New York City - Transit News

[BrownTown]

Originally Posted by M II A II R II K

[B]NYC Tunnel Closing Would Cut Home Values by $20 Billion, Study Says

Oh God, I sure hope so. Might finally be able to afford a house then.

[kenratboy]

Hope this isn't off-topic, but related to getting from the 3 main airports into Manhattan via rail:
--LGA - nope (well, you need to take a bus or something else first, to get to a subway station) - looks like 2022 (maybe...) will bring a LGA AirTrain link, unfortunately takes you the wrong direction (Met stadium vs. one of the stations closer into the city), but nothing unworkable because you are already so close.
--JFK - AirTrain ride takes you to various stations, but you still have a fairly long ride due to it all being 'local' subway vs. an express train (there might be express subways, I don't know).
--EWR - maybe the best today? Quick AirTrain ride, then you get on another train that takes you right to Penn.

While I don't think it would ever happen (politically, NIMBY, financially), having a direct train connection from the airports right to a larger Manhattan station would be great. Imagine a loop from JFK, thru Brooklyn, up the center of Manhattan, to LGA, thru Queens, back to JFK. Maybe 6-8 total stops, just at the airports and major stations. Part of the concept like express lanes on a freeway would be to mitigate some of the crushing commute traffic so you could arrive at the airports during AM/PM commute times and be able to get on the trains.

[BrownTown]

Originally Posted by kenratboy

While I don't think it would ever happen (politically, NIMBY, financially), having a direct train connection from the airports right to a larger Manhattan station would be great. Imagine a loop from JFK, thru Brooklyn, up the center of Manhattan, to LGA, thru Queens, back to JFK. Maybe 6-8 total stops, just at the airports and major stations. Part of the concept like express lanes on a freeway would be to mitigate some of the crushing commute traffic so you could arrive at the airports during AM/PM commute times and be able to get on the trains.

Last I heard it's already happening with PATH being extended to EWR. Total waste of money, but what else is new when it comes to the Port Authority?

[Busy Bee]

^
It's a miracle. I agree with BrownTown on something.

[mrnyc]

gateway news:


https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york...outputType=amp

[BrownTown]

Originally Posted by mrnyc

gateway news:


https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york...outputType=amp

Cool, but exactly which 3 Republican senators does he expect to approve such an amendment?

[BrownTown]

I know that nobody is suggesting we follow what China is doing, but clearly people in the US wouldn't support these sort of heavy handed Communist policies whether they work or not.

[Busy Bee]

For the record, if a cross-Sound tunnel ever occurs, pretty much all regional planning bodies would insist it carry MTA/Amtrak HSR rail as well.

[mrnyc]

hay ny

i really don't care, do you?




Trump budget doesn't include Gateway tunnel funding, U.S. DOT says

The Gateway Program would bring critical repairs to the damaged Hudson River tunnels that serve Amtrak and New Jersey Transit.



By Vincent Barone
Updated March 11, 2019 9:31 PM




President Donald Trump continued to spurn the Hudson River’s failing commuter rail tunnels, as elected officials stared down a “doomsday scenario” for the region.

The White House’s proposed 2020 budget does not include any new funding for the stalled Gateway Program, which in part would replace the two 110-year-old, Sandy-damaged Hudson River tunnels — a vital, 2.5-mile link for hundreds of thousands of daily commuters who take the rails between New York and New Jersey.

“Those transit projects are local responsibilities, and elected officials from New York and New Jersey are the ones accountable for them,” said U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Jeffrey Rosen on Monday, during a budget briefing call with reporters.


more:
https://www.amny.com/transit/trump-b...nel-1.28393510

[plutonicpanda]

Originally Posted by mrnyc

hay ny

i really don't care, do you?




Trump budget doesn't include Gateway tunnel funding, U.S. DOT says

The Gateway Program would bring critical repairs to the damaged Hudson River tunnels that serve Amtrak and New Jersey Transit.



By Vincent Barone
Updated March 11, 2019 9:31 PM




President Donald Trump continued to spurn the Hudson River’s failing commuter rail tunnels, as elected officials stared down a “doomsday scenario” for the region.

The White House’s proposed 2020 budget does not include any new funding for the stalled Gateway Program, which in part would replace the two 110-year-old, Sandy-damaged Hudson River tunnels — a vital, 2.5-mile link for hundreds of thousands of daily commuters who take the rails between New York and New Jersey.

“Those transit projects are local responsibilities, and elected officials from New York and New Jersey are the ones accountable for them,” said U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Jeffrey Rosen on Monday, during a budget briefing call with reporters.


more:
https://www.amny.com/transit/trump-b...nel-1.28393510

This is very frustrating as is the budget for 2020. I thought we were promised a major infrastructure overhaul... For the 2nd year in a row, we’re told it probably isn’t happening this year. Not to spur a political debate, but it will be interesting President Trump uses infrastructure reform as a platform for re-election.

[Busy Bee]

Originally Posted by plutonicpanda

This is very frustrating as is the budget for 2020. I thought we were promised a major infrastructure overhaul... For the 2nd year in a row, we’re told it probably isn’t happening this year. Not to spur a political debate, but it will be interesting President Trump uses infrastructure reform as a platform for re-election.

You thought that was actually going to happen? Besides, the pub's gave all the money away to the rich and powerful in the tax scam bill. You're placing your hopes for an infrastructure revolution in the wrong hands. You want massive transformative infrastructure investment? Elect Democrats!

[mrnyc]

$600M for penn station upgrade:


More space, accessibility part of $600 million Penn Station makeover

MTA project leader Janno Lieber said the upgrades will go a long way toward making the commutes of more than 200,000 Long Island Rail Road riders more "humane."


more:
https://www.amny.com/transit/upgrade...rak-1.28623935

[Busy Bee]

Good money after bad

[mrnyc]

^ yeah -- looks like the fix is in for msg to stay put.

[mrnyc]

congestion pricing debates:


Congestion pricing supporters, opponents clash at midtown rally

A testy news conference highlighted the stubborn divisions over the plan to toll cars entering Manhattan.


more:
https://www.amny.com/transit/congest...lly-1.28919636

[k1052]

Reportedly Albany is ready to pass congestion pricing having assembled the needed votes. Sounds like a few exceptions: low income Manhattan residents, disabled who can provide proof of need for access to medical facilities, and some sort of adjustment for Triborough Bridge users.

[mrnyc]

^ yep — more on that:


https://www.amny.com/transit/congest...bly-1.28959145

[Crawford]

Great news, but the exceptions are idiotic. Transit riders don't pay 0 if they're going to a medical appointment or based on their tax returns; why would such drivers pay nothing if they insist on entering probably the most congested (and contested) geography in the developed world?

[k1052]

Originally Posted by Crawford

Great news, but the exceptions are idiotic. Transit riders don't pay 0 if they're going to a medical appointment or based on their tax returns; why would such drivers pay nothing if they insist on entering probably the most congested (and contested) geography in the developed world?

Yes, it's not rational. Any exceptions to the charge could become loopholes that are exploited to a comical level (see placards). Hopefully whatever gets included is extremely limited.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Crawford

Great news, but the exceptions are idiotic. Transit riders don't pay 0 if they're going to a medical appointment or based on their tax returns; why would such drivers pay nothing if they insist on entering probably the most congested (and contested) geography in the developed world?

Well, among the various carve-out proposals is this:

Free subway transfers for those commuting from 18 Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road stations in the Bronx and Queens

Presumably this would make transit a more realistic option for those living in "transit deserts" beyond the reach of the subway that nonetheless have LIRR or Metro North stops.