From the NY1 website:
Major Service Disruptions To Hit F, G Trains This Weekend
February 29, 2008
Riders of the F and G trains in Brooklyn are in for rough time this coming weekend. MTA has announced that there will be no F train service between the Jay Street and 4th Avenue/9th Street stops to allow for signal and track work. The MTA is advising that customers switch to the D train at 4th Avenue/9th Street for service to and from Manhattan.
As for G train riders, there'll be no service between the Hoyt-Schermerhorn and Smith-Ninth Street stops for service to and from Manhattan. As an alternative, there will be free shuttle buses operating between Hoyt-Schermerhorn and 7th Avenue in Brooklyn. The changes will be in effect from midnight Friday through 5 a.m. Monday.
More on weekend service changes from the MTA website:
http://www.mta.info/nyct/service/subsrvnweekend.htm#g
February 29, 2008
February 28, 2008
Sign the Petition to Connect the G to Atlantic Terminal
Please sign this petition, calling for the G train to be connected via underground tunnel to the Atlantic Terminal.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/connect-the-g-train
Connecting the G to other subway lines at Atlantic Terminal would open up a host of new transfer and intraborough travel opportunities for Brooklyn!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/connect-the-g-train
Connecting the G to other subway lines at Atlantic Terminal would open up a host of new transfer and intraborough travel opportunities for Brooklyn!
February 26, 2008
Daily News: Summer Hike in Subway, Bus Services
The MTA is proposing to increase G line service in off-peak hours, starting this summer. The agency claims that to increase service, it's necessary to permanently terminate the G at Court Square. The MTA's been trying to achieve a permanent Court Square termination for years, so we're somewhat skeptical at this latest argument... but what's your opinion? Would this improve things for G riders enough to justify cutting the line in half? What would you say at the public hearing that the MTA would be required to have before making this extreme change?
Summer hike in subway, bus services
BY DONALD BERTRAND
Tuesday, February 26th 2008
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has a message for Queens subway and bus commuters: Ride on!
It looks like the dollars are coming in faster than expected to the MTA, thanks to increased ridership, particularly in Queens.
Under a new plan, NYC Transit would begin implementing increased service - valued at approximately $46 million annually - as early as June.
The proposals will not be implemented until after the financial results for the first quarter of 2008 have been received, Transit spokesman Charles Seaton said.
Starting in June, the 7 and W lines will see increases in service to accommodate boosts in ridership on those lines.
The 7 line would increase Saturday service frequency from six to 10 minutes to five to eight minutes, and Sunday service frequency from six to 10 minutes to six to eight minutes starting in June.
W service would be extended from 9:30 to 11 p.m., and there would be an increase in peak hour service frequency from four to five minutes to four minutes.
In December, the G and R lines will see increases in service frequency.
The G would increase service frequency by 50% weekday evenings (from 12-15 minutes to eight minutes); 20% weekday middays (from 10 minutes to eight minutes); and 33% on weekends (eight-10 minutes to six minutes).
This boost will require terminating the G at the Courthouse Square station in Long Island City, because the Queens Blvd. line does not have capacity for more G service.
Extended R service would operate to Forest Hills-71st Ave. at all times; replacing the G along Queens Blvd. and allowing the N to operate via Manhattan Bridge at all times.
Queens bus lines also will see service increases, and will include a new Bx50 limited-stop bus route between Fordham Plaza in the Bronx and LaGuardia Airport, and a new Q94 super-limited service between Flushing and Fordham Plaza to reduce travel time on the route by up to 20 minutes and meet growing demand for Queens-Bronx travel.
Public hearings must be held before the Bx50 and Q94 services can be implemented. Plans call for the Bx50 to begin service in December, while the Q94 would begin in September.
Transit officials said 10 other Queens bus lines will either see increases in hours or extensions to their routes.
They include the: Q12; Q27; Q31; Q42; Q59; Q75: Q76; Q77; Q79 and Q84.
© Copyright 2007 NYDailyNews.com. All rights reserved.
Summer hike in subway, bus services
BY DONALD BERTRAND
Tuesday, February 26th 2008
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has a message for Queens subway and bus commuters: Ride on!
It looks like the dollars are coming in faster than expected to the MTA, thanks to increased ridership, particularly in Queens.
Under a new plan, NYC Transit would begin implementing increased service - valued at approximately $46 million annually - as early as June.
The proposals will not be implemented until after the financial results for the first quarter of 2008 have been received, Transit spokesman Charles Seaton said.
Starting in June, the 7 and W lines will see increases in service to accommodate boosts in ridership on those lines.
The 7 line would increase Saturday service frequency from six to 10 minutes to five to eight minutes, and Sunday service frequency from six to 10 minutes to six to eight minutes starting in June.
W service would be extended from 9:30 to 11 p.m., and there would be an increase in peak hour service frequency from four to five minutes to four minutes.
In December, the G and R lines will see increases in service frequency.
The G would increase service frequency by 50% weekday evenings (from 12-15 minutes to eight minutes); 20% weekday middays (from 10 minutes to eight minutes); and 33% on weekends (eight-10 minutes to six minutes).
This boost will require terminating the G at the Courthouse Square station in Long Island City, because the Queens Blvd. line does not have capacity for more G service.
Extended R service would operate to Forest Hills-71st Ave. at all times; replacing the G along Queens Blvd. and allowing the N to operate via Manhattan Bridge at all times.
Queens bus lines also will see service increases, and will include a new Bx50 limited-stop bus route between Fordham Plaza in the Bronx and LaGuardia Airport, and a new Q94 super-limited service between Flushing and Fordham Plaza to reduce travel time on the route by up to 20 minutes and meet growing demand for Queens-Bronx travel.
Public hearings must be held before the Bx50 and Q94 services can be implemented. Plans call for the Bx50 to begin service in December, while the Q94 would begin in September.
Transit officials said 10 other Queens bus lines will either see increases in hours or extensions to their routes.
They include the: Q12; Q27; Q31; Q42; Q59; Q75: Q76; Q77; Q79 and Q84.
© Copyright 2007 NYDailyNews.com. All rights reserved.
February 22, 2008
Brooklyn Paper article: A New G Spot?
February 23, 2008
By Mike McLaughlin
The Brooklyn Paper
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has promised to study whether it is feasible to connect the G train with the maze of lines at the Atlantic Avenue–Pacific Street subway station at the crossroads of Park Slope, Fort Greene, Boerum Hill and Downtown Brooklyn.
The agency promised Councilmember Letitia James (D–Fort Greene) this week that it would study what it would take — and, more important, how much it would cost — to build a tunnel that would connect the G line’s Lafayette Avenue stop with the Atlantic-Pacific station, a move that would simplify commuting for tens of thousands of people.
“It would make life better for people in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill,” James said.
The so-called “Crosstown Local” passes tantalizingly close to Atlantic Avenue, a portal for many subways and the Long Island Railroad, but skirts the hub as it travels between the Lafayette Avenue and Hoyt–Schermerhorn stations, limiting the number of ways in which Manhattan-bound G riders can transfer and continue their commutes.
Clinton Hill residents salivated over the possibility of having a free transfer to the 4/5, B/Q, N/R, M at Atlantic–Pacific, rather than contenting themselves with a transfer to the A/C at Hoyt–Schermerhorn.
“That’s a great idea,” said Amy Sly. “The lines are so close to each other.”
But burrowing a tunnel between Fulton Street and Atlantic Avenue is no simple task.
Initial estimates from the MTA say it would take 5–10 years to complete and would be the biggest shaft in the subway system, according to James.
New York City Transit would not comment before it drafts a formal response to James.
But one thing is clear: the agency is trying to improve the much-maligned G line.
New York City Transit thrilled riders in December when it announced it would increase the number of trains per hour — if (and it’s a big if) finances look good in the spring, after the agency has had a chance to assess its revenues from the recent fare increase.
It also plans to permanently extend service to Church Avenue in Kensington, creating the first direct link between Park Slope and Williamsburg.
But as the MTA giveth, it also taketh away.
The expanded service in Brooklyn comes at the expense of Queens. Currently, travelers can reach Forest Hills on nights and weekends, but if the changes go through, the G would permanently terminate in Long Island City.
Straphangers criticized the MTA, saying that it’s ignoring the line’s ridership.
“There’s a very healthy commuting community between Brooklyn and Queens,” said Teresa Toro, the chair of Community Board One’s transportation committee, and member of the Save the G Coalition.
©2008 The Brooklyn Paper
http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/31/8/31_08_a_new_g_spot.html
By Mike McLaughlin
The Brooklyn Paper
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has promised to study whether it is feasible to connect the G train with the maze of lines at the Atlantic Avenue–Pacific Street subway station at the crossroads of Park Slope, Fort Greene, Boerum Hill and Downtown Brooklyn.
The agency promised Councilmember Letitia James (D–Fort Greene) this week that it would study what it would take — and, more important, how much it would cost — to build a tunnel that would connect the G line’s Lafayette Avenue stop with the Atlantic-Pacific station, a move that would simplify commuting for tens of thousands of people.
“It would make life better for people in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill,” James said.
The so-called “Crosstown Local” passes tantalizingly close to Atlantic Avenue, a portal for many subways and the Long Island Railroad, but skirts the hub as it travels between the Lafayette Avenue and Hoyt–Schermerhorn stations, limiting the number of ways in which Manhattan-bound G riders can transfer and continue their commutes.
Clinton Hill residents salivated over the possibility of having a free transfer to the 4/5, B/Q, N/R, M at Atlantic–Pacific, rather than contenting themselves with a transfer to the A/C at Hoyt–Schermerhorn.
“That’s a great idea,” said Amy Sly. “The lines are so close to each other.”
But burrowing a tunnel between Fulton Street and Atlantic Avenue is no simple task.
Initial estimates from the MTA say it would take 5–10 years to complete and would be the biggest shaft in the subway system, according to James.
New York City Transit would not comment before it drafts a formal response to James.
But one thing is clear: the agency is trying to improve the much-maligned G line.
New York City Transit thrilled riders in December when it announced it would increase the number of trains per hour — if (and it’s a big if) finances look good in the spring, after the agency has had a chance to assess its revenues from the recent fare increase.
It also plans to permanently extend service to Church Avenue in Kensington, creating the first direct link between Park Slope and Williamsburg.
But as the MTA giveth, it also taketh away.
The expanded service in Brooklyn comes at the expense of Queens. Currently, travelers can reach Forest Hills on nights and weekends, but if the changes go through, the G would permanently terminate in Long Island City.
Straphangers criticized the MTA, saying that it’s ignoring the line’s ridership.
“There’s a very healthy commuting community between Brooklyn and Queens,” said Teresa Toro, the chair of Community Board One’s transportation committee, and member of the Save the G Coalition.
©2008 The Brooklyn Paper
http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/31/8/31_08_a_new_g_spot.html
February 20, 2008
State of the MTA Address
From our friends at the Straphangers Campaign:
Dear rider:
Want to hear how the MTA sees the future? Then come to a "State of the MTA" address by the agency's Chief Executive Officer Lee Sander.
He will "reflect on the MTA's progress, present his vision for its future, and describe the funding challenges ahead." The details are below.
- Gene Russianoff and Cate Contino
WHEN: Monday, March 3, 2008
Check-in: 10 a.m.
Program: 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: The Great Hall of The Cooper Union,
7 East 7th Street at Third Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10003
RSVP: http://www.mta.info/ceo-rsvp/ or 212-878-0292
==============================
NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign
One Click to a Better Commute - http://www.straphangers.org
Dear rider:
Want to hear how the MTA sees the future? Then come to a "State of the MTA" address by the agency's Chief Executive Officer Lee Sander.
He will "reflect on the MTA's progress, present his vision for its future, and describe the funding challenges ahead." The details are below.
- Gene Russianoff and Cate Contino
WHEN: Monday, March 3, 2008
Check-in: 10 a.m.
Program: 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: The Great Hall of The Cooper Union,
7 East 7th Street at Third Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10003
RSVP: http://www.mta.info/ceo-rsvp/ or 212-878-0292
==============================
NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign
One Click to a Better Commute - http://www.straphangers.org
February 13, 2008
NYC Council Speaker Feels G Train's Pain...
In her State of the City address today, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn called for the development of a comprehensive citywide ferry system. We love the proposal - after all, our G train advocacy stems from our belief that New York needs more transit options, not less - although her speech did touch on New Yorkers' frustrations with unreliable G train service:
"Imagine... traveling from Brooklyn to Queens... without waiting for the G train."
The Speaker's full speech can be found here, in PDF format:
http://council.nyc.gov/html/releases/SOC_2008.pdf
It's interesting to note that the G train serves some busy Brooklyn and Queens riverfront communities, from Red Hook to Williamsburg to Long Island City. Instead of replacing the unreliable G train with ferry service, how about the MTA steps up and enhances G line service to complement ferry service, to give Brooklyn and Queens a slew of added transit options?
Imagine...
"Imagine... traveling from Brooklyn to Queens... without waiting for the G train."
The Speaker's full speech can be found here, in PDF format:
http://council.nyc.gov/html/releases/SOC_2008.pdf
It's interesting to note that the G train serves some busy Brooklyn and Queens riverfront communities, from Red Hook to Williamsburg to Long Island City. Instead of replacing the unreliable G train with ferry service, how about the MTA steps up and enhances G line service to complement ferry service, to give Brooklyn and Queens a slew of added transit options?
Imagine...
February 7, 2008
Councilwoman Tish James sees G as the train that could...
We love Councilwoman James' latest plan for the G train:
James Pushes To Connect G Train To Atlantic/Pacific Street Station: Underground Connection Would Give G Riders Access to 10 Lines
By Sarah Ryley
02-06-2008
CLINTON HILL — Councilwoman Letitia James is asking the MTA to study whether the G Train at Fulton Street could be connected to the Atlantic Avenue transportation hub via an underground tunnel, she told the Eagle.
If the stations were linked, the G train, often criticized for having spotty service and few connections in Brooklyn, would directly transfer to 10 additional lines. Prospect Heights residents could ride to Williamsburg without entering Manhattan, and Clinton Hill residents, only served by the G train, would have easy access to all parts of Manhattan by direct transfer.
“I understand that the MTA is cutting back on all their capital projects, but I want them to at least look at it and get a feasibility study,” said James, who represents Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. She said she’s working with Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries on the matter and would suggest the project to help ease traffic as part of the mayor’s congestion pricing plan.
“It would definitely increase ridership,” she said.
MTA spokeswoman Deirdre Parker said the agency hasn’t studied an underground connection between the two stations. “Operations Planning is reviewing Ms. James’ suggestions and will respond within the next two weeks,” she said.
In the short term, G train riders would likely get a free transfer to the Atlantic Avenue transportation hub if congestion pricing were enacted, said Michael Burke, executive director of policy and planning for the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership.
The organization successfully lobbied to have the F and A/C trains at the Jay Street station connected to the M/R trains at the Lawrence Street station via an underground tunnel. Construction should be completed within the next few years, said Burke.
As a long-term solution, Burke said the partnership would support James’ effort. “In order to ease congestion, more transit connections make a lot of sense, but they’re long-term projects,” he said, adding that a 50-foot tunnel to connect the Jay and Lawrence Street stations cost $130 million. “So you’re not talking about a quick fix.”
At their closest point, the Fulton Street and Atlantic Avenue stations are roughly 660 feet apart. The MTA plans to extend G Train service to the Church Avenue station, at least temporarily, as it rehabilitates the Culver Viaduct. Parker said the agency also proposed to increase G service during evening, midday and weekend periods.
Anne Buckley, a sales estate agent for Fillmore Real Estate, said only that having access to the G train, while not the deciding factor, influences buyers’ decisions when looking for homes. “It would certainly help the community; it would make it easier to get from place to place.”
© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2007
James Pushes To Connect G Train To Atlantic/Pacific Street Station: Underground Connection Would Give G Riders Access to 10 Lines
By Sarah Ryley
02-06-2008
CLINTON HILL — Councilwoman Letitia James is asking the MTA to study whether the G Train at Fulton Street could be connected to the Atlantic Avenue transportation hub via an underground tunnel, she told the Eagle.
If the stations were linked, the G train, often criticized for having spotty service and few connections in Brooklyn, would directly transfer to 10 additional lines. Prospect Heights residents could ride to Williamsburg without entering Manhattan, and Clinton Hill residents, only served by the G train, would have easy access to all parts of Manhattan by direct transfer.
“I understand that the MTA is cutting back on all their capital projects, but I want them to at least look at it and get a feasibility study,” said James, who represents Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. She said she’s working with Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries on the matter and would suggest the project to help ease traffic as part of the mayor’s congestion pricing plan.
“It would definitely increase ridership,” she said.
MTA spokeswoman Deirdre Parker said the agency hasn’t studied an underground connection between the two stations. “Operations Planning is reviewing Ms. James’ suggestions and will respond within the next two weeks,” she said.
In the short term, G train riders would likely get a free transfer to the Atlantic Avenue transportation hub if congestion pricing were enacted, said Michael Burke, executive director of policy and planning for the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership.
The organization successfully lobbied to have the F and A/C trains at the Jay Street station connected to the M/R trains at the Lawrence Street station via an underground tunnel. Construction should be completed within the next few years, said Burke.
As a long-term solution, Burke said the partnership would support James’ effort. “In order to ease congestion, more transit connections make a lot of sense, but they’re long-term projects,” he said, adding that a 50-foot tunnel to connect the Jay and Lawrence Street stations cost $130 million. “So you’re not talking about a quick fix.”
At their closest point, the Fulton Street and Atlantic Avenue stations are roughly 660 feet apart. The MTA plans to extend G Train service to the Church Avenue station, at least temporarily, as it rehabilitates the Culver Viaduct. Parker said the agency also proposed to increase G service during evening, midday and weekend periods.
Anne Buckley, a sales estate agent for Fillmore Real Estate, said only that having access to the G train, while not the deciding factor, influences buyers’ decisions when looking for homes. “It would certainly help the community; it would make it easier to get from place to place.”
© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2007
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