MTA Executive Urges Riders To Protest Fare Hike Plan
An interesting article appeared in today’s New York Daily News. The piece was my transit reporter Pete Donohue & it talked about a request from a MTA Executive. The executive, MTA director of government affairs Hilary Ring asked the riding public to share their frustrations for proposed fare hikes when public hearings start in January. Here is a sample of the report:
Even some folks at the MTA are speaking out against the threatened transit fare hikes and service cuts – and they want straphangers to join them.
Describing the cutback package as “terrible,” MTA director of government affairs Hilary Ring urged people at a public forum to express their anger at public hearings in January.
“Please come,” he appealed to the crowd of about 125 at Swinging Sixties Senior Center in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, last night. “The only way it’s not going to be implemented is if you express outrage.”
“The budget we presented to the board is not the budget we want to see adopted,” he said. “We had to make very tough choices. We don’t want to make these cuts. We think the state and city should increase their contributions to us.”
Click here for the complete report.
I see this request as nothing more than fluff on the MTA’s part. All the outrage in the world shared at these hearings won’t do a thing to change what’s going on. So why even insult our intelligence by suggesting that the outcome could be any different when it can’t be at the current rate?
The intelligence of individuals with common sense continues to be insulted when the responses to the article come into play. As usual we have misinformed individuals claiming this or that is the reason why the fares will be raised. Instead of focusing on the real culprits which in a major part are our elected officials, we pass the blame on to:
The MTA itself for being greedy as they get enough money from the Verizon surcharge that goes to them.
The unions for not allowing more token booths to be closed along with OPTO being implemented on the L.
Pensions being in place instead of 401K plans
The MTA Board being in place as their clothing shows they are making too much money
etc….
You see this is the reason why so many people don’t get it when it comes to the MTA in many ways. They are always quick to pass blame from one side to another yet overlook the obvious. All the money saved from closing more token booths, implementing OPTO, scrapping pensions, etc.. would still not close the gap & help sustain the system’s financial condition. No matter how many times you explain this, the status quo is to blame the MTA for everything. While the agency is not 100% blame free, I would never say they are the main reason their financial picture is so bleak. I thankfully know better….
xoxo Transit Blogger
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LIRR Wednesday A.M. Service Changes
The effect of Sunday’s train derailment has lessened considerably for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). The agency just sent out a press release via e-mail a few minutes ago to announce the service changes for Wednesday’s A.M. rush along with info on extra afternoon service. Here are the complete details:
Service on MTA Long Island Rail Road will continue to improve Wednesday morning, November 26 with rush hour customers seeing fewer cancellations and delays as a result of last Sunday’s derailment at Jamaica Station.
The Railroad will also provide an extra complement of eastbound get-a-way trains for those leaving work early Wednesday afternoon to begin their Thanksgiving holiday.
Hundreds of LIRR employees continue to work around the clock to repair damaged track and signals. The last of the derailed cars was safely removed at 3 AM Tuesday morning. The derailment caused damage to a 600-foot stretch of track, requiring replacement of more than 115 feet of running rail, 400 feet of third rail, 400 feet of third rail protection board, and repair to 6 switches and signal circuitry. Testing of the repaired tracks and signals is expected to continue into Wednesday.
Wednesday AM Rush Service:
Six trains will be canceled Wednesday morning, down from 12 on Tuesday morning. The work may also cause minor delays for trains passing through Jamaica.
Wednesday AM Rush Service:
Six trains will be canceled Wednesday morning, down from 12 on Tuesday morning. The work may also cause minor delays for trains passing through Jamaica.
The following Wednesday morning westbound trains will be canceled:
• The 6:57 AM from Freeport, scheduled to arrive Penn Station at 7:40 AM.
• The 8:03 AM from Valley Stream, scheduled to arrive in Penn Station at 8:42 AM.
• The 8:03 AM from Long Beach, scheduled to arrive in Penn at 8:54 AM.
• The 7:23 AM from Hempstead, scheduled to arrive in Flatbush Avenue at 8:20 AM.
• The 8:25 AM from Freeport, scheduled to arrive in Penn Station at 9:08 AM.
• The 7:43 AM from Merrick, scheduled to arrive Penn Station at 8:31 AM.
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Wednesday early-afternoon service:
Nine extra trains will be depart Penn Station to accommodate customers heading home for Thanksgiving between 2:09 PM and 4:01 PM. Three trains will operate on the Babylon Branch, three on the Port Jefferson Branch (one to Hicksville, two to Huntington), one on the Port Washington Branch to Great Neck, one to Far Rockaway and one to Montauk.
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Wednesday Evening Service:
For Wednesday evening’s rush, some schedule adjustments may be necessary and customers are urged to check the LIRR’s website www.mta.info/lirr and email alerts for further updates.
Note: Alcoholic beverages will not be allowed on LIRR trains, stations and platforms from 8:00 PM on Wednesday, November 26 (Thanksgiving Eve) to 8:00 AM on Thursday, November 27, (Thanksgiving morning). MTA Police will enforce this restriction.
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Thanksgiving Day Service:
The LIRR will also provide extra service on Thanksgiving Day for those heading to and from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Special holiday off-peak fares will be in effect through Sunday.
Six extra westbound trains will be provided in the morning on the Babylon, Montauk, Ronkonkoma and Port Jefferson branches.Between 11:37 AM and 2:03 PM, ten extra eastbound trains will depart from Penn
Station to accommodate customers returning from the parade. Three of the extra trains
will operate on the Babylon Branch, four will operate on the Ronkonkoma Branch, two
will operate on the Port Jefferson Branch and one will operate on the Montauk Branch to
Speonk.———-
Service Updates:
The LIRR will continue to update this Service Advisory as track repairs are made. Customers should monitor news media reports and the LIRR’s website (at www.mta.info/lirr) for updates to this AM modified service plan and information regarding PM train service.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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MTA NYC Transit & MTA Bus Thanksgiving Holiday Service
Late this afternoon the MTA sent out a press release via e-mail to announce details for NYC Transit & MTA Bus’ Thanksgiving Holiday service. Here are the complete details:
MTA New York City Transit and MTA Bus officials today announced service plans on subways and buses for the upcoming Thanksgiving Day holiday.
On Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27th, New York City Transit subways will run on a Sunday schedule, with additional service provided after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Buses of New York City Transit and MTA Bus will also run on a Sunday schedule, with slight adjustments to schedules and reroutes for bus routes along the parade route in Manhattan.
On the Friday after Thanksgiving though, subways and buses will operate on a regular weekday schedule. However, while local and express service will be running as usual on Staten Island, limited-stop service will be suspended for the day.
Customers may call our Travel Information Center at 718-330-1234 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, or log onto www.tripplanner.mta.info to use Trip Planner to plan their trips. Customers with web enabled phones or PDAs can use our Trip Planner On-the-Go! by going to www.tripplanner.mta.info/mobile; in addition to planning their trips, Blackberry users can download the free icon for one touch access to the service.
Sorry for not posting it sooner
xoxo Transit Blogger
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Staten Island Railway Thanksgiving Day Holiday Service
The MTA just issued a press release via e-mail to announce additional service on the Staten Island Railway for the Thanksgiving Day Holiday. Here are the complete details:
MTA Staten Island Railway (SIR) officials today announced their “Get-A-Way” service plan for the upcoming Thanksgiving Day holiday.
On Wednesday, November 26, SIR customers can take advantage of the early departure service to begin their four-day Thanksgiving weekend. Express train service will begin at 2:31 p.m. out of St. George Terminal, and there will be one express train and one local train awaiting every boat until 7:50 p.m. This amounts to twice as much regular service, two hours ahead of schedule. Customers using the express trains will have a faster ride home, while local train riders should have a more comfortable ride on less crowded trains.
On Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27th, SIR trains will run on a weekend schedule, while on Friday, November 28th, trains will run on a regular weekday schedule.
According to John Gaul, Chief Officer of SIR, “This Get-A-Way service plan has proven to be extremely popular among our customers, and we will continue to find innovative ways to improve service.” The “Get-A-Way” service plan on SIR is also available on the Friday before Memorial Day weekend, the day before July 4th, the Friday before Labor Day, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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LIRR Tuesday P.M. Service Changes
The Long Island Rail Road just e-mailed a press release to announce P.N. service changes as they still try to cope with Sunday’s train derailment. Thankfully the service changes are on the lighter side so the railroad is inching closer to getting back to normal. Here are the complete details:
Most MTA Long Island Rail Road service will be restored by this evening’s rush hour, although customers are advised to anticipate schedule changes that include some delays and six canceled trains – fewer than yesterday’s PM rush hour. Most across-the-platform transfers will be available. However, customers should anticipate track changes this evening as ongoing repair work is performed to fix damage caused by Sunday’s derailment in Jamaica.
More than 200 LIRR employees have been working round-the-clock since Sunday to clear damaged cars from the track. Work has involved re-railing the three train cars that left the track west of Jamaica Station. The derailment caused damage to a 600-foot stretch of track, requiring replacement of more than 115 feet of running rail, 400 feet of third rail, 400 feet of third rail protection board, and repair to 6 switches and signal circuitry.
A 150-ton crane was used in the re-railing process. The re-railing in some instances involved an inch-by-inch precision move to ensure safety and avoid additional damage.
The last of the train cars, which was blocking three tracks, was re-railed around 11:15 PM Monday, but could not be safely moved until 3 AM Tuesday morning. Additional testing of the signal system is required before a full assessment of service can be made for Wednesday and Thanksgiving Day service. The LIRR will issue another update later today.
Tuesday PM Service Changes:
The Tuesday PM Rush service plan includes the cancellation of 6 of the 132 eastbound PM rush trains operated. Customers should anticipate delays and there will be track changes at Jamaica. LIRR station personnel will be available at Penn Station, Flatbush Avenue-Brooklyn, Jamaica and Woodside to assist customers with service information. The LIRR appreciates the patience and understanding of our customers.
Eastbound PM Peak Service train cancellations:
The following evening rush hour trains from Penn Station will be canceled.
• The 4:12 PM to Massapequa Park will be canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 4:21 PM train to Freeport, which will be extended to Massapequa Park.
• The 4:34 PM to Babylon will be canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 4:37 PM to Wantagh, which will be extended to Babylon
• The 4:57 PM to Wantagh will be canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 5:03 PM to Freeport, which will be extended to Wantagh.
• The 5:19 PM to Wantagh will be canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 5:24 PM to Freeport, which will be extended to Wantagh.
• The 5:40 PM to Seaford will be canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 5:47 PM to Freeport, which will be extended to Seaford.
• The 6:05 PM to Wantagh will be canceled. Customers will be accommodated by the 6:10 PM to Freeport, which will be extended to Wantagh.
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Service Updates:
The LIRR will continue to update this Service Advisory as track repairs are made. Customers should monitor news media reports and the LIRR’s website (at www.mta.info/lirr) for updates to this PM modified service plan. The LIRR would like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding during this period.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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