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NYC reveals design for esplanade and new 107th Street pier in East Harlem

Aerial rendering of proposed 107th Street Pier. Courtesy of NYCEDC

April 16, 2024

NYC reveals design for esplanade and new 107th Street pier in East Harlem

By Aaron Ginsburg

Plans to rehabilitate a 20-block section of bike and pedestrian paths and reconstruct a decrepit pier in East Harlem are moving forward. In a presentation to Manhattan Community Board 11 this month, the city unveiled its preliminary design to rebuild and rehabilitate the East River Esplanade between East 94th and East 107th Streets and East 117th and East 124th Streets, as well as construct a new pier at 107th Street, as Streetsblog first reported. Construction is expected to begin on the $294 million project in the later part of next year and wrap up in 2027.
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NYC unveils secure sidewalk locker program to prevent package theft

Image courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

April 11, 2024

NYC unveils secure sidewalk locker program to prevent package theft

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is installing secure package lockers across the five boroughs to prevent theft and reduce delivery truck traffic. Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday announced "LockerNYC," a pilot program to install seven package lockers with 25 safe compartments and security cameras to combat theft. The lockers will be installed on sidewalks at select locations and available for free through a variety of delivery carriers. New Yorkers can sign up and manage orders here.
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MTA wants NYC Marathon to pay $750K for Verrazzano Bridge tolls

The TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

April 3, 2024

MTA wants NYC Marathon to pay $750K for Verrazzano Bridge tolls

By Aaron Ginsburg

The New York City Marathon's spectacular starting point on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge may have a spectacular price tag. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority wants the New York Road Runners, the organizers of the race, to cough up $750,000 a year to make up for lost toll revenue when the bridge closes to traffic for the marathon, as the New York Times first reported. The MTA threatened to restrict the race to just one level of the bridge if the organization refused to agree to some form of payment.
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50+ streets in NYC to go car-free for Earth Day

Image courtesy of NYC DOT on Flickr

April 3, 2024

50+ streets in NYC to go car-free for Earth Day

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's car-free Earth Day event is back and better than ever. On Saturday, April 20, 53 streets and plazas across the five boroughs will be closed to cars and open for pedestrians and cyclists, nearly doubling the number of locations from last year. Running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the annual Open Streets: Car-Free Earth Day includes seven signature event locations and 46 partner-produced open street locations, featuring public art, community programming, live performances, and more.
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NYC to test gun detectors in the subway system

Photo courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

March 28, 2024

NYC to test gun detectors in the subway system

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City will test weapon-detecting scanners in the subway system to make commuters feel safer after a string of violent incidents. Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday unveiled a portable scanner designed to detect guns carried by riders. The pilot program can begin following a 90-day waiting period during which the public can share their thoughts on the technology. The mayor also said the city will hire more clinicians to connect people with severe mental illness in the transit system to treatment and care.
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NYC congestion pricing program gains final approval, with June start date

Photo by Jesús Mirón García on Pexels

March 27, 2024

NYC congestion pricing program gains final approval, with June start date

By Aaron Ginsburg

The plan to charge drivers entering certain parts of Manhattan received final approval on Wednesday, signaling the imminent start of the country's first congestion pricing program. The Board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted 11-to-1 to approve the toll rates for the program, which includes a fee of $15 for passenger and small commercial vehicles entering below 60th Street from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Unless held up by the several legal challenges the program currently faces, congestion pricing is expected to start in June.
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Penn Station’s Tracks Bar to open in Grand Central Madison

Renderings courtesy of the MTA

March 25, 2024

Penn Station’s Tracks Bar to open in Grand Central Madison

By Aaron Ginsburg

A former Penn Station mainstay and favorite of Long Island Rail Road commuters will be the first restaurant to open in Grand Central Madison. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Friday revealed plans to make Tracks Raw Bar & Grill its first major commercial tenant at the new LIRR terminal--which opened in Grand Central last January--as first reported by the New York Post.
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Citi Bike docks installed at Citi Field ahead of Mets home opener

All photos courtesy of NYC DOT

March 22, 2024

Citi Bike docks installed at Citi Field ahead of Mets home opener

By Aaron Ginsburg

Baseball fans can now ride Citi Bikes to Citi Field, just in time for the start of the 2024 season. The New York Mets, Citi Bike, and Lyft on Thursday unveiled new docking stations at Citi Field, offering another way to travel to a ball game. The stadium will feature 66 docks, about half of which are near the main entrance near the homerun apple and another half next to the intersection of Shea Road and Boat Basin Place.
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Port Authority seeks local, minority vendors for JFK Airport’s new $9.5B terminal

Renderings courtesy of the Port Authority of NY and NJ

March 19, 2024

Port Authority seeks local, minority vendors for JFK Airport’s new $9.5B terminal

By Aaron Ginsburg

John F. Kennedy International Airport is searching for vendors to fulfill its vision for its new international terminal. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), The New Terminal One (NTO), and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) Airports on Monday announced the launch of the commercial program for JFK Airport’s $9.5 billion all-international terminal opening in 2026. The retail spaces at the terminal will offer "beloved NYC favorites, global powerhouse brands, engaging guest experiences, and thoughtful amenities under one spectacular roof," according to a press release.
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William Kentridge’s video animation of historical figures on view at Moynihan Train Hall

Images courtesy of Amtrak

March 18, 2024

William Kentridge’s video animation of historical figures on view at Moynihan Train Hall

By Aaron Ginsburg

A cast of historical figures is watching travelers as they bustle through the waiting area of Moynihan Train Hall. Created by South African artist William Kentridge, "We Will Make Shoes from the Sky" is a multi-panel video animation featuring characters based on famous people from history, including several Black leaders like James Baldwin, Josephine Baker, and Aimé and Suzanne Césaire. The installation is currently on view on the digital screens in the main waiting area of Moynihan Train Hall.
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Ride a vintage NYC subway car to the home opener at Yankee Stadium

Photo by Marc A. Hermann/ MTA on Flickr

March 14, 2024

Ride a vintage NYC subway car to the home opener at Yankee Stadium

By Aaron Ginsburg

Baseball lovers can travel to Yankee Stadium in retro style aboard vintage NYC subway trains. The New York Transit Museum is running its beloved 1917 IRT Lo-V train and Train of Many Colors on Friday, April 5, offering baseball fans a special way to arrive at the Yankees home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. The event is free with subway fare and departs from Grand Central Terminal at 11 a.m., giving Yankee fans more than enough time to catch the first pitch at 1:05 p.m.
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Hochul deploys National Guard and state police to check bags, patrol NYC subway

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

March 6, 2024

Hochul deploys National Guard and state police to check bags, patrol NYC subway

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday said she would deploy roughly 1,000 National Guard and New York State Police members to patrol the New York City subway system and help officers check bags for weapons. The additional personnel, which includes 750 National Guard members and 250 members of the state police and MTA police department, are meant to make riders feel safe following several recent high-profile assaults in the transit system.
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NYC proposes revamped Second Avenue with ‘offset’ bus lane and wider bike lane

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

March 6, 2024

NYC proposes revamped Second Avenue with ‘offset’ bus lane and wider bike lane

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City wants to redesign a three-mile portion of Second Avenue to improve bus service and make it safer for cyclists. During a presentation to Manhattan Community Board 6 on Monday, the city’s Department of Transportation revealed a proposal to revamp the avenue from East 59th Street to Houston Street with a new "offset" bus lane in the center of the street, to allow for buses to maneuver around commercial curbside loading and unloading. The plan also includes widening bike lanes from six to eight feet, and even 10 feet at some sections.
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First public e-bike charging station opens in the East Village

All photos courtesy of NYC DOT

March 4, 2024

First public e-bike charging station opens in the East Village

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's first public, outdoor e-bike battery charging station opened last week as part of a six-month pilot program to test safer technologies for delivery workers and provide an alternative to charging bikes inside. The first of five to open in the coming weeks, the new station is located at Cooper Square in the East Village. The infrastructure includes a battery-swapping cabinet to swap out dead batteries for fully charged ones and a secure charging rack where workers can lock up their bikes and charge them while parked. The city said 100 delivery workers will initially participate in the pilot program and provide feedback on the charging hubs.
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Hochul wants to make it easier to shut down New York’s illegal smoke shops

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

February 29, 2024

Hochul wants to make it easier to shut down New York’s illegal smoke shops

By Aaron Ginsburg

In response to the thousands of illegal smoke shops operating in the state, with an estimated 8,000 in New York City alone, Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to make it easier to close illicit cannabis stores. On Wednesday, the governor proposed streamlining the state's Office of Cannabis Management's (OCM) ability to obtain court orders to padlock stores and permit the orders to be executed by local authorities. According to Hochul, the unregulated stores not only undermine the legal marijuana market but also pose health risks to customers.
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Murphy proposes new tax on wealthy corporations to fund NJ Transit

Photo by Adam E. Moreira via WikiCommons

February 28, 2024

Murphy proposes new tax on wealthy corporations to fund NJ Transit

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Phil Murphy has a plan to raise taxes on New Jersey's wealthiest corporations to help NJ Transit meet its roughly $900 million budget deficit. During his annual budget address on Tuesday, the governor unveiled the "Corporate Transit Fee," a new tax on Garden State corporations with net taxable incomes of more than $10 million per year. The proposal raises the corporate tax rate from 9 percent to 11.5 percent for qualifying businesses to create a dedicated funding source for the cash-strapped NJ Transit.
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MTA reveals congestion pricing exemptions for people with disabilities

Image courtesy of Strolicfurlan on Flickr

February 27, 2024

MTA reveals congestion pricing exemptions for people with disabilities

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday announced two plans to provide people with disabilities exemptions from the new congestion pricing toll, which could take effect as early as June. The Individual Disability Exemption Plan (IDEP) allows New Yorkers with disabilities to register one vehicle to be exempt from the Central Business District (CBD) tolling program. The second program, the Organizational Disability Exemption Plan (ODEP), permits organizations transporting people with disabilities, such as Access-A-Ride, to apply for the exemption.
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Westfield sued over plans to ditch Fulton Center

Image courtesy of Lerone Pieters on Unsplash

February 22, 2024

Westfield sued over plans to ditch Fulton Center

By Aaron Ginsburg

A plan from the Westfield Corporation to exit its 20-year retail lease at Fulton Center early is being met with a lawsuit from the New York City Transit Authority. As first reported by Bloomberg, the NYCTA sued Westfield after the mall operator announced it wanted to terminate its lease 10 years in. The suit, which aims to keep Westfield as the mall's operator, claims the transit agency would suffer major financial losses that could impact commuters if Westfield pulled out of the lease.
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MTA installing LED lights in every NYC subway station

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

February 21, 2024

MTA installing LED lights in every NYC subway station

By Aaron Ginsburg

Bright LED lights will be installed in every New York City subway station in a new effort to make the system safer for commuters, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced this week. The project includes replacing all 150,000 fluorescent lights across the city's subway system with LED lighting by the middle of 2026. Officials say the lights will enhance safety on the subway by brightening every platform and mezzanine and improving the visibility of the 15,000 security cameras found throughout the transit system.
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Open gangway subway cars are now in service on the C line

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

February 2, 2024

Open gangway subway cars are now in service on the C line

By Aaron Ginsburg

The New York City subway system's new open gangway cars have officially hit the rails. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday participated in an inaugural ride of the open gangway subway cars which are in service on the C line between Washington Heights and East New York. The ride marked the first time in modern history that an open gangway train, already used in major European and Asian cities, has operated in the United States.
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Port Authority unveils revised design for $10B Midtown bus terminal

Renderings courtesy of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

February 2, 2024

Port Authority unveils revised design for $10B Midtown bus terminal

By Devin Gannon

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Thursday unveiled an updated design for the project to build a new modern Midtown bus terminal and announced the publication of the draft environmental impact statement. Plans to replace the rundown 73-year-old bus terminal--the world's busiest--originated over 10 years ago to accommodate expected ridership growth. The terminal will cost $10 billion and take eight years to build, with construction potentially starting as early as this year.
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Staten Island Ferry to offer food and drinks for the first time since Covid

Photo by Scarlet Sappho on Flickr

January 30, 2024

Staten Island Ferry to offer food and drinks for the first time since Covid

By Aaron Ginsburg

Staten Island Ferry riders will be able to enjoy food and drinks on board for the first time since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Tuesday announced a request for proposals (RFP) for vendors interested in selling food and drinks, including alcoholic beverages, on the Staten Island Ferry. Proposals are due by March 7, with the new concessions expected to be in operation by the fall.
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Rico Gatson’s colorful geometric art brings sense of peace to Penn Station

Photos by David Plakke courtesy of Amtrak

January 29, 2024

Rico Gatson’s colorful geometric art brings sense of peace to Penn Station

By Aaron Ginsburg

Penn Station's Amtrak concourse has been transformed with colorful geometric designs. Created by New York City-based artist Rico Gatson, the installation "Untitled (Collective Light Transfer)" covers the Amtrak concourse at New York Penn Station with captivating geometric compositions that fill the otherwise bland space with a "pulsating energy," representing the rhythm of constant movement as travelers bustle through the station. The art installation will be on view in the upper-level rotunda between the 8th Avenue Amtrak departure concourse and the 7th Avenue NJ Transit concourse through the summer.
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MTA installs new subway platform barriers at 191st Street station

January 22, 2024

MTA installs new subway platform barriers at 191st Street station

By Aaron Ginsburg

Commuters should now feel more secure waiting for the 1 train at the 191st Street subway station. This weekend, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority installed new barriers on the edge of the platform at the Washington Heights station, as part of a pilot program aimed at improving safety and preventing people from falling onto the tracks. The station is the first of four to get the barriers under the program.
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G train may be suspended for 6 weeks this summer

Photo by The All-Nite Images on Flickr

January 17, 2024

G train may be suspended for 6 weeks this summer

By Aaron Ginsburg

The G train could shut down for at least six weeks this summer to allow for signal improvements. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority last week revealed the next part of its effort to modernize the subway system's signaling system and replace all of the existing signals with communications-based train control (CBTC), which allows trains to run closer together and increase service frequency. As Greenpointers reported, the proposal calls for three partial shutdowns along the line between June 28 and September 2.
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