Joe Lhota just made it official on Twitter. There’s really nothing more to say. There will be a lot of crying into beers in North Brooklyn tonight—tears of joy, of course!—as almost a week without L train service comes to an end. How long before the cheering ends and the crowded misery resumes? Read More
Even though it started with a shutdown of service, Hurricane Sandy has probably engendered more love for the MTA then the transit agency has seen at least since the 1960s, before the system went to seed. The subway may well be enjoying more praise than ever in its 108-year history. Unless you live in North Brooklyn, restoration of the transit system came about remarkably fast in a city that had been devastated in every corner. The patience, and the appreciation, has been remarkable for an agency rarely accustomed to either.
But the love-in may well end tonight. That is when the MTA is due to hold its first hearing on the looming fare hikes for all corners of the mass transit system—not just those MetroCards, but also fares on the commuter rail lines and tolls on the bridges and (still flooded) tunnels. The meeting will be held in Brooklyn, at the Marriott at 333 Adams Street starting at 5 p.m. Doors are at 4 p.m., for those who want to get there early to sign up and speak. Another meeting was scheduled for Farmingdale, out on Long Island, but it has been canceled because, you know, they’re still without power.
It will be curious to see how the public reacts at tonight’s hearing. Read More
Update, 11/6 11:42 a.m.: The MTA just announced that the L-train tube under 14th Street has been pumped out and “damage is currently being assessed.”
Original post: Since we have become your defacto North Brooklyn subway depot—just take a look at the Popular Stories box right now—here is the latest from those skinny-pants filled lines. According to the MTA’s evening service advisory, the Newtown Creek tunnel on the G-train has been pumped out while pumping work remains for the L.
As we previously reported, no tunnel saw more flooding than the L, which is among the reasons the MTA left it until the end of its recovery operations to pump out, because the more water, the longer it takes. Among the reasons the 4/5/6 and 2/3 were up and running so quickly is they needed minimal pumping. They also carry more people, making them, arguably a greater priority. Just don’t tell that to the people living in North Brooklyn. Read More
Update 6:32 a.m.: Here‘s the current map for your Monday morning commute, with all the latest subway lines colored in. Almost looks back to normal, don’t it?
Original post: One of the miracles of the MTA’s restoration of the subway system is how many lines the transit agency has managed to get up in running in such a short amount of time. With the exception of the L and the G, every single line is running in some fashion. There are the standouts, like the numbered trains, all of which are back to full service, end-to-end, and then there are pieces like the A-train to the Rockaways, which will be out of commission for who knows how long due to damage to the crossing through Jamaica Bay.
Numerous warning came today from the governor, mayor and MTA chief Joe Lhota that commuters tomorrow should exercise patience and caution. Go to work a little early or a little late, if you can manage it. Already trains will be running less frequently all day, about one every 10 minutes on the lines that are up, god willing there are no breakdowns on the tracks that have been heavily taxed by salt water and other extreme conditions never before fathomed. Read More
Updated, 11/05 12:40 a.m.:Looks like the Monday morning commute is shaping up as expected.
Update, 9:12 p.m.: Service has been restored on the J-train into Manhattan, but service on the B/D/F/M line remains suspended because of “unforeseen problems with electrical service” at the West 4th Street station, according to an MTA statement. “Crews are still pushing to restore service on additional subway lines between Brooklyn and Manhattan before midnight,” the statement concludes.
Original post: So the MTA has done an unbelievable job restoring subway service after so much of the system was knocked out following Superstorm Sandy. Even MTA chief Joe Lhota said as much this morning at a press briefing. “I’m really proud of the MTA for coming back as fast as it did,” he said standing outside the 69th Regimental Armory. “It exceeded most of the public’s expectation and it exceeded my expectations, too. I didn’t think I’d be standing here today telling you we’d be at 81 percent.”
Service will be back to 84 percent by Monday, covering most of Lower Manhattan with many lines fully restored. Read More
