The MTA is spending 15.2 BILLION to connect the LIRR to Grand Central Station. If they kill that one program they are free and clear.

Ye gads! That article was an eye opener (and real downer) and as usual everyone's responses were rapier sharp!

...and I agree, this takes some major protesting. Not just a brief news story.

I'm sorry if I seem to repeat everyone, but this is complete and utter nonsense. I'm only 20, but I was born and raised in Brooklyn (surprised?) and have seen the train service get continually worse and cost more and more in my short life span. How about we as people do something... any suggestions? Ha.

Longacre apparently loves his neocon talking points.

Europe no longer needs the US to defend it and I'm really curious as to how the US' military spending helps the defense of HONG KONG. Those are some pretty serious mental gymnastics used to justify a bloated military budget.

re: article

Astoria needs the W train! One of its advantages is that it has a decent commuting time to the city. People move here for this reason and then support the continued growth of the community.

re: #56

Thanks for sharing. That's outrageous about the squandering of working hours with mismanagement.

How do you know he/she is from London? Cos they said 'bloody'? So only people from London say Bloody? London is not a country you know. Way to come off like a dick.

The person used "bloody" twice in the post, used "Fire the lot of them" and in another post, "rubbish". If he/she doesn't come from across the pond or some former British colony, that person is definitely an Anglophile.

Now, London is not a country, but for many Britons it is their world. Many go there for better careers, more exposure to different cultures & ideas and for many younger people, a better nightlife (like those coming to New York). I have visited London & other places in the UK, I have friends there and that's the image I get from interacting with the people there. Many Britons here probably tried their luck first in London before moving to New York and that's most likely the place they would return to, if they can afford it.

Now, if my remark was offensive to any Brits living here, I'm sorry. That wasn't my intention. I just directed my anger at someone who in my book is a dick, someone who complains & whines (based on r1b2's other comments recently) , but doesn't do anything about it. Now I have to admit that I'm probably a dick in this regard as well, as are you, citizenerased.

I'm not saying that we shouldn't complain about the transit system, the question is how should we complain & respond. Now, I grew up in this city so maybe I'm used to getting the shaft when it comes to the subway & other things. I just suggested, perhaps a little negatively out of anger, that instead of complaining perhaps r1b2 should change his/her environment.

That concludes my response to your nasty & "easy" post. Have a pleasant evening.

All of you who are so gung-ho on cutting station agents should realize that when they don't have staff at a station entrance, they close off all the normal turnstiles and force everyone through those g-damned tall ones, which are slow as shit. Try grabbing an NRQW at Canal Street on a weekend sometime. There are LINES of people waiting to enter because hundreds of people are trying to stuff through a few slow-ass "meat grinder" turnstiles.

And for those of you who like to bitch about how rude and inefficient MTA employees are, I know I can buy or refill a metrocard twice as quick from a person as I can pounding buttons on those shitty vending machines.

"Maybe you should go back to London if it's so bad"

How do you know he/she is from London? Cos they said 'bloody'? So only people from London say Bloody? London is not a country you know. Way to come off like a dick.

#22 said "Boohoo to drunks who can't get home at 4 in the morning."

Right. Make them get in their SUVs and drive home t-boning cabs and killing everyone inside. That's a great idea.

/rolls eyes

I live off the Ditmars station in Astoria too, and yesterday I'm pretty sure I saw a bunch of workers playing cards in the building at the end of the tracks. Fire them. They're not doing anything anyway.

#57--

As a former Chicagoan, it was the first thought I had...like Frank Kruesi's annual "Wah, wah poor me" bitch session, it should wring a few dollars out of the state.

Where's Anthony Weiner to complain about THIS tax on working-class New Yorkers?

Open the books.

"Maybe you should go back to London if it's so bad"

Never got this kind of talk. It's juvenile, reminds me of what I used to say in 2nd grade. Basically you are saying, dont fix a broken system because there is a worse one out there in the world. Kinda stupid

Does this mean fewer smelly people on those rare occasions when I take the crosstown bus to work instead of walk?

If this goes into effect AND they raise the fare, the MTA can kiss my money goodbye. I'll be going to a local bike shop instead.

Maybe you should go back to London if it's so bad.

Tonight's ordeal on the F: waiting 20+ minutes at B'way Lafayette at 7:30 PM, F finally arrives but is PACKED, at 7:30, because the train is so bloody infrequent. For this I am going to be charged more?

How token booth attendants have jobs, let alone get paid so bloody much with the minimal high-school diploma (or GED) is shocking, especially when you consider that THERE ARE NO TOKENS! Fire the lot of them and pass the savings on to us, the consumers.

Did someone hire the MTA to kill NYC?