Tag: mta

NYTIP INSIDER – on R211 delivery delays, service increases, and NYTIP updates

On today’s INSIDER, I’ll discuss delivery delays plaguing the R211 order and why they shouldn’t preclude service increases. I’ll also explain why the remaining updates for v1.0.0 v0.8.0 of the enhanced NYC subway are taking so long.

[READ ON…]

NYTIP – transforming commuter rail: introducing regional rail by leveraging weekend ridership

Welcome back to my NYTIP series! This post serves as my brand-new introduction to “regional rail” improvements on NY’s commuter rail systems – Metro-North (MNR), Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), and NJ Transit (NJT). Many advocates – myself included – use the term “regional rail” to describe systemwide improvements such as lower fares (and fewer fare zones), service increases, and “through running”; an excellent report by the Tri-State Transportation Campaign (TSTC) describes each of these elements in detail.

While it’s true that COVID-19 has decimated weekday commuter rail ridership in NY, a different picture is beginning to emerge on weekends:

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[Figs. 1, 2] Screenshots from MTA’s website taken on 10.14.2022 showing MNR and LIRR ridership over the last 7 days.

That’s right – weekend commuter rail ridership has not only fully recovered – it is now exceeding pre-pandemic levels! Surprisingly, I have not heard MTA or local politicians highlight or celebrate this fact. (If they did, I must’ve missed it.) In this post, I will explore ideas for using these weekend ridership gains to jump-start regional rail improvements in – and through – NY.

[Let’s begin!]

Simplified Summary

This post describes three key ideas for improving NY's commuter rail network. These three ideas are reducing fares, increasing service, and through-running. Weekend ridership now exceeds pre-pandemic levels, which affords an opportunity to implement these ideas. In doing so, the Tri-State Area can begin the transition from commuter rail to regional rail.

NYTIP INSIDER – could conceding cuomo’s airtrain conceive a chance?

On this edition of the NYTIP INSIDER, I explore a controversial topic – the proposed LaGuardia Airport (LGA) AirTrain. If you’ve read my SAS/LGA extension post, you know that I strongly prefer a subway extension. However, I must consider the very real possibility that Governor Cuomo gets what he wants regarding this AirTrain. If it gets built, what does that mean for NYTIP?

[Read on…]

NYTIP INSIDER – jump-starting the subway amidst the rona

UPDATE (12.13.2021): Post revised to reflect updates to the enhanced NYC subway.

The novel coronavirus, a.k.a. COVID-19, wreaked havoc on mass transit systems nationwide. In NYC, lockdowns, telework, changes in commuting behavior, and increased wariness about transit use led to massive ridership drops on subways, buses, and commuter rail. Worse, vehicular traffic has already returned to pre-pandemic levels – and it’ll likely worsen.

With no sign of relief in sight, the MTA warned of doomsday cuts at a level not seen in decades. Given these dire circumstances, where does that leave NYTIP?

Find out on this edition of the NYTIP INSIDER.

[Onward!]

NYTIP – extending the nyc subway: utica and nostrand avenues

UPDATE (03.28.2022): Post updated with the Livonia El extension.

Welcome back to my ongoing NYTIP series! In this post, I’ll discuss Brooklyn IRT extensions on two dense corridors – Utica Avenue and Nostrand Avenue.

[let’s go!]

NYTIP – extending the nyc subway: from the concourse to co-op city

UPDATE (03.05.2022): Post lightly edited for clarity.

Welcome back to my ongoing NYTIP series! In my last post, I began expounding on point two in my three-point plan to fix the NYC Subway – extend – with SAS Phase 2X and an Astoria line extension to LaGuardia Airport. In this post, I will discuss the Concourse line extension to Co-op City and accompanying improvements.

[let’s go!]