Transit

New Photos of the Second Avenue Subway Show Progress–and a Twist on the MTA’s Typeface

April 29, 2015

New Photos of the Second Avenue Subway Show Progress–and a Twist on the MTA’s Typeface

When we last wrote about the Second Avenue Subway back in February, word was that Phase I was about 79 percent complete and still on track for its December 2016 opening. Earlier this week community members and MTA officials gathered once again to go over progress, with MTA Capital Construction President Dr. Michael Horodniceanu toting a slew of new photos and renderings of the line. While the new images certainly give us a better look at some of the exciting architecture taking shape deep below our streets—in fact, the southern section is now 82 percent complete, Horodniceanu relayed—several photos also reveal some fun updates to the NYC subway's famous lettering.
See more here

Debt-Ridden MTA May Hike Subway Fares to $3.15

April 28, 2015

Debt-Ridden MTA May Hike Subway Fares to $3.15

It might be time to trade in your metro card for a bike. Straphangers could soon see yet another fare hike if the MTA is unable to bridge its $15 billion budget gap. The NYDN reports that top transit officials are warning that the increase could ring in at as much as 15 percent, upping subway fares to $3.15 from $2.75. The agency tacked on 25 cents just last month to a single ride, much to the dismay of millions of commuters.
FInd out more here

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Subway Rent Map Shows Manhattan Rental Prices Along Each Train Line

Map © Thrillist

April 22, 2015

Subway Rent Map Shows Manhattan Rental Prices Along Each Train Line

The folks over at Thrillist have put together the fun new Manhattan Subway Rent Map, which shows "where you can't afford to live, by stop." The figures come from the median rent per bedroom near every Manhattan subway stop. For the most part, the trends are what you'd expect -- prices along the 4, 5, 6 line get incredibly lower above 96th Street; living near a 14th Street train station will cost you; and the A, C, E train carries pretty steep prices throughout Manhattan until you reach 125th Street. But what's interesting is that the 59th Street corridor reigns supreme, with prices across the board coming in around $2,800.
See the full map here

Goodyear Wanted to Create a Giant Conveyor Belt to Carry People Between Grand Central and Times Square

April 3, 2015

Goodyear Wanted to Create a Giant Conveyor Belt to Carry People Between Grand Central and Times Square

Those shuttle trains between Grand Central and Times Square can certainly get crowded during rush hour, so imagine bypassing the underground connection and hopping on a giant conveyor belt in clear, gondola-like cars? We're not exactly sure if this sounds more or less appealing, but it's exactly what the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company proposed in 1951, hoping to transport 60,000 New Yorkers daily a third faster than the subway thanks to a continuous loop.
More on this never-built conveyor belt

Chatting with Strangers on Your Commute Will Make You Happier, Study Says

Photo via 2010-03-12 via photopin (license)

March 25, 2015

Chatting with Strangers on Your Commute Will Make You Happier, Study Says

Here's a way to bring some relief to those seemingly never-ending subway delays: strike up a conversation with the stranger next to you. Research conducted by behavioral scientists Nicholas Epley and Juliana Schroeder reveals that engaging in chitchat with your fellow straphangers can actually improve your well-being.
learn more about their study

The Subway That Could Have Been: Mapping Never-Built Train Lines and Abandoned Stations

City Hall subway station via John-Paul Palescandolo

March 23, 2015

The Subway That Could Have Been: Mapping Never-Built Train Lines and Abandoned Stations

We all know now that NYC has the worst commutes in the nation and that our subway system just keeps getting more unbearable. So it makes perfect sense that proposals for new train lines and alternate modes of transit like gondolas, ferry systems, and streetcars keep popping up. But this isn't a new phenomena; there have been many proposed subway lines that were never built, as well as stations that were taken out of service. A fun interactive map from WNYC called Lost Subways shows both of these, illustrating the subway that could have been.
Explore the map here

Transit

New App YoTrain! Will Let You Know if You’re About to Miss the Subway

March 20, 2015

New App YoTrain! Will Let You Know if You’re About to Miss the Subway

There's that moment of panic when you're running late to an important meeting or event and you can't decide whether to chance it and try to get on the train or just hop in the next cab you see. A new app called YoTrain! will alleviate this anxiety, alerting users within 200 feet of a subway station when the next train is coming. What's better is that the information comes in the form of a text and voice alert even if your phone is locked, so you don't have to be a cell phone zombie walking down the street. Think this is a genius idea? You're not alone. YoTrain!, created by Brooklyn-based tech developer Duong Nguyen, won a $10,000 grand prize in the MTA and AT&T's App Quest Challenge, an annual call for transportation-related apps for New Yorkers using MTA data.
Watch a video on the app here

NYC Has the Longest Work Week and Worst Commutes in the Nation

Photo via 2010-03-12 via photopin (license)

March 18, 2015

NYC Has the Longest Work Week and Worst Commutes in the Nation

At least we're getting some validation for our title of "disgruntled New Yorker." According to a new report called "The Hardest Working Cities" issued by Comptroller Scott Stringer, New Yorkers have an average work week of 49.1 hours, including six hours and 18 minutes for commuting.* And with subway service getting even worse–delays increased 46 percent in 2014–the future of our sanity isn't looking good.
More findings from the study ahead

What if NYC Offered Subway Riders Free E-Books?

M Subway Library scan. Image via Fast Co. Exist

March 9, 2015

What if NYC Offered Subway Riders Free E-Books?

Here's a cool idea we'd love to see implemented in Manhattan: A free e-library for folks who ride the subway. Earlier this year, Beijing subway operator Beijing MTR rolled out a new digital library that would allow its underground commuters to download a book, at no cost, by simply scanning a QR code inside a train car. As you may have guessed, the initiative is looking to get citizens to spend more time reading over mindlessly watching videos or playing games.
More on the new program

Popular Articles

March 6, 2015

Your Suspicions Are Correct, Subway Service Is Really Getting Worse

The platform pileups, the sick passengers, everyone's favorite recording, "we're delayed because of train traffic ahead of us"–subway service in New York City is getting worse, and it's not just in your imagination. In 2014, delays increased by a whopping 45.6 percent, and on the worst lines, the 4, 5 and 6, that number grows to 57 percent. The main culprits are right-of-way delays (caused by malfunctions of switches, signals, and rails) and overcrowding, the latter of which caused more than double the amount of delays in 2014, up from 6,942 to 14,843.
More details ahead

$19.05 Is the Perfect Amount to Load on a MetroCard so You Won’t Have Leftover Change

March 5, 2015

$19.05 Is the Perfect Amount to Load on a MetroCard so You Won’t Have Leftover Change

If you don't get an unlimited weekly or monthly MetroCard, you probably put random amounts on your card each time, or you might select one of the MTA's payment prompts–a $9.00 MetroCard with a $.45 bonus, a $19.00 card with a $.95 bonus, or a $39.00 card with a $1.95 bonus. If you fall into one of these two camps, you're likely always left with a useless amount of change on the card that will never add up to the $2.50 it costs for a single train ride. All of that leftover change going unused on thousands of MetroCards each day is being collected by the MTA, in what seems like a purposeful tactic. But now, thanks to statistician Ben Wellington, we have the solution to one of NYC life's biggest dilemmas–$19.05 is the is the perfect amount to load on your MetroCard so that you'll get eight subway rides without a penny left over.
Find out how Wellington arrived at this number

Animated GIF Shows How NYC’s Subway Has Evolved over the Last 100 Years

March 2, 2015

Animated GIF Shows How NYC’s Subway Has Evolved over the Last 100 Years

If you’ve ever wondered what subway lines were the first to appear in NYC, this cool animated map has all the answers and then some. Created by Appealing Industries via Paste Magazine (h/t Untapped), the map shows the evolution of the city’s various lines over the 100-plus years that it’s been in operation. Surprisingly, Brooklyn is the first to see action on […]

Helicopter Taxi Service Brings Commuters to JFK or Newark Airport in Six Minutes

February 27, 2015

Helicopter Taxi Service Brings Commuters to JFK or Newark Airport in Six Minutes

And you thought taking an Uber to the airport was fancy. Gotham Air, a helicopter livery operator, has launched its airborne taxi service which can bring New Yorkers from Manhattan to JFK or Newark Airport in just six minutes. The service is currently priced at $149/flight for those who register for the BETA group, but standard fares will likely start at $219. So, pretty much the same as an Uber during surge pricing.
Find out more about the swanky new transportation service

Transit

Phase I of the Second Avenue Subway Now 78.7 Percent Complete–and Still on Track

Image: MTA Capital Construction / Rehema Trimiew

February 26, 2015

Phase I of the Second Avenue Subway Now 78.7 Percent Complete–and Still on Track

By Alyssa Alimurung

It seems to be taking forever for the Second Avenue Subway (SAS) to be finished, but alas, never say never. Yesterday evening, community members and MTA Capital Construction officials gathered at Temple Israel for the SAS eighth quarterly workshop to discuss the line's construction updates, future plans and to take any comments or concerns from citizens. In his opening statement, MTA Capital Construction President Dr. Michael Horodniceanu reported that Phase I is now 78.7 percent complete (as of February 1, 2015). The number seemed to please many, but in light of the MTA's budget crisis, the top question on everyone's mind was still: "Is this thing on schedule to be completed in December 2016?" Dr. Horodniceanu reassured everyone, "We've been having these workshops for four years, and the date has stayed the same."
the next stop will be...

Proposed ‘Triboro Rx’ Subway Line Would Better Connect the Outer Boroughs

Map of the Triboro RX via RPA

February 19, 2015

Proposed ‘Triboro Rx’ Subway Line Would Better Connect the Outer Boroughs

The problem with moving to many affordable neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx is the lack of transportation options, but a new report from the Regional Plan Association calls for a Triboro RX subway line, which would weave together existing subway stops in far-reaching spots, as well as provide additional locations. And forget toll hikes to fund the line; it would run mostly above ground on existing freight train tracks, making implementation easy and cost effective.
More on the transportation proposal and see the full Triboro RX map

February 18, 2015

POLL: Do You Support an $8 Bridge Toll to Raise Funds for the MTA?

Yesterday we looked at a new proposal from MoveNY to toll four East River bridges (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Williamsburg, and Queensboro) and 60th Street in Manhattan in order to “raise funds for the MTA’s five-year capital plan (which is about $15.2 billion short of its target), and to make the cost of the city’s transit more equitable.” Drivers with […]

Transit

Group Proposes $8 Toll on Popular East River Bridges to Raise Funds for the MTA

Image via Wikimedia Commons

February 17, 2015

Group Proposes $8 Toll on Popular East River Bridges to Raise Funds for the MTA

Image via Wikimedia Commons Car-happy city folk are sure to grumble over this latest proposal from MoveNY to toll four East River bridges (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Williamsburg and Queensboro) and 60th Street in Manhattan. The group's plan, backed by former traffic commissioner Sam Schwartz, is looking to raise funds for the MTA's five-year capital plan (which is about $15.2 billion short of its target), and to make the cost of the city's transit more equitable. The new program would apply a $5.54 toll each way for bridge-crossers traveling with an E-ZPass, while drivers without an E-Zpass will have to shell out $8 to cross each time. The same tolls would also be applied to all avenue crossings at 60th Street.
Find out more here

Transit

The MTA Has More Debt Than Cuba, Iceland and at Least 28 Other Nations

Image via nycsubway.org

February 12, 2015

The MTA Has More Debt Than Cuba, Iceland and at Least 28 Other Nations

The MTA's $15 billion 2015-2019 Capital Plan funding gap may sound like a staggering amount, but the current debt that the agency carries ($34.1 billion to be exact) is apparently bigger than that of Cuba, Syria and Jamaica's total debt. In fact, according to a new Straphangers campaign, more than 30 nations have less debt than the MTA.
READ MORE

New York’s Airports Come In Last for Mass-Transit Accessibility

Photo via Continental Airlines Boeing 737-500; N16617@LGA;05.02.2008/498af via photopin (license)

February 10, 2015

New York’s Airports Come In Last for Mass-Transit Accessibility

If you've ever endured the long ride to any of the area's airports, all the while lugging your suitcase and anxiously wondering if you'd miss your flight, then this statistic probably comes as no surprise. According to a study by the Global Gateway Alliance, "John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports rank last and third-to-last, respectively, in mass-transit accessibility compared with 30 of the world's busiest airports," reports Crain's. The analysis looked at total travel time for public transit users, mode of transportation and number of transfers and cost, scoring them from 0 to 100. And if Anthony Weiner is correct, the new LaGuardia AirTrain will only increase travel times–not good news those for us who prefer not to sit in insane taxi traffic or fork over $99 for a private helicopter ride.
More on the study here

Transit

The NYC Subway Is Filled with Bacteria and DNA from Unidentifiable Organisms

February 6, 2015

The NYC Subway Is Filled with Bacteria and DNA from Unidentifiable Organisms

If you're a hand sanitizer-wielding New Yorker who often finds yourself ridiculed by friends for your hypochondriac germaphobe ways, good news, because you've got the last laugh—sort of. A team of researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College spent the past 17 months mapping the DNA found in the New York City subway system, and what they uncovered will certainly make your skin crawl. Not only were some bacteria samples associated with bubonic plague and anthrax, but they also found that nearly half of the DNA found on subway infrastructure—we're talking turnstiles and ticket kiosks amongst other things—did not match any known organism.
Find out more here

Musical Data Project is the Soundtrack to Income Inequality Along the Subway

February 5, 2015

Musical Data Project is the Soundtrack to Income Inequality Along the Subway

While we love a good infographic or interactive map, this "musical data-viz project" really sparked our interest as a new way of looking at geographic trends. Artist and programmer Brian Foo translated a 1.5-hour subway ride on the 2 train into a 4.5 minute song that rises and falls based on the income of the neighborhood the train is passing through. What results is an audibly beautiful rendition of the often not-so-pretty diversity in the city's income levels.
Listen to the full song here

Map Revealed for de Blasio’s City-Wide Ferry System

February 4, 2015

Map Revealed for de Blasio’s City-Wide Ferry System

While there were plenty of highlights in Mayor de Blasio's State of the City address yesterday–from affordable housing to raising the minimum wage–it was undoubtedly the announcement of a city-wide ferry system that really got New Yorkers talking. De Blasio said that the ferry service will open in 2017, with pricing on par with the Metrocard, as a way to accommodate the growing population of New York. It will serve neighborhoods including the Lower East Side, Astoria, the Rockaways, Sunset Park, Brooklyn Army Terminal, Bay Ridge, Red Hook, and Soundview, among others. A new map released today shows the entirety of the system, breaking down existing ferry lines, those planned for 2017 and 2018, and those proposed.
More details and the full interactive map ahead

February 4, 2015

POLL: Would You Pay More for Better Subway Service?

The MTA’s fare hike will take effect in March, raising the price of a single subway ride from $2.50 to $2.75, and it’s made most New York train riders pretty unhappy. But what if service was better? If those flashing “delay” projections were few and far between; massive platform pileups were a thing of the […]

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Mapping How the NYC Subway Could Operate in a 40-Inch Snowstorm

February 3, 2015

Mapping How the NYC Subway Could Operate in a 40-Inch Snowstorm

Though winter storm Juno isn't going down in history as the biggest snowstorm to ever hit NYC, it was the first time the city completely shut down the subway system due to a snowstorm. Governor Cuomo and the MTA said the shutdown was necessary because a portion of almost every train line runs outdoors. Not happy with that reasoning? Then you'll really enjoy this map from WNYC called the Snowpiercer; it proposes how the subway system could operate during a 40-inch snowstorm.
See the full map here

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