0

MTA Identifies Bus Driver Killed Today

Posted by
on February 12th, 2014 at 5:12 pm

Unfortunately tragedy struck the ranks of the MTA today as a NYC Transit bus driver was killed when his bus was struck by a stolen truck. Here is more:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has identified the bus operator killed this morning when his bus was struck by a stolen truck at the corner of 14th Street and Seventh Avenue in Manhattan.

William Pena, 49, of Hillside, N.J., a 17-year veteran of MTA New York City Transit, was driving articulated bus 5299 east on route M14D when he was struck. He was pronounced dead at the scene soon after the collision, which is under investigation by the NYPD and the Manhattan District Attorney.

“The entire MTA mourns the tragic loss of Mr. Pena, especially his colleagues at the Michael J. Quill Bus Depot in Manhattan,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Pena’s family, and we are working closely with law enforcement to ensure the perpetrator of this crime is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The safety of our customers and our employees remains our most important priority.”

Mr. Pena was the first MTA bus operator killed in a collision in more than 14 years. He is survived by his wife and his teenaged daughter.

Let me first offer my deepest condolences to the family & friends of Mr. William Pena. It is always hard to deal with the loss of a MTA employee, especially one who lost their life just doing their job.

I hope the person responsible for this death is punished to & beyond the fullest extent of the law as anything less would be an injustice to the William & his loved ones.

Once again R.I.P. William Pena!

xoxo Transit Blogger

You might enjoy reading these related entries:
Death
0

MTA Presidents’ Day 2014 Service Plan

Posted by
on February 12th, 2014 at 5:06 pm

With Presidents’ Day 2014 a few short days away, the MTA has released their service plan info. Here is the scoop:

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) trains and buses will operate on special schedules in observance of Presidents’ Day on Monday.

New York City Subways and Buses:

On Presidents’ Day, Monday, February 17, New York City subways and buses will operate on a Saturday schedule with some planned service changes:

• 4 trains are not running. Customer can use 5 service in Brooklyn and Manhattan and D service and shuttle buses in the Bronx.

• The 5 train is extended to Utica Av/New Lots Av replacing 4 service.

• 7 weekend work is extended through Monday; 7 trains operate only between Times Square and Mets-Willets Point.

• A weekend work is extended through Monday; A trains operate in two sections – 207 St to Jay St-MetroTech and Utica Av to Lefferts Blvd/Far Rockaway. Shuttle buses between Jay St-MetroTech and Utica Av.

• Other weekend track work diversions will extend through Monday. Details will be posted at www.mta.info.

As a reminder, on a Saturday schedule, these subway changes are in place:

• There is no express service on the 6 or 7

• The B train does not operate; use the A, C, D or Q instead.

• M trains operate only between Myrtle Avenue (Broadway), Brooklyn, and Metropolitan Avenue, Queens.

• The Z train does not operate; use the J, which runs between Jamaica Center and Chambers Street.

Long Island Rail Road:

On Presidents’ Day, Monday, February 17, MTA Long Island Rail Road will operate on a holiday schedule with one extra westbound morning train being added on the Ronkonkoma Branch. The train will depart from Ronkonkoma 7:10 a.m. and make all local stops to Hicksville, then stop at Jamaica and Woodside before arriving at Penn Station at 8:28 a.m.

Because trains will operate on a holiday schedule, there will be no service on the West Hempstead Branch, nor east of Ronkonkoma. Off peak fares will be in effect all day.

Regularly scheduled eastbound and westbound trains will have added cars to accommodate additional passengers.

Metro-North Railroad:

On Presidents’ Day, Monday, February 17, MTA Metro-North Railroad will operate on a Saturday schedule. Hudson Rail Link, the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry and the Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry, will not operate. The north end exits to Grand Central at 46th-48th Streets will be closed.

Staten Island Railway:

On Presidents’ Day, Monday, February 17, MTA Staten Island Railway will operate on a Sunday schedule. There will be no early Get Away schedule for the Friday before the holiday weekend.

MTA Bridges and Tunnels:

On Friday, February 14, MTA Bridges and Tunnels will suspend all routine construction at 1 p.m. to ease travel for motorists who may be heading home early in anticipation of the three-day holiday weekend.

xoxo Transit Blogger

You might enjoy reading these related entries:
Service Alerts
0

Service Diversions 02-07-14

Posted by
on February 7th, 2014 at 5:02 pm

Get a head start on your weekend plans as I have just updated the Service Diversions.

Make sure to follow @TransitBlogger on Twitter by clicking the button in the sidebar as I am using it more often. Also if you are into indie music make sure to follow @IndMusicReview & @SurgeFM!

Have a safe & wonderful weekend!

xoxo Transit Blogger

You might enjoy reading these related entries:
Service Diversions
0

Service Diversions 01-30-14

Posted by
on January 30th, 2014 at 3:31 pm

Get a head start on your weekend plans as I have just updated the Service Diversions.

Make sure to follow @TransitBlogger on Twitter by clicking the button in the sidebar as I am using it more often. Also if you are into indie music make sure to follow @IndMusicReview & @SurgeFM!

Have a safe & wonderful weekend!

xoxo Transit Blogger

You might enjoy reading these related entries:
Service Diversions
1

LIRR Ridership Rises 2% In 2013

Posted by
on January 27th, 2014 at 2:00 pm

In more railroad ridership news, the Long Island Rail Road saw a 2% increase in ridership in 2013. Here is more:

A surge in train travel over the last three months of 2013 helped boost MTA Long Island Rail Road’s ridership for the second year in a row with the LIRR recording a 2% jump in passenger rides over 2012 totals.

The LIRR carried 83.4 million riders in 2013, an increase of 1,640,716 passengers over the previous year. The 2 percent increase is another indication that the region’s economy is improving and that LIRR customers responded to the restoration of some service that had been cut during the Great Recession.

“We are seeing an increase in both commuters going to work and occasional riders,” said LIRR President Helena E. Williams. “We had the opportunity to add back some service in 2013 and we are pleased that riders are responding by using the LIRR more often to get to work as well as for leisure and other travel during the off peak periods. We believe the increase in ridership also reflects an improving Long Island and NYC economy.”

The LIRR’s 2013 ridership is the 7th best year in the post-war period. The LIRR carried 87.4 million passengers in 2008, its best year at the time in 60 years.

The LIRR branches with notable increases in 2013 include: Port Washington with a 3.0% increase or 351,294 rides; Port Jefferson with a 2.7% increase or 471,942 rides; Far Rockaway with a 2.6% increase or 139,808 rides; Ronkonkoma with a 2.4 increase or 228,366 rides; and Montauk with a 2.8 percent increase or 57,525 rides. Long Beach, which is still recovering from Superstorm Sandy, experienced a decline (0.8%).

Significantly, the LIRR experienced a nearly 3 percent jump in weekly and monthly passenger rides last year (commutation ridership).

The LIRR last year took a number of steps that helped boost weekend and leisure travel, including an enhanced service plan to meet new demand created by the opening of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, located directly across from the LIRR’s Atlantic Terminal.

In the summer, the LIRR made adjustments to the Montauk schedule, including moving the departure of the Friday afternoon Cannonball express train to Penn Station from Hunterspoint Avenue. In November, the LIRR restored half-hourly weekend service on the Port Washington Branch. The Railroad also added trains to and from Farmingdale on its weekday schedule on the Ronkonkoma Branch and extended weekend service to and from Greenport by approximately 10 weeks, providing service into November.

I’ll be frank, the 2% increase in ridership just equates to more victims of the overpriced LIRR which I try to avoid riding at all costs!

xoxo Transit Blogger

You might enjoy reading these related entries:
LIRR