Subway Riders and City Council Not Happy

At yesterday's NYC Transit public hearing, NYC Transit President Lawrence Reuter was pummeled by complaints from disgruntled riders. And this was after a long meeting with a skeptical City Council board about the NYC Transit performance. The NY Times says that after Reuter said, "The system is actually safer than it ever has been," he was met with boos plus one person's exclamation of "Oh, please." Hee hee. Reuter wasn't that thrilled with the reception, but what can he expect when he's revealing that more holes have been found in the subway system, laying blame on crews in 1993. Whatever - it's been 12 years, it's still crap! Anyway, Reuter has been an easy target ever since the "It'll take 3-5 years to fix the A and C lines" pronouncement; Gothamist hopes that being on the hot seat will shape up service more.

And train lover Darius McCollum, whose family believes that Asperger's syndrome contributes to his extreme obsession with subways (masquerading as MTA employees numerous times), has been sentenced to three years in jail, after his most recent attempt: Carrying various transit keys (engineer, universal, and switch), transit workers' clothes and a hard hat at the LIRR railyard in Jamaica.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on April 7, 2005 11:33 AM

Comments [rss]

toyochin

Jen,

I'm going to out myself as a total subway nerd, but here goes - they can't terminate trains at 7th Ave because trains can't switch tracks between Smith-9th (the G terminal) and Church Ave.

This is why they stop the G at Smith-9th, run it on the express track and turn it around between Church and Ditmas.

Now, I don't know how much it costs to install a switch to accomodate an F express or an extended V, but I'm sure the benefits outweigh the costs, and it has to be cheaper than rehabbing the lower level at Bergen.

Jen W

The V could terminate at 7th Ave., since the station has the same set-up as the current terminus, 2nd Ave.

That line totally needs regular express service, and not just, "We fucked the schedule, so we're going express from 2nd Ave. to Church Ave."

toyochin

Man, if they would (could?) just rehab that lower level at Bergen and use that as the terminal for V, 6th Ave local would be way, way, improved.

In any case, Brooklyn F seriously needs a weekday express.

jenny

honey -- the F has been screwed up more than usual lately. Don't know why -- could be because of the work they are doing on the express track that may or may not open in our lifetimes.

Tim N.

Speaking of the f-ed up subways, the A,B,C,and D trains are all messed up this afternoon. There's a transformer fire in the Bronx (Brooklyn's broken out in fights, there's a traffic jam in Harlem that's backed up to Jackson Heights...) and the A & C is suspended in both directions 59TH to 168TH. B is suspended in both directions for the whole line, D is suspended in both directions from 59th to 205th.

Erin

They showed a chunk of the hearing on the news last night, and Reuter seems to be in serious denial. He was basically asked point-blank if the MTA had enough money to handle maintenance (which it clearly doesn't) and he said that yes, no doubt, they have enough money. So, congrats, Reuter. Way to convince Albany to send more money!

toyochin

Yeah, I dealt with the overcrowded F while my girlfriend lived in Bk. It's never not crowded on that train.

It amazes me that F is the only Manhattan-bound train on such a popular line. Would it be so hard to extend the V into Brooklyn? That would not only ease the congestion in Brooklyn, but also on 6th Ave.

honey

i had to go to my old neighborhood, park slope, yesterday. I got off an E running as a C at Jay Street. I then waited for an F while 3 A's and 2 C's went by, and when an F finally showed, there was NO way, within the laws of physics that i could have got onthat train, even if I wanted to be a jerk and shove my way in. Why is there not more service on F line during rush hour?--it was about 6:30 when I was waiting for the train. THe F was always so awfully crowded when I had to take it years ago, and it seems to have only got worse. Those somewhat well-off Park Slopers should band together and make the MTA increase F servie--it's maddening how bad it is.

MT

Does this mean the MTA is actually going to get the proper funding to maintain the system and implement all those idiotic vanity schemes that Bloomberg and Pataki insist on?

Kojak

Let Darius McCollum operate the trains. I'm sure he’s not a hazard to anyone. Just train him just like everyone else. He could very well be a valued asset and actually CARE about the job, unlike most train conductors.

Oh and privatize the system. Split up Metro North, LIRR, Subways and Buses. Something has to be done. Either sack the MTA board or remove state control over it.

Shloimie Pants

"...NYC Transit President Lawrence Reuter was pummeled complaints from disgruntled riders."

Interesting take on the English language.