Barring complete insolvency of MTA (not out of the realm of possibility), the tunnel from 63d St to Grand Central should be finished around 2015.

Originally appeared on: StationStops - Metro-North Train Schedules and NYC Commuting Blog See the original post here: Massive MTA Tunnel-Making Machine is Boring

So, I watched the latest Board Meeting dated 05/28/2008 (well, most of it, it can get kinda boring).

It started with everyone congratulating each other on what a great job they did on the Hudson Yards real estate deal.

Then members of the public are allowed to speak, which abruptly concludes the mutual admiration part of the broadcast, including some finger wagging about the revoked EZ-Pass thingy.

Then boring stuff.
Worth a look though.

Almost as good as the Fairfield County MetroCenter meetings.

Originally appeared on: StationStops - Metro-North Train Schedules and NYC Commuting Blog See the original post here: MTA Public Meetings Available Online as Webcasts

Mayor Bloomberg had some things to say about that.

Originally appeared on: StationStops - Metro-North Train Schedules and NYC Commuting Blog See the original post here: Congestion Pricing Buried By State Assembly Despite Last Gasps

This effectively ends New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s bid to charge $8 for cars coming into lower Manhattan during rush hour in order to reduce congestion and fund major mass transit initiatives.

Benjamin Kabak of SecondAvenueSagas.com argues that ‘elitism’ was the cause of the defeat of congestion pricing, asserting that lower-Manhattan rush hour commuters were especially well-heeled (I’m assuming because they can afford the daily gas, tolls, and parking fees) and fought against the additional fee.

Others have countered that it is actually less affluent car commuters who could not bear the $8 fee which resulted in the bill being shot down.(note: only the Democratic majority of the State Assembly was involved in the vote) 

Assemblyman Mark S Welprin (D, Queens) said that members voted in line with their constituents.

This is exactly what the members should not have done.

Congestion pricing is a forward-looking and ambitous investment in New York City’s future development which carries a predictably unpopular tax, and as such it is an initiative which needs to be brought forward by statesmenship, not representation. But once again, politics and re-election fears insure that no representatives will need carry the burden of supporting anything intelligent and necessary yet unpopular.

New York City commuters have just been delivered across-the-board fare hikes in New York City public transport and been told by MTA that despite these hikes, promised improvements are being delayed for economic reasons. Of course there is not enough constituent support of congestion pricing – its just too much money being asked of commuters in a city where commuters are consistently getting less for more and not seeing any return on fare hike investment.

I think there is less delineation between mass transit and car commuters than everyone seems to think, and a general distrust that the massive $8 fare will be perfectly collected yet poorly appropriated.

In any event, considering the scope and interest in Congestion Pricing, its criminal that this vote was not brought out onto the floor for public vote. It guarantees that no one in Albany can be held personally accountable for their vote.

Well done, gentlemen.

(clap).

Originally appeared on: StationStops - Metro-North Train Schedules and NYC Commuting Blog See the original post here: Congestion Pricing Dies In Albany Behind Closed Doors In Secret Vote

Left: Say hello to your new seatmates on the way home from work. They appreciate you making the extra slow loop-stop so they can share your hour-long ride home.

“The station, which will become a regular stop for the Hudson Line seven days a week, will present unique logistical challenges on games days. Scheduling game trains around Metro-North’s regular schedule of nearly 700 trains each weekday is a puzzle with variables including whether is a day or night game, a weekday or weekend game. Irregularities such as double-headers, rain delays, extra innings, make-up games and potential playoffs will require operating flexibility.”

Owie.

Yeah, that is a problem.

All three Metro-North lines will have access to the stop, but it is only a regular stop on the Hudson Line. Harlem and New Haven Line train, when explicitly scheduled around games, will need to take a special loop to get there.

Every time I hear that, I think of trying to home from work on the New Haven Line on a game day and grinding my teeth, clenching my fists while the train sllooowwwly loops around to pickup a few hundred half-sober Yankee fans – yikes.

Originally appeared on: StationStops - Metro-North Train Schedules and NYC Commuting Blog See the original post here: New Yankees Stop Poses Scheduling Challenge for Metro-North

The measure now goes to the state legislature, who is expected to rubber-stamp the measure.

If approved, the new tolls could be imposed by March 31, 2009.

I am too lazy to paraphrase the plan, so I will quote the New York Times Cityroom:

“The congestion pricing plan, as approved by a 17-member state commission that voted at the end of January, would charge drivers with an E-ZPass $8 a day to enter Manhattan below 60th Street on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Those drivers would also receive a credit for bridge or tunnel tolls they paid on the same day. Drivers without an E-ZPass would pay $9 and would not receive credit for tolls.”

via New York Times Cityroom

Originally appeared on: StationStops - Metro-North Train Schedules and NYC Commuting Blog See the original post here: Congestion Pricing Approved By New York City Council

In more uplifting Yankee’s news, all 3 Metro-North lines will stop at Yankee Stadium next year! LodHud.com reports that construction of the 153rd St station is well underway.

The new station will be the largest project in the history of Metro-North, with a $91M price tag. This will include shuttle service using Metro-North cars between Grand Central Terminal and 153rd St stopping at Harlem 125th.

The platform itself will be much larger than other Metro-North stations, as it will be accommodating massive surge traffic specifically around game times. It will also feature art work along most of the 420-ft platform.

In the meanwhile, fans and workers will be in conflict somewhat.

Mari Miceli of New Rochelle, the director of special projects for Metro-North Railroad, should have really consulted the MTA PR team before making the following statement indicating that an extended post-season would make her job more difficult:

“The sooner they get out – sorry – the sooner we can start building” she said.

Oboy. Hell, yes, we should definitely ask the Yankees to take a dive this season so we can accommodate her. Lol.

She added “When you get out of a game at night there should be four trains sitting on the platforms or about to come” which is good news, because there definitely needs to be something already standing between the platform and the tracks when those sobering mobs crowding the station after the game.

Via LodHud.com via Trainjotting

Originally appeared on: StationStops - Metro-North Train Schedules and NYC Commuting Blog See the original post here: Yankee’s Final Opening Day Rained Out – Metro-North Will Stop at New Stadium Next Year