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Massive Empire Station Complex project that will revamp Penn Station area moves forward

Rendering of new entrance on 8th Avenue to Penn Station via Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office

February 19, 2021

Massive Empire Station Complex project that will revamp Penn Station area moves forward

By Devin Gannon

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan to build an interconnected public transportation hub and revitalize Penn Station took a major step forward this week. The Empire State Development's Board of Directors on Thursday adopted the General Project Plan (GPP) and certified the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Empire Station Complex project, which would link an upgraded Penn Station, the newly opened Moynihan Train Hall, and a tentative new terminal one block south of Penn Station. The board also set a public hearing on the project for March 23, followed by a 30-day public comment period.
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MTA predicts ‘new normal’ ridership by 2024 that may be 80% of pre-pandemic levels

Photo by Joey via Flickr cc

February 19, 2021

MTA predicts ‘new normal’ ridership by 2024 that may be 80% of pre-pandemic levels

With New York City having fully vaccinated more than 450,000 people and a vaccine surge expected by April, it's all too easy to start envisioning the good-old-days. But many aspects of city living may never quite be what they were. To account for that, the MTA has predicted a "new normal" ridership that will stabilize "in 2023 and 2024 between 80% and 92% of pre-pandemic levels," according to a press release. And though the agency has staved off subway and bus service cuts through 2022, they warn that they may still eventually make cuts to adapt to reduced ridership.
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NYC subway to restore some overnight service

Photo: Patrick Cashin / MTA New York City Transit

February 16, 2021

NYC subway to restore some overnight service

By Devin Gannon

Overnight subway service in New York City will partially resume this month following more than nine months of closure. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced on Monday plans for a phased reopening of the subway starting February 22, which includes closing the system for cleaning from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. instead of from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. Cuomo last May ordered the closure of 24/7 service, a first for the system, as part of a rigorous coronavirus disinfection plan and an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19.
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Jerry Seinfeld, Fran Lebowitz among celebs making new COVID PSAs on the subway

Photo by Jenna Day on Unsplash

February 12, 2021

Jerry Seinfeld, Fran Lebowitz among celebs making new COVID PSAs on the subway

Jerry Seinfeld, Edie Falco, Cam’ron, Debbie Mazar, Whoopie Goldberg, Fran Lebowitz--these are just a few of the 25 New York celebrities whose voices were recorded by the MTA for a new set of subway PSAs. The announcements, which begin today, are meant to bring humor and some good old-fashioned NYC swagger to the subway as the city begins its recovery. The project was done in collaboration with Nicolas Heller, a talent scout who has gained notoriety for his popular Instagram account New York Nico. "This was such a dream project and I wanna give a huge thanks to my team who helped make this whole thing happen in less than 6 weeks with $0," he wrote in a post today.
Hear some of the announcements

Bike lanes to replace car lanes on the Brooklyn and Queensboro bridges

Photo courtesy of alihasadd25 on Pixabay

January 29, 2021

Bike lanes to replace car lanes on the Brooklyn and Queensboro bridges

By Devin Gannon

New York City plans to ban cars from part of two major East River bridges and reserve them for cyclists. Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday unveiled a proposal to transform the innermost lane of the Brooklyn Bridge into a two-way protected bike lane and convert the north outer roadway of the Queensboro Bridge into a two-way bike-only lane. The "Bridges for the People" plan was announced as part of the mayor's final State of the City address, "A Recovery for All of Us."
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MTA unveils digital memorial honoring over 100 transit workers lost to COVID-19

Photos courtesy of Marc A. Hermann/ MTA unless otherwise noted

January 25, 2021

MTA unveils digital memorial honoring over 100 transit workers lost to COVID-19

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday unveiled a memorial dedicated to the 136 employees who have died from the coronavirus since March. The tribute, named "Travels Far: A Memorial Honoring Our Colleagues Lost to COVID-19" after a poem by Tracy K. Smith commissioned for the project, includes an eight-minute video featuring photographs of the frontline MTA workers who lost their lives to the virus. The video will run on 138 three-panel digital screens at 107 subway stations across the city starting Monday.
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Port Authority reveals plan to raze and replace Midtown bus terminal

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

January 22, 2021

Port Authority reveals plan to raze and replace Midtown bus terminal

By Devin Gannon

Nearly ten years and 30 proposals later, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Thursday unveiled a plan to replace the dilapidated Midtown bus terminal. The agency on Thursday presented its final scoping report for the project, which involves demolishing the existing bus station to make way for a larger, state-of-the-art terminal. According to the Port Authority, the new plan would increase the capacity for commuter and intercity buses at the world's busiest bus terminal by nearly 40 percent.
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Cuomo reveals $51B plan to redevelop Midtown West, replace Port Authority

All renderings courtesy of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

January 15, 2021

Cuomo reveals $51B plan to redevelop Midtown West, replace Port Authority

By Devin Gannon

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday unveiled an ambitious plan to transform over 100 acres of Midtown West as part of a new "transit-oriented" development. The $51 billion proposal adds a new train hall south of Penn Station, replaces the Port Authority Bus Terminal, extends the High Line, and adds up to 1,400 units of new affordable housing. The project is one part of the governor's proposed $306 billion infrastructure plan, introduced on Thursday during his fourth 2021 State of the State address.
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See inside the new light-filled Moynihan Train Hall

Photo © Max Touhey

December 30, 2020

See inside the new light-filled Moynihan Train Hall

By Devin Gannon

As one of the few bright spots during a very dark time in New York, the new Moynihan Train Hall opens to the public on Friday. The new transit hub expands Penn Station into the landmarked James A. Farley Post Office Building on Eighth Avenue, increasing capacity at the busiest railroad station in the country by 50 percent. On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo celebrated the opening of Moynihan Train Hall, which was inspired by the design of the original Penn Station that was demolished in the 1960s. Ahead, get a look inside the new train hall, including the 92-foot-high massive skylights that total one acre and the new waiting areas for the Long Island Rail Road and Amtrak.
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NYC’s new Moynihan Train Hall will open January 1

Credit: SOM/ Office of Governor Cuomo on Flickr

December 28, 2020

NYC’s new Moynihan Train Hall will open January 1

By Devin Gannon

The long-awaited new Moynihan Train Hall will be completed on December 31 with trains operating the next day, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Sunday. The $1.6 billion project expands the existing Penn Station into the historic James A. Farley Post Office Building on Eighth Avenue and is part of a new mixed-use transit hub with office space and retail at the site. Named for the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the new train hall is expected to increase the cramped concourse space at Penn Station by 50 percent.
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Funding for MTA and Broadway included in latest federal COVID relief bill

Photo by (vincent desjardins) on Flickr

December 21, 2020

Funding for MTA and Broadway included in latest federal COVID relief bill

By Devin Gannon

Congress on Sunday reached an agreement on a $900 billion emergency coronavirus relief package, roughly nine months after the first stimulus was signed into law. The package is expected to provide one-time direct payments of $600 to most taxpayers and provide an additional $300 per week to those unemployed. In some positive news for New York, the stimulus deal also includes $4 billion to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Save Our Stages bill, which provides funding for live performance venues, comedy clubs, and Broadway. Congress could vote on the package as early as Monday.
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How does the MTA deal with snowstorms? Jet engine powered snow blowers

A jet snow thrower in action via MTA’s Flickr

December 16, 2020

How does the MTA deal with snowstorms? Jet engine powered snow blowers

By Devin Gannon

With a forecast of up to 18 inches of snow, Winter Storm Gail is expected to bring more snow to New York City this week than the five boroughs saw all of last year. In response to the nor'easter, expected to hit Wednesday afternoon, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has activated its 24/7 command center to monitor the storm. The agency is prepared to clear subways, buses, and commuter railways of snow thanks to its fleet of super-powered snow throwers, jet-powered snow blowers, and specially designed de-icing cars to tackle the icy mess.
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To help fund MTA, proposed bill calls for $3 fee on packages delivered in NYC

Photo by Raidarmax on Wikimedia

December 9, 2020

To help fund MTA, proposed bill calls for $3 fee on packages delivered in NYC

By Devin Gannon

A state lawmaker is calling for a new surcharge on packages delivered in New York City as a way to raise money for the cash-strapped Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Assembly Member Robert Carroll revived a bill he first introduced last February that would impose a $3 fee on all online delivery transactions, except for essential medical supplies and food. Facing its worst financial crisis in history because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the MTA has said without the $12 billion in aid from Congress it has requested, subway and bus service could be cut by 40 percent.
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MTA considers ditching unlimited MetroCards, cutting service amid budget crisis

Photo credit: Billie Grace Ward via Flickr

November 19, 2020

MTA considers ditching unlimited MetroCards, cutting service amid budget crisis

By Devin Gannon

Subway and bus service could be cut by 40 percent, thousands of workers laid off, unlimited MetroCards eliminated, and fares increased under a budget proposed by the Metropolitan Transportation on Wednesday as the agency faces the worst financial crisis in its history. The grim 2021 budget comes as the MTA faces a tremendous deficit amplified by the coronavirus pandemic, with no federal relief in sight. The agency on Wednesday projected a deficit of $15.9 billion through 2024.
Details here

Can Times Square ever be completely car-free?

Rendering courtesy of 3deluxe

November 10, 2020

Can Times Square ever be completely car-free?

By Devin Gannon

It's been over ten years since cars were first banned in some sections of Times Square. Is it time for additional street closures along bustling Broadway? In a new design study, the Germany-based architecture firm 3deluxe has reimagined Times Square to prioritize pedestrians and cyclists, trading vehicular traffic lanes for recreational activities, landscaped features, and public transportation. The concept comes as New York and other cities continue to reexamine the value of safe public space as the fight to control the coronavirus pandemic continues.
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New York will deploy additional National Guard and NYPD to enforce COVID rules at airports

Photo by Kevin Dellandrea on Unsplash

November 6, 2020

New York will deploy additional National Guard and NYPD to enforce COVID rules at airports

With the pandemic roaring around the nation and in nearby New Jersey and Connecticut, Governor Cuomo today announced that he'd be deploying additional National Guard and NYPD members to state airports to enforce the state's COVID entry requirements as the holidays approach. In a conference call this morning with reporters, the governor said, "You should not land if you do not have proof of a negative test," referring to the new travel rule that he announced on Monday, which says that most travelers who were in another state for more than 24 hours must obtain a test within three days of departure from that state.
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Election Day 2020: Deals and discounts for New York voters and poll workers

Early voting at the Brooklyn Museum; © 6sqft

November 2, 2020

Election Day 2020: Deals and discounts for New York voters and poll workers

While over three million New Yorkers, including over one million residents in New York City, have already cast their ballots during the nine-day early voting period, millions more are expected to show up to vote on Tuesday. To help both voters and poll workers deal with possible long wait times and overall stress this Election Day, a number of companies are offering deals and freebies on November 3, from discounted rides to the polls to free food delivery.
Details here

24 percent of NYC subway and bus workers have had COVID-19, survey says

Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

October 21, 2020

24 percent of NYC subway and bus workers have had COVID-19, survey says

By Devin Gannon

Nearly a quarter of New York City subway and bus workers reported contracting the coronavirus, according to a survey released on Tuesday. Of the roughly 650 Transport Workers Union Local 100 members surveyed as part of a pilot study led by New York University, 24 percent said they had the virus at some point since the start of the pandemic. The new report suggests more transit workers had the virus than previously thought. In May, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said about 14 percent of transit workers tested positive for antibodies.
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MTA launches first real-time digital subway map

Courtesy of the MTA

October 20, 2020

MTA launches first real-time digital subway map

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Tuesday released a new digital map of the New York City subway system that provides service updates to riders in real-time. As first reported by Curbed, this map uses data from the MTA to update as service changes are happening, allowing users to click on stations and individual train lines to see the actual wait time for the next train. When zoomed in on the map, little gray blocks move along the colored lines, depicting the train's actual movement from station to station. Created by design and technology firm Work & Co., the map modernizes both Massimo Vignelli's iconic 1972 map and the current map designed by Michael Hertz, combining the geometric and graphic design-friendly Vignelli map with the geographical elements of Hertz. The new live map is the first major redesign of the NYC subway map in 40 years.
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New bus-only lanes in the South Bronx will speed up city’s slowest routes

Photo credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

October 12, 2020

New bus-only lanes in the South Bronx will speed up city’s slowest routes

By Devin Gannon

Nearly three miles of dedicated bus lanes equipped with transit signal priority technology and enforcement cameras opened in the South Bronx last week, part of the city's plan to speed up the system's notoriously slow travel times. The new lanes run along East 149th Street between Southern Boulevard and River Avenue and are used by four heavily-used bus routes, the Bx2, Bx4, Bx17, and the Bx19. The bus improvement project is the fourth to be completed since Mayor Bill de Blasio announced his Better Buses Restart plan in June amid the city's coronavirus pandemic recovery.
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Did you know the MTA had an armored money train that ran from 1951 to 2006?

Interior of the money train via Wikipedia

October 8, 2020

Did you know the MTA had an armored money train that ran from 1951 to 2006?

By Devin Gannon

In order to collect fares from various stations, the MTA created a special armored train that moved all the subway and bus fares collected to a secret room at 370 Jay Street in Downtown Brooklyn. As Untapped Cities learned, the money trains, which ran from 1951 to 2006, had 12 collecting agents and one supervisor, all of whom were armed and wearing body armor. After the Metrocard arrived, the revenue collection system changed, and the final armored train rode in January 2006 on the same day the Money Room closed.
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See inside the secret train track hidden in the depths of Grand Central Terminal

Image © Emily Nonko for 6sqft

September 25, 2020

See inside the secret train track hidden in the depths of Grand Central Terminal

The iconic Grand Central Terminal is a building with more than a few secrets. Constructed in 1913 with the wealth of the Vanderbilt family, there was a lavish private office (now known as The Campbell Apartment), glass catwalks, a hidden spiral staircase, and even artists' studios on an upper floor. One of the most infamous secrets of the terminal, however, was a secret track used specifically for a president to access one of the most famous hotels in the world. Known as Track 61, it leads to a special platform that was never used or intended to be used in regular passenger service—it just happened to be in the right place.
Keep reading about Grand Central's secret track

Refusing to wear a mask on MTA trains and buses will cost riders $50

Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

September 10, 2020

Refusing to wear a mask on MTA trains and buses will cost riders $50

By Devin Gannon

Riders on public transit in New York who refuse to wear a face mask will now be fined $50, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced Thursday. Starting Monday, riders of the city's subway and buses, the Long Island Rail Road, and Metro-North will be subject to the new penalty for not complying with the mandatory face-covering rule, put in place by executive order in April.
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FEMA pulls funding for sanitizing schools and subways, according to officials

Photo: Patrick Cashin / MTA New York City Transit

September 4, 2020

FEMA pulls funding for sanitizing schools and subways, according to officials

By Devin Gannon

A recent rule change by the Federal Emergency Management Agency could take away funding for disinfecting subway cars and city schools, Sen. Chuck Schumer said on Thursday. New guidance from the agency says states need to cover the costs of disinfectants, personal protective equipment, temperature scanners, and other cleaning-related items that have been reimbursed by FEMA since March, the start of the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. Schumer called the change a "downright dirty decision" made during a time when New York and the rest of the country continues to fight against the spread of the virus.
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Revel electric mopeds return to NYC with strict safety rules

Photo by Arun D on Flickr

August 27, 2020

Revel electric mopeds return to NYC with strict safety rules

By Devin Gannon

About a month after Revel suspended service following the death of two riders, the popular electric mopeds returned to New York City streets on Thursday. But before New Yorkers take the rideshare scooters for a spin, the company is requiring riders to complete new in-app safety training and snap a helmet selfie before every ride. Revel, which first launched in 2018, is also increasing penalties for rule-breaking by using moped data to find riders who ride the wrong way down one-way streets, on sidewalks, and a number of other offenses.
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