train service will not be affected by the project.
The $24.5 million project, funded through the MTA Capital Program and Federal Transit Administration grants, will also require the shutdown of train service on four other weekends later this year – March 20-21, March 27-28, May 1-2 and May 15-16.
In addition to the weekend dates listed above, work will require the Railroad to close the eastbound platforms at Island Park, Oceanside, East Rockaway and Centre Avenue on five other weekends: February 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28 and March 6-7. All trains will operate from westbound platforms at those stations.
Eastbound, when busing is in effect, customers will transfer to buses at Valley Stream for the six stations between Lynbrook and Long Beach. Customers should allow up to 34 minutes of additional travel time.
Westbound, customers will board buses at the six stations between Long Beach and Lynbrook bound for Valley Stream, where they will transfer to trains to complete their trip. Buses will depart up to 33 minutes earlier than scheduled train times.
Both the Powell Creek Bridge (located between the LIRR’s East Rockaway and Oceanside stations) and the Hog Island Channel Bridge (located between Oceanside and Island Park stations) were built in the 1920s and served the LIRR for nearly 90 years.
“Without the long term financing for new infrastructure that the MTA’s Capital Program provides, it would be impossible to undertake projects like this,” said LIRR President Helena E. Williams. “These two bridges are being replaced as part of our ongoing efforts to modernize and ensure safe and reliable service for our customers for decades to come.”
MTA Capital Program funds for the project total $14.2 million, while the FTA has added $10.3 million. The international construction company, Kiewit Constructors Inc., is the prime contractor and Kiewit, in turn, is employing a number of subcontractors. Much of the material being used has been purchased from local firms in the tri-state region.
The bridge replacement program has created approximately, 47 new full time jobs, including 12 construction managers at Kiewit and 35 craft labor positions involving operating engineers, dock builders and laborers. Numerous LIRR employees will be installing new track and signals over the bridges.
Work on the project began in November but is only now impacting service. To limit that impact, most of the work will be done during 48-hour weekend shifts.
The Powell Creek and Hog Island Bridges are open-deck wooden and steel structures supported by wooden piles through which water is visible below. Both bridges will be removed and replaced with pre-cast concrete structures, supported by reinforced concrete-filled, steel pipe piles, supporting safer, closed-deck concrete track roadbeds.
A recurring flooding condition at Powell Creek Bridge, which has at times led to delays and temporary service suspensions, will be corrected by raising the elevation of the new bridge by approximately one foot. Bridge walkways will also be installed at both locations to make it safer for LIRR employees.
The project is being coordinated with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Town of Hempstead.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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I Apologize
I would like to apologize for not having an analysis of the recently released service cuts. I promised I would take an in-depth look into the cuts over the weekend. However it was a very emotional weekend for me as I wanted to spend as much time with one of my best friend’s before their major surgery on Monday. I did not have the care or desire to look into it for obvious reasons. I just focused on posting short news blasts as that would not need a strong focus.
I am happy to report that the surgery was a success so I am in a much better state of mind. I will go over the cuts & have something up by Monday the latest.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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