Time To Speak Up!
Yesterday the MTA issued a press release which is of great interest to drivers & straphangers all over the tri-state area. The press was to announce the 8 scheduled public hearings in regards to the proposed fare & toll hikes. The hearings will take place in all 5 boroughs along with Nassau, Rockland, & Westchester counties respectively. Here is the schedule for those hearings:
- Monday, November 5, 2007, 6 p.m.
Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge
Grand Ballroom
333 Adams Street, Brooklyn
- Monday, November 5, 2007, 6 p.m.
Palisades Center
Raso Community Room, 4th floor
1000 Palisades Center Drive, West Nyack
- Wednesday, November 7, 2007, 6 p.m.
Farmingdale State College
Roosevelt Hall – Little Theater
2350 Broadhollow Road, Farmingdale
- Wednesday, November 7, 2007, 6 p.m.
Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel
Ballroom
135-20 39th Avenue, Flushing, Queens
- Thursday, November 8, 2007, 6 p.m.
Westchester County Center
East Wing, 1st floor
198 Central Avenue, White Plains
- Thursday, November 8, 2007, 6 p.m.
Hotel Pennsylvania
Ball Room, 2nd floor
401 7 Avenue (West 32 and West 33 Streets), Manhattan
- Tuesday, November 13, 2007, 6 p.m.
Michael J. Petrides Educational Complex
Auditorium, Building C
715 Ocean Terrance, Staten Island
- Tuesday, November 13, 2007, 6 p.m.
Lehman College
Speech and Theater Building
Lovinger Theatre, 1st floor
250 Bedford Park Boulevard, Bronx
For the first time ever, the MTA has scheduled a public engagement workshop to discuss the fare & toll hikes along with their vision for the next 5 – 10 years. There also plans to hold an online workshop to discuss the same issues.
Ever since the fare hike was discussed, many fellow bloggers & straphangers have shared their strong opinion for & against the proposed fare & toll hikes. I am hoping the same passion that was displayed on blogs & in print about these issues translates into a big attendance at all of these public hearings. While one could argue these hearings are nothing more than MTA grandstanding, it is not an excuse to stay quiet. How can anyone expect change if they are just going to make initial statements & not follow up on them? The answer is they can not & this is a time to show our strength in numbers!
You might enjoy reading these related entries:- Public Hearing Reminder
- MTA Will Hold 8 Public Hearings
- Local Politicians Hold Press Conference Before Fare Hike Hearing
- Ravitch Commission Hearings Scheduled
- MTA Faces Backlash At First Public Hearing (West Nyack Version)
B & E Train You’re Up & Speaking Of The E……
Sorry for the lack of entries the last few days. I’ve been extremely busy with a few pieces of business. Within the last couple of days, the MTA has updated its rider report card graphic to show 2 new lines that are up for grading. The latest lines added to the graphic are the B & E trains.
Speaking of the E train, I exchanged a couple of e-mails with my sister while she was at work. She happened to bring up the E train & its lack of air conditioned cars. This is not a new complaint from her as she has brought up this issue throughout the summer. It seems she comes across at least one car without a working air conditioning unit 2-3 times a week.
The issue seems to be well known amongst E riders. As she exited the train at Forest Hills-71st Avenue to transfer to the R train, an elderly couple asked her if the car had a working air conditioning unit. I replied to her e-mail & mentioned that the E train was up for grading for its 2007 Rider Report Card. I suggested that she fill out the card online & let her feelings be known.
I am happy to report that she filled out & submitted her card online yesterday afternoon. Unfortunately for the MTA, her grades would not be considered positive. From my understanding her grades mostly consisted of C’s, D’s, & F’s. As one would assume, she gave an F for “Comfortable temperature in subway cars”. Her overall grade was a D.
Lets hope many more people will fill out the report card this time around!
You might enjoy reading these related entries:- 5 & M Train You’re Up
- D Train You’re Up
- 2, 3 & S Train’s You’re Up!
- M Train Rider Report Card Breakdown
- Running Out Of Ways To Say This….
R Train Service Alert
The MTA has posted a service alert regarding the R train. The service alert states:
Due to signal problems at the 5th Avenue/59th Street Station, selected Bay Ridge-bound 
line from the 36th Street Station to the 57th Street Station.
Please expect delays in service on the 
and trains at this time.
- C & E Train Service Alert
- J Train Service Alert
- F Train Service Alert
- C Train Service Alert
- 7 Train Service Alert
Horrific Bus Crash In Cuba Kills 28 & Injures Many More!
This morning’s edition of AMNY had a horrific story about 28 people who died in Cuba. The 28 deaths were the result of a bus colliding with a train in eastern Cuba. Unfortunately the horror did not end there as along with the 28 deaths, there were 73 individuals known to be injured. 15 of those injured are listed as being in critical condition.
The accident occurred during the middle of Saturday in the small town of Veguita which is located in the province of Gramma. Gramma is located approximately 500 miles east from Havana. The accident occurred at a railroad crossing near a bridge. A train traveling from Santiago to Manzanillo collided with a bus traveling from Bayamo to Campechuela. On impact, the train dragged the bus towards the bridge where the bus eventually fell over.
On a side note, how sad is it that Cuba’s state media barely provided any details of the incident. Gramma’s local digital newspaper La Demajagua did not even carry the story. It seems what little is known about the accident came from The Communist Youth newspaper called Juventud Rebelde which carried a short story about the accident.
You might enjoy reading these related entries:- Bus Accident In Midtown
- Car Crashes Into Bus Shelter
- MTA Issues Statement On D.C. Metro Accident
- Elderly Woman Hit By Q65 Bus
- 4 Commuters Hurt In Minor LIRR Accident
Police Officer Annmarie Marchiondo Leaves Bronx Hospital
Earlier this month, I blogged about a wild shootout in the Bronx that put Officer Ann Marchiondo in the hospital. Well there is good news to report as Officer Marchiondo was released from the hospital yesterday which ended her 28 day stay at New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases.
Officer Marchiondo was greeted by loud applauses & bagpipes as she was wheeled out of the hospital. She was surrounded by her husband & parents when she showcased a huge grin. As she was being wheeled out, she started to tear up & mouthed the words “thank you” to all the officers who were there to support her. She shared a few comments before leaving:
“I just want to thank everybody. I feel great. Thank you.”
Fellow officers who were either at the scene or worked in the same department shared in the joyous event yesterday. Officer Carlos Henriquez, commented on his fellow officer by saying he visted “on almost a daily basis. I just wanted her to feel that somebody cared.” Officer Diana Lugo who was responsible for killing the gunmen Juan Calves said; “It’s touching, the support and camaraderie. It’s a beautiful sight. She’s in good health and she’s going home.”
I am glad this story had such a happy ending! I wish Officer Marchiondo continued success on her recovery & good luck in the future!
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