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Time To Play Guess The Wi-Fi Car!

Posted by
on April 10th, 2011 at 11:55 pm

Riders of the Metro-North’s New Haven line get ready to participate in the latest game show phenomenon, “Guess The Wi-Fi”. In this game, riders will pay their fares & hope behind that magical ticket & subsequent seat is wi-fi access on your commute!

According to a brief report in Sunday’s New York Post, the MTA has secretly equipped one car on the New Haven line with wi-fi. The car is not being revealed due to the agency phasing in the project which is not complete. Here is the Post’s brief report by Annie Karni:

All aboard the MTA’s mystery Internet train.

Computer-addicted commuters who ride the Metro-North to and from Grand Central could be surfing the Web during the ride — but they don’t even know it.

One car on the New Haven line has been secretly equipped with Wi-Fi, as part of a covert three-month pilot program the MTA has rolled out, The Post has learned.

The MTA isn’t telling commuters which car is connected because the system is “not ready for prime time,” spokeswoman Marjorie Anders said.

The train car has an outside antenna that receives a cellular signal from AT&T. Inside the car, a router converts cell service to Wi-Fi.

The MTA is currently reviewing three proposals to carry Wi-Fi throughout the Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road systems and to provide 32-inch digital screens in cars for advertising and real-time updates about schedules and delays.

Installing digital screens would cost up to $38,000 per car, according to an MTA request for proposals issued last March.

I wish I could be there to see the spectacle of people whipping out their devices to see if they are the lucky winners in getting wi-fi service. Eventually the car will be revealed online & then people will flock to the car like the sheep many are & feel like they accomplished something.

If you ask me, it is not a big deal. While wi-fi service is great to have on the railroad, thanks to Optimum Wi-Fi working on the LIRR, I find the agency has more pressing things to get accomplished. While it does not sound like the cost for this project is a lot, it does seem like a waste of resources during these economic times.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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0

LIRR Expects Normal AM Rush On 2 Branches

Posted by
on April 10th, 2011 at 11:43 pm

LIRR Track Cleanup
Track tie & scrap pickup from this weekend’s construction work.

On Thursday afternoon, I posted information on how buses were replacing LIRR trains between Freeport & Babylon due to the completion of a signal modernization project. Earlier this afternoon, the agency announced that they expect normal morning rush hour on both the Babylon & Montauk lines. Here is more courtesy of a press release I received:

MTA Long Island Rail Road customers should expect normal weekday service Monday on the Babylon and Montauk branches following the successful weekend testing of a new computerized signal and switch system. Normal weekend service is expected to resume after 10 pm this evening (Sunday) once final testing is complete

The testing and final cutover of the new signal operation at two critical switching areas in Amityville and Wantagh required a 42-hour suspension of train service over the weekend between Freeport and Babylon. Shuttle buses transported customers between those stations Saturday and today. The cutover project is scheduled for completion at 10 PM this evening. At that time, regular train service will resume. Buses will continue to transport customers between Freeport and Babylon until 10 PM.

The $23 million Amityville-Wantagh Signal Improvement Project replaced old-fashioned relay signal technology with the kind of computer-based system the LIRR has installed at Jamaica Station and other important switching points along its 700 miles of track. The new system is expected to improve service reliability for customers on the Babylon branch, the busiest of the LIRR’s 11 branches with an average weekday ridership of 64,390 customers. During the weekend service suspension, LIRR workers cleaned-up the right-of-way west of Babylon station, removing 62 tons of scrap metal, 500 old railroad ties and 32 cubic yards of other debris

xoxo Transit Blogger

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0

Service Diversions 04-07-11

Posted by
on April 7th, 2011 at 1:41 pm

I have just updated the Service Diversions page with the latest planned work for the upcoming weekend, next week, & beyond. As always, I suggest printing out a copy before heading to your destination. If you have an internet capable handheld device, use it to access Transit Blogger’s mobile site.

A reminder to LIRR riders of the Babylon & Montauk links, buses will replace trains between Freeport & Babylon due to the completion of a major signal modernization project. Click here for complete information.

The next update will be at 5:01 AM Monday when all weekend work will be removed. Have a safe & wonderful weekend.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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1

Buses Replace Trains Bet. Freeport & Babylon

Posted by
on April 7th, 2011 at 1:30 pm

A short time ago, the MTA Long Island Rail Road announced that shuttle buses will replace trains between Freeport & Babylon due to a major signal modernization project between Amityville and Wantagh. Here are the complete details courtesy of a press release I received:

Buses will replace trains between Freeport and Babylon on the weekend of April 9-10, as the MTA Long Island Rail Road completes work on a major signal modernization project between Amityville and Wantagh. The work will require a 42-hour suspension of train service starting at 4 AM on Saturday, April 9 and continuing through until 10 PM Sunday, April 10, on a 14-mile stretch of track between Freeport and Babylon. During that period, buses will shuttle Babylon Branch customers between Freeport and Babylon – a quick 25-minute bus ride along Sunrise Highway.

Nine eastbound and nine westbound Montauk Branch trains will operate normally, without bus service, using the LIRR’s Central Branch that connects between Babylon and the LIRR’s Main Line east of Bethpage. Customers on Speonk/Patchogue local trains will be provided with shuttle bus service for the portion of their trips between Freeport and Babylon. Montauk Branch customers can avoid this bus service by taking trains – which are specially highlighted in the April 9-10 weekend Montauk Branch timetable – that are not affected since those trains are not routed on the Babylon Branch.

To Avoid Busing – Use Unaffected Stations/Branches:

Babylon Branch customers who normally use stations between Babylon and Freeport can avoid the substitute bus service on the weekend of April 9-10 by taking LIRR train service to/from alternate stations such as Freeport, Hicksville, Farmingdale, and Bethpage, Wyandanch and Deer Park. LIRR train service at these stations will be operating normally on the weekend of April 9-10.

“This weekend busing for a portion of the Babylon Branch is needed as we complete another phase of our ongoing effort to modernize the LIRR’s signal system, which controls train traffic,” said LIRR President Helena Williams. “When this project is finalized, it will mean better service reliability for our customers on the Babylon Branch.”

Extra LIRR personnel will be on duty throughout the April 9-10 weekend to assist customers and to make sure the project is completed on time.

The Amityville-Wantagh Signal Improvement Project brings state-of-the-art technology to these two important switching locations on the LIRR’s Babylon Branch by upgrading the current signal technology with a modern microprocessor based system. The new system will increase service reliability for trains on the LIRR’s busiest branch, helping to reduce customer delays. The LIRR serves over 64,000 daily customers on the Babylon Branch. The cost of the project is approximately $23 million. Funding is provided by the MTA LIRR Capital Improvement Program.

Detail on Service Impact on Babylon/Montauk Branches:

Babylon Branch:

Eastbound Babylon Branch: Customers will have regularly scheduled weekend train service to Freeport. Those traveling further east will transfer at Freeport Station to shuttle buses for service to stations Merrick through Babylon. Eastbound customers should anticipate increased travel time of up to 25 minutes.

Westbound Babylon Branch: Customers will board shuttle buses at stations Babylon through Merrick to Freeport where connections to regular train service will be available to points west. Westbound customers will depart their stations up to 25 minutes earlier than normal.

—

Montauk Branch:

Eastbound Montauk Branch: Customers looking to avoid the substitute bus service between Freeport and Babylon can take one of the nine highlighted eastbound trains in the special April 9-10 Montauk Branch Timetable. These trains will be routed on a connecting track that runs east of Bethpage on the Main Line to Babylon and then continues on the Montauk Branch for points east.

Some other eastbound Montauk Branch trains to Patchogue and Speonk will originate at Babylon and will have connections from Babylon Branch trains departing western terminals 30 minutes earlier than regular and will require a transfer to an express bus for service between Freeport and Babylon.

Westbound Montauk Branch: Customers looking to avoid the substitute bus service between Freeport and Babylon can take one of the nine highlighted westbound trains in the special April 9-10 Montauk Branch Timetable. These trains will be routed on a connecting track that runs between Babylon and the LIRR’s Main Line east of Bethpage for points west.

Some other westbound Montauk Branch trains from Speonk and Patchogue will terminate at Babylon, where customers will transfer to buses for stations Lindenhurst through Freeport. Connections to train service will be available at Freeport for customers traveling to points further west.

—

Alternate Stations to Avoid Bus Service between Freeport & Babylon:

Babylon Branch:

For Babylon Branch customers who wish to avoid busing between Freeport and Babylon during the weekend of April 9-10, the LIRR recommends driving to alternate LIRR stations where train service will operate normally. Here are some possible alternatives:

Merrick and Bellmore customers are advised to drive to the Freeport Station for direct train service to New York. There is adequate weekend parking and no weekend parking fees or restrictions. These stations are all in Fare Zone 7.

Wantagh, Seaford, Massapequa and Massapequa Park customers are advised to use LIRR train service to/from Hicksville Station. Parking is available and restrictions are waived on weekends. These stations are all in Fare Zone 7.

Amityville, Copiague, and Lindenhurst (Fare Zone 9) customers may wish to drive to Wyandanch (Fare Zone 9) or Farmingdale (Fare Zone 7) for direct train service. Parking is available and restrictions are waived on weekends.

Babylon customers are advised to use LIRR train service to/from Deer Park Station (Fare Zone 9), where weekend parking is available with no restrictions or fees.

—

Montauk Branch:

For Montauk Branch customers who are not able to use any of the 9 Montauk Branch trains in each direction that operate through the Central Branch without busing and wish to avoid the busing between Freeport and Babylon during the weekend of April 9-10, we recommend driving to alternate LIRR stations where train service will operate normally. Here are some possible alternatives:

Bay Shore customers are advised to use LIRR train service to/from Deer Park Station (Fare Zone 9), where weekend parking is available with no restrictions or fees.

Customers at stations Islip through Speonk may wish to consider driving to Brentwood, Central Islip or Ronkonkoma (Fare Zone 10), where there’s plenty of free weekend parking, with no residency requirements.

Mets Fans:

To avoid busing on the weekend of April 9-10, use unaffected stations, including stations on the Port Washington, Port Jefferson or Ronkonkoma Branches.

Click here for a travel alternative grid map for this project.

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0

MTA Officially Starts Help Point Pilot

Posted by
on April 5th, 2011 at 7:58 pm

Last September, the MTA introduced a piece of equipment aimed at helping subway riders. The piece of equipment was a prototype for the “Help Point” communication system.

The agency started a pilot program for the “Help Point” which was to be installed at 23rd Street & Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall on the Lexington Ave lines.

Fast forward to today where the agency officially announced the beginning of the working pilot. Here is more information courtesy of the press release sent to me earlier:

MTA New York City Transit’s new Help Point station communications system has begunmpilot testing at two Manhattan subway stations along the Lexington Avenue Line.

Designed to be both highly visible and easy-to use, these instant communications devices offer immediate access to assistance and information with the touch of a button.

For the first time, customers on the platform level of subway stations will have immediate access to the station booth and personnel at the Rail Control Center. Units will be positioned and spaced for easy access and high visibility. Created specifically for the subway environment, the Help Point is designed to be an easily recognizable communications tool for customers who need to either report an emergency or ask for travel directions.

The units will be easy to spot with a bright blue beacon light that will pulse when the unit is in action. This feature will help alert first responders in case there is an injured or sick customer at that location.

The pilot is being conducted at the 23rd Street and Brooklyn Bridge Stations on the Lexington Avenue Line and will serve to determine not only the usefulness of the units but also to evaluate which system of installation, wireless or hard-wired systems, is best.

Nine Help Points will be installed at 23rd Street and another 10 at the Brooklyn Bridge station. “These Help Points will make our subway system safer and easier to use, expanding access to assistance throughout stations in a way that wasn’t possible before,” MTA Chairman & CEO Jay H. Walder said. “This is just another step in our efforts to bring
new technology to customers in ways that make using the transit system better every day.”

Each Help Point will be individually addressable, so that in the case of an emergency, personnel at the Rail Control Center will be able to pinpoint exactly where in the station the call originated. Not only will the new Help Point units improve response times, but the digital audio will provide much clearer sound than is available from the customer assistance intercoms used in subways now.

“These units have a fresh new appearance that will make the Help Points easy to identify. The sound will be crisp, clear and easy to understand which is an important feature especially in the subway environment,” said NYC Transit President Thomas F. Prendergast. “As designed, the Help Points are major step beyond the Customer Assistance Intercoms now in our stations.”

The control panel contains a red emergency button and a green information button along with a speaker and microphone. Emergency calls are routed to the subway Rail Control Center while information calls are sent to the station agent.

Of course, the design of the unit, conceived in 2006, was an important part of the Help Point initiative and the goal was to create a unit that would be attractive, eye-pleasing and carry on the stainless-steel theme introduced by our new technology subway cars, turnstiles and fare media vending equipment. That goal was met by Antenna Design which created a modular design which can be easily installed either on a wall or station column. Easy to use, the Help Point is ADA compliant, vandal resistant and easy to maintain. The unit’s design has won it a place in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

If the pilot goes well, the plan calls for the installation of the Help Points in all of the system’s 468 subway stations, replacing the CAI units.

As I noted back in September, this is a positive technological step for an agency long known for being behind the times. I sincerely hope the pilot goes well. I also hope that vandals do not destroy these machines. History as shown that nice things do not last long in the subway system. However considering where they are being installed at, they have a chance of lasting.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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