MTA to Cut V Line; Spare Some Bus Lines

courtesy MeowSplash

The MTA agreed last night to save 11 previously-condemned bus lines, but the orange V train (est. 2001) was not so lucky. In January the authority hinted that it would create an M/V “mash-up”; now that’s coming into focus with the older M taking over the V train’s orange branding and its stops to Forest Hills-71st Avenue in Queens (the V's lower Manhattan and South Brooklyn service will be eliminated). Look at a map here. Sounds confusing, but the MTA says it's how commuters feel that’s important. Indeed, last year Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz held a mock funeral for the beloved brown train. “People were more comfortable with the M designation, being an older and more historic train designation than the V,” said Charles Seaton, a spokesman for New York City Transit.

In addition to the M/V switcheroo, reported by City Room, the transit authority decided to scrap weekend service and route reduction on Manhattan’s M22, though overnight service will still go, as well as on the B4 and B13 in Brooklyn. In Queens the Q14 and Q42 will get keep some of their service and in the Bronx, the popular Bx18 bus was saved from elimination. Staten Island’s S52 bus will cover for the S42, and the S66 will pick up slack for the discontinued S60 bus, reports NY1 (see a complete listing here).

The restored service will mean the MTA will be taking a considerable more ladylike bite out of its $758 million deficit (the pricetags total $4 million) but it's also pacified some once-angry commuters. "It's cool that people fought for the bus because without it, elderly people can't commute to work. We have little kids that need to get to school. Without it, it wouldn't be possible," said one transit user. The changes are expected to be approved next week, along with $94 million worth of cuts.

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By Sabrina Jaszi in News on March 20, 2010 10:05 AM

Comments [rss]

That's What She Said

"the V's lower Manhattan and South Brooklyn service will be eliminated"

huh? what about the V's Staten Island and Bronx stops? are those eliminated too?

there's an obscure publication which might help when you're writing these stories - the NYC Subway Map. we can all chip in and buy you a copy if gothamist can't afford one.

S.K.

Will the new M route retain its brown bullet, or use the signature orange of the 6th Avenue Local?

Pull My Finger

If they are going to shit-can the V train. how about restoring the G train to 71 & Continental.

xgeyiph772

No go, because the "M" train will be using tracks that the "V" would normally ride on. Only so many trains can get thru Queens Blvd line at one time.

That being said, they should just get ride of the whole "V/M" altogether and restore the "G" to Forest Hills. How many local trains does Sixth Ave need? There's already two locals and two expresses on the Sixth Ave line. Restoring it back to the "F" train via 53rd St would be much better. The only reason the "V" was created was to run a Sixth Ave train thru 53rd St so another line could use the Roosevelt Island/Queensbridge extension, which was not really needed at all.

InWoodside

Well then at least give us the G back on weekends. Or run the 'new' M on weekends. One train - the R - on the weekends is a headache.

TuraLura

It sucks for people like my loved one who use the M to get to Canal St, and all the thousands of people who use the 2nd Ave stop.

It's great for people like me who need to get to 23rd St & 6th.

Trilby16

The M is going to have to make a pretty sharp turn at Essex street in order to continue north along the V line.

SeasTooFarToReach

Maybe if it's possible to have the M stop at Delancey, instead of Essex. Then it will continue clogging the F line, just like the V does.

(Obviously don't have a map of the rails down there)

xgeyiph772

Yes, that would be a heck of a turn, lol. Didn't realize there actually is a track connection between BMT "M" line and IND Sixth Ave line via a cut under Chrystie St that is not normally used in revenue service. Found a good track map that shows this connection, which will have to be used for in-service trains once the "M" begins running along the old "V" line.

http://images.nycsubway.org/trackmap/detail-chrystie.png

Jamie McDonald

Does that map say "this section was once used by KKK trains"?

xgeyiph772

LOL, that does look funny no? When the TA used double letters for express trains and single letters for locals, the 6th Ave local was the "KK" train for a while. Then when the TA switched all routes to single letters in 1988, it became the "K" train. There's a slash in there (K/KK) that's hard to see.

krinkle cut fires

Thanks for the map link!

nivek

now that’s coming into focus with the older M taking over the V train’s orange branding and its stops in lower Manhattan and South Brooklyn

This is so poorly worded. The M is going to be taking over the V route to Forest Hills...hey, NYC now has a shitty loop line! Except the loop isn't complete...