Results tagged “l”

The Club Animals who give bouncy rides, deliver crack candy around town, and give us an overall uncomfortable feeling, are multiplying like Gremlins at a waterpark. Tonight the newest member will be giving away free butterfly kisses on the Union Square L platform from 9 to 10 p.m. We have also been alerted that free bouncy rides will take place from 8 to 9 p.m. in the same location, which makes us think that dolphin and bunny are one in the same!

An everyday occurrence turned into a 28 hour ordeal for a Queens man last month when he was arrested for using the emergency subway exit at DeKalb Avenue on the L line in Brooklyn. 32-year-old Todd Zielinski says he used the exit to bypass a crowd of commuters pushing through the turnstiles, but plainclothes cops stopped him, checked his ID, and sent him through what's commonly called "the system." In most cases, the NYPD issues summonses for minor offenses like this, but suspects without IDs or with outstanding warrants are sent on a long trip down to The Tombs before seeing a judge. But Zielinski, a Verizon technician, insists his record is clean and tells the Daily News, "They took 28 hours of my life away from me. People can't believe it. This is what our city's come to? I've taken the subway and buses all my life... If I counted how much money I've given to the MTA to be treated like this." (In 2006, the MTA reported that unnecessary use of the emergency gates was causing the automatic alarms to malfunction.) An NYPD spokesman confirmed the arrest, but it's unclear why Zielinski was detained for so long. Perhaps the inevitable lawsuit will shed more light on the incident.

The transformation is at last complete: After years of delays, L trains will now operate entirely at the whims of an all-powerful computer system—just in time for everyone to ride it to Union Square for the premiere of Terminator Salvation. Motormen working the Brooklyn-Manhattan line will remain on board as a token gesture to humanity's fading relevance, and as way of placating Luddites worried about some sinister runaway HAL train making a break for New Jersey. The "Communications Based Train Control" [CBTC] will kick in tomorrow, (theoretically) enabling NYC Transit to relieve overcrowding by running trains closer together than the current signal system allows. You may recall that fully activating the robo-train has been pushed back for years due to technical glitches; the system will be used overnight at first before expanding into peak service times. NYC Transit's vice president assures the public the computer-operated trains are ready for prime time, telling the Daily News, "This is a safe system with proven technology." At least until it becomes self-aware.

Williamsburg just got a little bit more adorable; the NYC Scout (who we interviewed last week) spotted some plastic mistletoe hanging above the stairs to the Bedford L stop. Will two down on their luck commuters find a love light at the end of the dark subway tunnel that is the holiday season? Stay tuned to the missed connections section of Craigslist where surely a real life romantic comedy will play out.

For the past ten months, the MTA has been experimenting with a new management structure on the L and 7 lines that officials hope will improve subway service. But has anyone noticed? Most passengers stopped by the Times say they've seen little change, though one woman believes the L has been slightly less mobbed when it pulls into Lorimer Street during rush hour. The experiment calls for a general manager to take charge of each subway line and make "quick" decisions over train schedules, maintenance of stations, and riders' complaints. NYC Transit president Howard Roberts Jr. says that as a result more trains have been running on time (though the Times questions this) and will roll out the restructuring citywide. Roberts says the managerial streamlining will result in 70 fewer positions and a savings of $7.3 million/year. Which will put the transit system just $993 million away from closing their $1 billion deficit!

NYPIRG's Straphangers Campaign released its 2007 report on Subway Schmutz today and there was reason for encouragement. Overall, car cleanliness improved slightly between 2005 and 2007, but there was significant improvement on the 7 and L lines. The L line actually has the cleanest cars in the system according to Straphangers, with 88% of cars earning a clean rating versus 61% in 2005. The 7 train line was tied for second place, with 78% getting a clean rating versus 22% in 2005.

Starting in mid-September 2007, "additional cleaners were deployed at both terminals for these lines, working in multiple shifts to provide 24-hour coverage," according to MTA New York City Transit. Beginning on December 10, 2007, two new "line general managers" were appointed with greater authority to run the L (Greg Lombardi) and the 7 (Lou Brusati).

Riders of the East Side 4 line had less to be enthusiastic about. The 4 train plummeted from the top spot in 2005 (94% clean) to a below-average 38% clean in 2007, so start stocking up on handiwipes and Purell. As for E train riders, there's mixed news -- on the upside, it showed the largest improvement of any line (2% clean in '05 to 29% clean '07). On the downside, it's still the filthiest train in the system.