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NYCT Announces 2016 1st Q FASTRACK Schedule

Posted by
on January 14th, 2016 at 4:41 pm

MTA NYC Transit has announced the FASTRACK schedule for the first quarter of 2016. Here are the details via the official press release:

MTA New York City Transit’s FASTRACK program is returning in January 2016. For the first time, this comprehensive subway maintenance program is coming to the 2 line in Brooklyn for two consecutive weeks. Beginning Tuesday, January 19, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., for four consecutive weeknights, and from Monday, January 25, to early morning Friday, January 29, 2 trains are suspended in both directions between Franklin Av and Flatbush Av-Brooklyn College. 3 service will end earlier than usual each night in Brooklyn. Take 2 or 4 trains instead. 2 service will operate between Wakefield-241 St and the Crown Hts-Utica Av 4 station in Brooklyn. Free shuttle buses provide alternate service.

Travel alternatives:

• For service between Franklin Av and Flatbush Av-Brooklyn College, take free shuttle buses. Transfer between free shuttle buses and 23 trains at the Franklin Av station.

• 2 trains make all 3 line station stops between Chambers St and Crown Hts-Utica Av.

• 4 trains make all 3 line station stops between Nevins St and New Lots Av. 4 train service to New Lots Av will begin earlier than usual each night.

• Transfer between 2 and 4 trains at Crown Hts-Utica Av.

• Consider using Q trains to/from nearby stations in Flatbush.

FASTRACK has been designed around the careful determination that there is adequate alternate means of transportation, including enhanced services along some bus lines during work periods. Alternative transportation options will be detailed in announcements and posters on trains, in stations and on selected buses; brochures will be available in both English and Spanish. Information on this FASTRACK is available on the web at http://web.mta.info/nyct/service/fastrack_2.htm

Wynton Habersham, Acting Senior Vice President for the Department of Subways said “FASTRACK has proven to have a significant impact on decreasing delays – both in terms of consolidating maintenance forces in a concentrated area and in terms of proactive maintenance that improves service delivery.”

FASTRACK was introduced in January 2012, devoting four straight weeknights to perform maintenance work in tunnels, stations and on tracks, completely suspending service within a given line segment for a seven-hour period between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.. This gives free access to the system, allowing an army of maintenance workers to perform dozens of tasks repairing and replacing components that are vital to providing safe and reliable train service without the concern of having to “clear up” to allow trains to pass. FASTRACK efforts have been highly successful in providing a safer work environment for employees and improved station conditions for customers.

During the first quarter of 2016, FASTRACK projects are scheduled for:

• January 19 to 22, and January 25 to 29 on the 2 Line. No 2 trains between Franklin Av and Flatbush Av-Brooklyn College in both directions.

• February 16 to 19, and February 22 to 26 on the 456 Lines. No 456 trains between Grand Central-42 St and Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr in both directions.

• March 7 to 11, and March 14 to 18 on the BDFM Lines. BDFM trains will not stop at 14 St, 23 St, 34 St, 42 St, 47-50 Sts, and 57 St. D and F trains will be rerouted on the A line.

• March 28 to April 1, and April 4 to 8 on the 1 Line. No 1 trains between 96 St and Dyckman St.

• April 11 to 15, and April 25 to 29 on the 23 Lines. No 2 trains between 3 Av-149 St and 96 St. 3 service is suspended.

The most up-to-date information on MTA service status is always available at http://www.mta.info. For immediate notice of service changes, sign up for email or text alerts at www.mymtaalerts.com. For weekend subway service changes, visit www.mta.info/weekender.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Renovations To Start At 9 N Line Stations

Posted by
on January 14th, 2016 at 4:35 pm

Just a short time ago, MTA NYC Transit announced that major renovations will start at 9 N Train stations as of this coming Monday. Here is more via the official press release:

Beginning Monday, January 18, MTA New York City Transit will begin performing major renovations to nine stations along the Sea Beach N Line from 8 Av in Sunset Park to 86 St in Bensonhurst. The stations are: 8 Av, Fort Hamilton Pkwy, New Utrecht Av, 18 Av, 20 Av, Bay Pkwy, Kings Hwy, Avenue U and 86 St.

For these stations, originally opened in 1915, renovations will include improved platforms and overpasses, new stairways and handrails, repairs to canopies and columns, painting and the rehabilitation of historic head house station entrances and fare control areas, enhanced safety features, and upgraded communication systems which will create better travel conditions for our customers. Work will also take place between stations with repairs to retaining walls along the right of way.

The $395.7 million contract to renovate the N stations was funded under the 2010-2014 Capital Program. While the contract for these nine stations pre-dates Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s recently announced plan for rapid redesign and renewal of an additional 30 subway stations, the MTA will work with the contractors involved to push for greater efficiency in the renovation process.

“Once these renovations are complete, customers will be greeted by modern amenities including new lighting, Help Point Intercoms, and station artwork that will greatly improve their trips along the Sea Beach Line,” said Wynton Habersham, Acting Senior Vice President of the Department of Subways. “We appreciate our customers’ patience while we complete this important project, and regret the inconvenience this work may cause. In order to ensure that our customers are well-informed of these station closures and alternative travel options, notices will be posted in stations and on trains, and announcements will be made on all N trains.”

Two stations will be made Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible under this renewal. Two ADA-compliant ramps will be added to the 8 Av station, and four elevators will be installed at the New Utrecht Av station to bring riders from street level to connect to N and D trains.

In order to perform this renewal work at these subway stations, access to the tracks is necessary. Therefore, the work will be completed in two phases. The Manhattan-bound platforms at all nine stations will be the first to close for rehabilitation starting January 18, and continuing for 14 months. Once the Manhattan-bound work is complete, the work on the Coney Island-bound side will begin with a similar service plan that involves back riding with customers using temporary platforms at the 8 Av and Bay Pkwy stations. In addition to back riding, customers may also choose to ride the D or F train to Manhattan.

To access the Fort Hamilton Pkwy, New Utrecht Av, 18th Av, 20 Av, Kings Hwy, Avenue U, and 86 St stations while platforms are under construction, customers will need to back ride using temporary platforms at the 8 Av and Bay Pkwy stations.

Travel alternatives:

• For service from 86th St, Avenue U, Kings Hwy, 20 Av, 18th Av, New Utrecht Av, and Fort Hamilton Pkwy stations, take a Coney Island-bound N to Bay Pkwy or Stillwell Av and transfer to a Manhattan-bound N train.

• For service to 86th St, Avenue U, Kings Hwy, 20 Av, 18 Av, New Utrecht Av, and Fort Hamilton Pkwy stations, take the Manhattan-bound N train to Bay Pkwy or 8 Av and transfer to a Coney-Island bound N train.

• For service to/from New Utrecht Av, customers can also take the D train.

The two contractors working on this project are John P. Picone, Inc. which will rehabilitate the six stations between 8 Av and Bay Pkwy, and Skanska USA, responsible for the rehabilitation of Kings Hwy, Avenue U and 86 St. The entire project is expected to take approximately four years to complete.

Preliminary preparation work began in April 2015 on various elements of the project, including renovation work on archways, construction of temporary platforms at 8 Av and Bay Pkwy, pruning trees from along the tracks and the renovation of unstaffed control areas.

Service notices will also be posted on the MTA website, www.mta.info. Brochures explaining the station closures and outlining alternative service will be given to customers at subway stations before January 18.

Customers may log on to www.mta.info and click on Planned Service Changes for the most up-to-date information. Remember that TripPlanner+ provides travel information that takes all service diversions into account. In addition, customers can receive customized alerts via e-mail or text message by signing up here: http://www.mymtaalerts.com.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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No L Service Btw Man & BK For Years?

Posted by
on January 13th, 2016 at 5:18 pm

This is the very realistic question being wondered by many riders as the MTA is still feeling the wrath of Hurricane Sandy in terms of system conditions.

Much like the R Train train’s Montauge Tube, the L Train train’s Canarsie Tube was damaged by saltwater flooding. At first estimates, it would take nearly 3 years to complete the work.

Here is more via a story by Christopher Robbins in Gothamist:

Governor Cuomo’s announcement last week that 30 subway stations would be completely closed for months at a time in order to properly “revamp” them was greeted with groans by riders. But a disruption of epic proportions potentially looms for New Yorkers who rely on the L train to get in and out of Manhattan.

Like the R train’s Montague Tube, the L train’s Canarsie Tube was flooded with saltwater and severely damaged during Hurricane Sandy. The Montague Tube was shut down and repaired in 13 months—one month and $58 million under budget—while riders found other ways to get to work.

The project to repair the Canarsie Tube is projected to take three years, and the MTA is considering shutting down service between Manhattan and Brooklyn entirely to get it done, according to MTA sources familiar with the initiative. In this scenario, Manhattan-bound L service would terminate at Bedford Avenue, the line’s busiest station.

More than 300,000 New Yorkers ride the L train on an average weekday. When the Montague Tube was damaged by Hurricane Sandy it had 65,000 daily riders.

Another option being weighed is to keep one of the two tunnels open while repairing the other—there are separate Manhattan-bound and Brooklyn-bound tunnels—leaving room for limited service.

“If one tunnel is down, how bad will the L train be in the mornings just going one way?” one source says. “It’ll be packed beyond belief. It’ll be a fight. Is that the smartest way to do it if it’s going to be the difference of a year? I don’t know.”

Click here for the complete report.

If the MTA goes the full suspension route, I know many riders & elected officials will jump down the throat of the agency & how it is screwing people over, etc… but the repairs need to be made. Yes, it will be tough to deal with & a major inconvenience but that is how it has to be sometimes.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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NYC Transit MLK 2016 Service Plan Info

Posted by
on January 12th, 2016 at 4:27 pm

Here is the Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 18 service plan info for NYC Transit.

On Monday, January 18, 2016, the New York City Subway will operate on regular weekday schedule with minor timing changes. Customers are advised to allow additional travel time.

New York City buses will operate on a reduced weekday schedule with minor timing changes except for Staten Island, where Limited Stop routes S81, S84, S86, S90, S91, S92, S94, S96 and S98 will not operate. Weekday local service will operate along those routes. Limited stop routes S89 and S93 will operate on weekday schedules with minor timing changes. All Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens “X” express routes will operate on weekday schedules with minor timing changes.

For live wait times on the 123456L and S 42nd Street Shuttle, use MTA Subway Time™ for iPhone or desktop, or other apps that provide MTA data on wait times on these lines. For the real-time position of buses on all bus routes city-wide, visit the MTA’s Bus Time website at http://bustime.mta.info/.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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LIRR MLK 2016 Service Plan Info

Posted by
on January 12th, 2016 at 4:23 pm

Here is the Long Island Rail Road service plan information for Monday, January 18, 2016, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

MTA Long Island Rail Road will operate on a Holiday Schedule on Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday next Monday, January 18, with a total of 32 extra trains provided on its five busiest branches.

The LIRR will provide the extra trains over and above the regular holiday schedule to accommodate travelers on the Babylon, Montauk, Port Jefferson, Port Washington and Ronkonkoma branches.

Off peak fares apply all day.

The extra trains are included in the current LIRR Branch Timetables dated December 14, 2015. Look for the column marked “Note M.” The timetables can also be found on the MTA website at www.mta.info/lirr or by calling 511, the New York State Travel Information Hotline, and saying “Long Island Rail Road.” The trains are included in the MTA’s Trip Planner+ online scheduling tool, and via the LIRR Train Time app available for iOS, Android or desktop.

Schedule details follow below, organized by branch.

Babylon Branch

Westbound Extra Trains:

• 5:08 a.m. train from Babylon, making all local stops to Rockville Centre, then Jamaica, arriving Penn Station at 6:21 a.m.

• 6:02 a.m. train from Babylon, making all local stops to Rockville Centre, then Jamaica, arriving Penn Station at 7:16 a.m.

• 6:17 a.m. train from Babylon, making all local stops to Rockville Centre, then Jamaica, arriving Penn Station at 7:31 a.m.

• 6:49 a.m. train from Babylon, making all local stops to Rockville Centre, then Jamaica, arriving Penn Station at 8:02 a.m.

• 7:21 a.m. train from Babylon, making all local stops to Rockville Centre, then Jamaica, arriving Penn Station at 8:35 a.m.

• 7:38 a.m. train from Babylon, making all local stops to Rockville Centre, then Jamaica, arriving Penn Station at 8:51 a.m.

• 9:16 a.m. train from Babylon, making all local stops to Rockville Centre, then Jamaica, arriving Penn Station at 10:27 a.m.

Eastbound Extra Trains:

• 4:04 p.m. train from Penn Station, stopping at Jamaica, Rockville Centre and all local stops to Babylon, arriving Babylon at 5:20 p.m.

• 5:04 p.m. train from Penn Station, stopping at Jamaica, Rockville Centre and all local stops to Babylon, arriving Babylon at 6:19 p.m.

• 6:04 p.m. train from Penn Station, stopping at Jamaica, Rockville Centre and all local stops to Babylon, arriving Babylon at 7:21 p.m.

• 6:29 p.m. train from Penn Station, stopping at Jamaica, Rockville Centre and all local stops to Babylon, arriving Babylon at 7:41 p.m.

• 7:04 p.m. train from Penn Station, stopping at Jamaica, Rockville Centre and all local stops to Babylon, arriving Babylon at 8:19 p.m.

Montauk Branch

Westbound Extra Trains:

• 6:25 a.m. train from Speonk making all local stops to Babylon, express to Jamaica, arriving Penn Station at 8:27 a.m.

Eastbound Extra Trains:

• 5:09 p.m. train from Penn Station, stopping at Jamaica, operating express to Babylon, making all local stops to Speonk, arriving Speonk at 7:11 p.m.

Port Jefferson Branch

Westbound Extra Trains:

• 5:42 a.m. train from Huntington, making all local stops to New Hyde Park, then Jamaica, arriving in Penn Station at 6:48 a.m.

• 7:41 a.m. train from Huntington, making all local stops to Merillon Avenue, then Jamaica, arriving Penn Station at 8:47 a.m.

• 8:25 a.m. train from Port Jefferson, making all local stops to Huntington, Syosset, then Jamaica, arriving Penn Station at 10:18 a.m.

Eastbound Extra Trains:

• 4:01 p.m. train from Penn Station, stopping at Jamaica, New Hyde Park, and all local stops to Port Jefferson, arriving at Port Jefferson at 6:01 p.m.

• 5:01 p.m. train from Penn Station, stopping at Woodside, Jamaica, New Hyde Park, and all local stops to Huntington, arriving Huntington at 6:07 p.m.

• 6:01 p.m. train from Penn Station, stopping at Jamaica, New Hyde Park, and all local stops to Huntington, arriving Huntington at 7:09 p.m.

Port Washington Branch

Westbound Extra Trains:

• 7:43 a.m. train from Great Neck, making all local stops to Penn Station, arriving at 8:18 a.m.

• 8:24 a.m. train from Great Neck, making all local stops to Penn Station, arriving at 9:02 a.m.

Eastbound Extra Trains:

• 5:07 p.m. train from Penn Station, making all local stops to Great Neck, arriving Great Neck at 5:43 p.m.

• 6:07 p.m. train from Penn Station, making all local stops to Great Neck, arriving Great Neck at 6:43 p.m.

• 7:07 p.m. train from Penn Station, making all local stops to Great Neck, arriving Great Neck at 7:43 p.m.

Ronkonkoma Branch

Westbound Extra Trains:

• 5:10 a.m. train from Ronkonkoma, making all local stops to Hicksville except Pinelawn, then Jamaica, Woodside, arriving Penn Station at 6:28 a.m.

• 6:10 a.m. train from Ronkonkoma, making all local stops to Hicksville except Pinelawn, then Jamaica, Woodside, arriving Penn Station at 7:28 a.m.

• 7:10 a.m. train from Ronkonkoma, making all local stops to Hicksville except Pinelawn, then Jamaica, Woodside, arriving Penn Station at 8:31 a.m.

• 7:19 a.m. train from Farmingdale, stopping at Bethpage, Hicksville, Mineola, then Jamaica, arriving Penn Station at 8:15 a.m.

• 8:10 a.m. train from Ronkonkoma, making all local stops to Hicksville except Pinelawn, then Jamaica, Woodside, arriving Penn Station at 9:28 a.m.

Eastbound Extra Trains:

• 3:32 p.m. train from Penn Station, stopping at Woodside, Jamaica, New Hyde Park, Mineola, Hicksville, and all local stops to Ronkonkoma, arriving
Ronkonkoma at 4:55 p.m.

• 5:58 p.m. train from Penn Station, stopping at Jamaica, Hicksville, and all local stops to Farmingdale, arriving Farmingdale at 6:55 p.m.

There is no train service east of Ronkonkoma. Customers traveling between Ronkonkoma and Greenport may wish to use the Montauk Branch as an alternative.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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