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July 11, 2007

F Train Woes and Platform Chatter

aveU.jpg
As of this morning, local blogger Gary Reilly has collected 3,193 signatures on an online petition that calls for express service on the F line to Brooklyn — and an extension of the V's local service into the borough. At a rally last week, Councilman Bill de Blasio expressed his agreement: "I keep looking at the express track and wondering why it isn't being used. We have to move this as quickly as humanly possible." Of course, when it comes to the F train, speed isn't usually an option. Transit officials say there isn't enough demand for an express on the F line, and even if they were to take on this project, they wouldn't be able to start before 2012, after they're done restoring F train stations.

In other subway news, the Post reports that cell phone ringtones could be coming to a platform near you. The MTA is making progress on bringing service to underground stations, and according to spokesman Jeremy Soffin, "Something could happen in the next couple of months." At this point, there are no plans to extend service into subway tunnels, which is good news for those of us who prefer a quiet commute.
— Kara Zuaro
Rally to Make the F Go Express [NYDN]
Can I Get an Express F? [The Brooklyn Paper]
Blogger Launches Petititon [Streetsblog]
MTA Working to Bring Cell Service Underground [NY Post]
Photo by GioVision




Posted by Brownstoner at 9:01 AM | Comments (28)
Categories: Brooklyn, Carroll Gardens, Kensington, Quality of Life

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Comments

oh great, now meaningless cell phone drivel on every trip.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 11, 2007 9:03 AM

Here's where the F train and cell phone stories meet: between the Seventh Avenue and Carroll Street stations. It's almost an obsession how many people immediately reach for there phones every night as soon as the train starts up the grade to the Smith-Ninth station. "I'll be home in ten minutes, honey." Please, spare me. And now we're going to have to listen to conversations on platforms all over the city? My position on congestion pricing may have just changed ... I'll be driving everywhere.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 11, 2007 9:17 AM

"Meaningless drivel?" What about the fact that many terrorist bombs these days tend to be triggered by cell phones (as in the recent failed car bombings in London)? And DHS is frankly admitting they expect the next attack to be on "infrastructure" (as in the subway bombings in London). Chertoff is talking about his "hunch" that we'll see a strike this summer (though of course that doesn't mean that NYC gets much more funding to combat same). Not to sound paranoid, but do we really need so badly to drivel 24/7 that we'll offer terrorists an outright opportunity to use this type of trigger in the subway system?

Posted by: Flora at July 11, 2007 9:22 AM

It's an outrage there isn't cellphone coverage in all tunnels. what if something happened? I'm not talking London bombings. Just a regular medical emergency. There's no chance the guard is going to help.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 11, 2007 9:24 AM

A**Hol* cell phone user carries on conversation this morning - standing in enter/exit turnstile at 53rd/Lex while tons of people trying to exit. Gets pissed and kicks guy who forced his way thru to exit thru turnstile.
And you people complain about mothers with strollers?

Posted by: Anonymous at July 11, 2007 9:25 AM

I always love the response from the MTA whenever someone has a good idea about making the system better.

It's ALWAYS "Well, the problem is that we can't do that because..." or "What the public doesn't realize is..." or "That can't work because there's another priority that would conflict with the implementation of this other plan that's been dragging on for seven years with no end in sight." (and for which they've probably spent $150 million on in "studies.")

It's time for the taxpayers to tell the MTA what to do - not the other way around. I'll bet that those express tracks on the F line could be up and running within two years from today if the MTA had any real leadership or vision.

maybe it's time to just fire everybody in suits and ties at the MTA...

Posted by: Just STFU and restore the express tracks, idiots... at July 11, 2007 9:51 AM

cell phone service is absolutly needed on the train lines. If not on the trains themselves, then most definatly on each and every platform of each and every station. I was on the train last year with a friend, who suddenly felt ill. We got off at Borough Hall when suddenly she started convulsing, turning blue, and passed out. There was NO telephone on the platform to call for help. No cell phone service for anyone there.
And the platform was empty except for us.
Fortunatly she came to a few very frightening minutes later. No train came durning this time-otherwise I would have asked for help from them.
Getting Cell phone service into stations will be annoying, certianly. There is no doubt that there will be moments of rude and bad cell manners. However, the reality is that it will happen and is needed. There will always be emergencies like the one I experienced where communication with the outside world is absolutly necessary.

Posted by: eliza at July 11, 2007 9:52 AM

Flora, you wrote:

"What about the fact that many terrorist bombs these days tend to be triggered by cell phones (as in the recent failed car bombings in London)? And DHS is frankly admitting they expect the next attack to be on "infrastructure" (as in the subway bombings in London)."

Let's see. Terrorist bombers have used, cars, trucks, planes and vests with explosives sewn to them in their mad quest to kill us all. Should we give up cars, trucks, planes and wearing vests to safeguard ourselves?

Meanwhile, much of the subway system is above ground. In four out of five boroughs, cell phones work on the trains. Meanwhile, since these clowns believe in suicide bombing, they don't often detonate their bombs remotely.

Vigilence is the best protection.

Posted by: edgy at July 11, 2007 9:58 AM

Your anecdote illustrates that cell phone service was not required after all.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 11, 2007 10:01 AM

Privatize the MTA.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 11, 2007 10:11 AM

not enough demand for express servrice???

are the f8cking kidding me????

dismantle the MTA, the money stealing dirtbags

Posted by: what at July 11, 2007 10:16 AM

Eliza (9:52am),

I'm very sorry to hear about your friend falling ill on the train - glad to hear she's ok.

If she fell ill on the train, why not signal and communicate with the conductor with the emergency intercom? They could have called the paramedics who could have met up with you and your friend at the next stop.

Probably better than trying to dial 911 on a cell phone.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 11, 2007 10:17 AM

I ride the Q train, so I get to hear all the incredibly important conversations of "we just passed Church Ave, I will be there in 5 minutes" . The second the Q hits either the bridge, or the above ground stations, all the annoying ringtones start kicking in, and everyone has a cell phone on their ear.

I used to have to stuff myself on the F train at Carroll, to make it the couple of stops to Jay to change for the A train.
Some days it felt like there should be one of those white gloved shovers that they have in Tokyo to pack as many people into their trains as possible.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 11, 2007 10:37 AM

The best way to get signficant improvements in mass transit is to have congestion pricing for cars. It's vital that everybody call SHeldon Silver 212 312-1420 and Joseph Bruno 518 455-3191 and tell them to support congestion pricing. If Albany does not act by July 16, NYC will lose $500 million in federal grant money. Congestion pricing will be very, very good for New York City. Please make the call.

Posted by: SPer at July 11, 2007 10:49 AM

Sper - You're a dreamer. And ignoring history. City will spend money from congestion pricing as it sees fit and subways will only become more crowded.
TA has already said take decades to do some improvements.
The higher-ups don't care about your comfort, etc. Only trying to reduce traffic so they can move around midtown faster in their limos above ground and keep all the 'bridge and tunnel' people below ground.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 11, 2007 11:05 AM

To say there "isn't enough demand" just shows how totally out of touch the MTA is with the riders. Anyone who rides the F during rush hour knows that this is far from true. Wasn't it great how Kalikow used to take his chauffeur-driven Lincoln everywhere? Because if he used public transportation it would be oh-so-inconvenient and he might be LATE! These MTA folks should be forced to at least ride the subways and buses like the rest of us once in a while.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at July 11, 2007 11:19 AM

"I ride the Q train, so I get to hear all the incredibly important conversations of "we just passed Church Ave, I will be there in 5 minutes" . The second the Q hits either the bridge, or the above ground stations, all the annoying ringtones start kicking in, and everyone has a cell phone on their ear. "


get an ipod, dude. you are one of those complain about anything people...

tune it out man. or move to the burbs.

Posted by: anon at July 11, 2007 11:45 AM

WTF 11:45? New Yorkers are entitled to have no respect for other people because, hmmm, well, you'll have to explain that to me instead of making it my responsibility to deal with it.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 11, 2007 11:54 AM

I'm not Eliza but have you ever tried pressing one of those "help" buttons. i was in an elevator that got stuck for 10 minutes. we pressed the "help/talk" button and TEN MINUTES later a reluctant MTA employee came on the line. I'm glad it wasn't a dire emergency.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 11, 2007 11:56 AM

i don't call saying to a loved one that they'll be home in 5 minutes disrespectful. so you have made it your job to decide what is and is not an incredibly important conversation for 8 million other people?

if you do, we have nothing else to argue.

you're just a sad, negative person.

i wish we could all have such enlightened and intelligent phone conversations as all yours must be.

Posted by: anon at July 11, 2007 12:36 PM

Cell phones are pacifiers for adults.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 11, 2007 12:59 PM

Mankind has survived for ages without the benefit of cell phone calls (in an overly loud voice) informing people they will see in mere minutes of their exact location.
I don't get the need to stay in that close contact and have your every movement tracked. Seem like something you should only have to do if your checking in with your parole officer.

Posted by: Anonymous at July 11, 2007 2:21 PM

man went without toilet paper for most of history as well.

shall we get rid of that also?

Posted by: anon at July 11, 2007 2:38 PM

Carrol Gardens 11:19 - You are right the F is busy 79% load. The number 6 is 103%, the A 83% and the L 103%. The F is 14th out of 22 subway lines in terms of capacity utilization and loads. Yeah it seems busy to us but hop on a Lex train some time if you can get in the station. I'm for expanding the system wherever possible but if all the nutcases sneering at the MTA service and advocating privatization were to have their way any capital improvements to this line would have to wait. Thats why its not private, it used to be.
The Carrol Gardens neighbor's downzoning jihad works against increased MTA service efficiencies. Population density = mass transit efficiency. When Mr. Reilly made his well received presentation to the MTA board he cited population growth as a reason for the V improvements and the F express. The downzoning will decrease future density making future service less efficient along the line and provide less Mortgage Recording Tax Revenues to fund the MTA.

Posted by: Niccolo Macchiavelli at July 11, 2007 2:42 PM

Nicky M., as long as you're quoting numbers, can you tell me how load is calculated? I ask because a single number doesn't really capture the fluctuations along a line, and at different times. I ride the F and get on just before it generally gets really crowded, followed by a noticeable reduction in passengers at Jay Street. Or, to use another example, what is the load for the L generally and specifically at Bedford Avenue at 8 a.m. on a Tuesday?

Posted by: Anonymous at July 11, 2007 2:55 PM

Suckers

Posted by: Keep paying 2 million for your homes at July 11, 2007 7:04 PM

Incorrect 2:38 pm toilet paper is as old as man.

Posted by: bedstuyagent at July 12, 2007 5:56 PM

Sure Anon 2:55, but the simple answer is that the same standard was applied to all the lines. The numbers I cited were "average passenger load as a percentage of train capacity" and cover both peak and off-peak periods, however standing room is considered part of Train Capacity, so TA service has greater capacity than LIRR and MN because so much more standing room is available on the equipment. Load measurements can be sliced off at any particular moment in time but I think taking numbers for the 24 hour period average I cited favors the F because it is a line that has a fairly high off peak utilization rate. These are all MTA numbers from a NY Times piece on capacit utilization from 6/26/7 but are all available from the MTA.

Everyone thinks their train is the busiest and the 79% for the F, although low on the NYC scale, is a much higher capacity utilization than commuter rail. New York City loads are kept down in national comparisons by the fact that it is 24 hour service, "the city that never sleeps". Boston goes to sleep around midnight so they keep their capacity utilization number relatively higher though still not up to the gold standard set by the MTA even when you throw in a six hour snooze every night.

Posted by: Nicolo Macchiavelli at July 12, 2007 7:16 PM

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