J, M, & Z Service Alert
The MTA has posted a service alert regarding the J, M, & Z trains. The service alert reads:
You might enjoy reading these related entries:Due to a police investigation at the Bowery Station, Jamaica-bound
,
and Metropolitan Avenue-bound
trains are running express between the Chambers Street Station and the Essex Street Station.
Stations being bypassed are: Canal Street and Bowery.
As an alternate, customers are advised to take the Broad Street-bound
Please expect delays in service on the
- A & C Train Service Alert
- C & E Train Service Alert
- Fastrack Comes To The J
- C Train Service Alert
- 5 & 6 Train Service Alert
Subways Catching Up With The Times…
I was browsing AMNY’s website & saw a headline about the subway system & cell phones. It seems that plans to enable working cell phone service in every station is moving forward. Here is the article courtesy of AMNY:
After two years of talk, plans for cell phone and WiFi-accessible subways stations are rolling forward, an encouraging message for some straphangers but a troubling one for others who wonder if platforms will become one loud phone booth.
New York City Transit announced Wednesday an agreement with a consortium, Transit Wireless, to wire six stations in the next two years, pending MTA board approval next week. If the company’s work rings true with transit, the firm will fit the remaining 271 underground stations over four years. The tunnels, however, will not be wired.
“I think it’ll be very useful. I’ve had so many problems when I’ve been stuck on a train and have 20 minutes to get somewhere, and I can’t call to say I’m late,” said high schooler Parul Aggarwal, 17.
The consortium will pay $46 million to wire the system, and transit will pay nothing. The consortium must strike a deal with a carrier, which has not been selected.
Keeping in touch underground is one reason for wired-up platforms, but the initiative could help in a transit meltdown like last month’s.
The agency was widely criticized for poor communication with passengers about the system-wide, storm-related service outage. A recommendation in an MTA report the governor ordered afterward calls for the agency to better communicate with straphangers about service problems. That report will be released by the agency today.
A spokesman would not say if text messaged service alerts will be among the recommendations.
“Obviously, communications is an area where we underperformed on August 8, and providing cell service on platforms will allow customers access to phones and PDAs so they can let people know they’re stuck or find information from other sources, such as the MTA Web site,” spokesman Jeremy Soffin said. “In emergencies, cell phones could also be used to communicate with first responders.”
That’s what pay phones are for, said some straphangers waiting for the No. 7 train yesterday. Others said transit has a phone-free solution to better communication — clear and helpful announcements over PA systems.
Riders on the elevated No. 7 line know what chatty platforms and trains are like. Some say cell phone talkers are mere background noise, but others said conversations get too loud, hampering the commute.
“I think it’s going to be more stressful, especially in the morning when you’re just trying to get with it,” said Ellie Rodriguez, a teacher who commutes to Manhattan from Flushing. “People don’t have a concept of manners or rudeness when it comes to cell phones.”
The Straphangers Campaign has polled its members, who mostly support wiring stations but are mixed on offering service in tunnels.
“In a station you’re not a captive like you are in a subway car,” Straphangers spokesman Gene Russianoff said. “You can walk away.”
All I can is about time! Now only if they could work in subway tunnels as well! I admit that is asking for too much & is not exactly necessary.
I am hoping that Sprint gets the contract to handle this project!
You might enjoy reading these related entries:- Cell Phone Service Might Extend Into Tunnels…..
- Metro North Tunnels To Get Cell Phone Service?
- MTA Set To Score Big
- Comic Relief For Today!
- MTA & Transit Wireless To Try Again
7 Train Service Alert
The MTA has just posted a service alert regarding the 7 train. The service alert reads:
Due to a train with mechanical problems at the 5th Avenue Station, there is no
train service in both directions between the Hunters Point Avenue Station and the Times Square-42nd Street Station.
Please expect delays in service on the
The good news is the service alert contains no errors! The bad news, well you know…..
You might enjoy reading these related entries:- 1 Train Service Alert
- 4 & 5 Train Service Alert
- F Train Service Alert
- 6 Train Service Alert
- A Train Service Alert
Question Of The Week 09-17-07 – 09/23/07
I have updated the “Question Of The Week” section on Eye On Transit. The update includes last week’s poll results, update of the archives page, & most importantly this week’s question. This week’s question focuses on a topic I recently blogged about here.
As usual the voting ends on Sunday at 11:59 p.m. EST so get your vote in now! To cast your vote go here!
You might enjoy reading these related entries:- Question Of The Week 09-24-07 – 09-30-07
- Question Of The Week 10-01-07 – 10-07-07
- Question Of The Week 09-10-07 – 09/16/07
- Question Of The Week 10-07-07 – 10-14-07
- Question Of The Week 10/15/07 – 10/21/07
More Safety Lapses……
Well it seems that a lot more work is to be done in regards to improving track worker safety. According to an article on the Daily News’ website, three workers were almost run over by a train in Astoria. The incident took place on September 6th but it is now becoming public knowledge. Here is the article about the incident courtesy of the NY Daily News:
A subway supervisor and two track workers were nearly run over by a subway train rumbling past a stop signal in Queens, the Daily News has learned.
NYC Transit said yesterday it is investigating the Sept. 6 near miss in Astoria, which came after two veteran track workers were killed in separate incidents this year.
“We are taking this very seriously,” said NYC Transit spokesman Charles Seaton.
The workers in the train’s path were able to get out of the way, according to their report of the incident. But they said the supervisor froze in place as the train neared.
“I looked directly at the train flying through [the signal] and breaking the red flag,” one of the workers recalled in a report obtained by The News. “I thought we were about to be killed by this train.”
Luckily, the train was halted by a safety device called a tripper, which activated the train’s emergency brakes.
“If the the tripper did not work [the supervisor] would have been cut in half right in front of me,” the worker said. “He never moved an inch during this whole scenario.”
According to the trackman, the train came to a stop about 75 feet in front of the supervisor. Other transit sources said it was closer to 100 feet.
Both track workers said the supervisor joined his men in doing manual labor and allegedly was distracted.
“The supervisor was not supervising. He was working and not in tune with keeping us safe,” the second worker wrote in his report of the incident.
After the deaths in April of subway workers Daniel Boggs and Marvin Franklin within days of each other, NYC Transit President Howard Roberts temporarily halted nonessential track work and enacted some new safety regulations and procedures.
“The MTA has long had an anti-safety culture,” Transport Workers Union President Roger Toussaint said. “The new leadership is trying to fix that, but it’s clearly going to take some time.”
Lets just say some heads will be rolling once this situation is taken care of. Who knows how many workers are going to face some major punishment. Thankfully the portable tripper was in place to prevent what would have been sure deaths. I can only imagine how much trouble the T.O. will be in as he/she committed one of the most serious offenses possible, running past a red flag or lantern.
Here is a link to an interesting thread on Subchat that will break down the incident more. I’m sure the thread will have a bunch of responses in the next few days.
You might enjoy reading these related entries:
