Transportation
November 6, 2009
New Kosciuszko Bridge Won't Come Cheap
In October, a Department of Transportation panel narrowed the list of potential designs for the new Kosciuszko Bridge down to three finalists, including what The Brooklyn Paper calls the front runner, above. In addition to a new look, the bridge of the future will have nine lanes instead of six (yay!) as well as a bike and pedestrian lane; the whole thing will be set at less of an incline than the current structure because tall boats no longer go underneath. All this good stuff won't come cheap though: We're looking at a $1 billion price tag. Sounds like a lot of dough to us, but apparently that's what it takes to get bridge builders out of bed these days. “For a bridge that is a mile long in New York City, $1 billion is the going rate,” said DOT spokesman Adam Levine. The Feds will pay 80% of the freight, leaving the state with the rest. But the state is now talking about slashing its transportation spending, so it remains to be seen of the bridge, over which 160,000 vehicles pass every day, makes the cut.
The Billion-Dollar Bridge! [Brooklyn Paper]
November 5, 2009
Subway Service on Weekends Is F@#%ed
We long ago gave up trying to take the subway on the weekends. Life's too short, so it's the bicycle or car for us. This view was confirmed last weekend when it took an out-of-town friend an hour and a half on Saturday afternoon to get from Midtown to Clinton Hill. So it was no surprise to read this lede in The Post this morning: "Here's a subway service notice: Use your car on the weekends!" A group called the Transit Riders Council has studied subway service over the past two weekends. The bottom line: "It's bedlam," said Andrew Albert, a member of the council as well as the MTA board.
Expect subway service disaster this weekend [NY Post]
Photo by Zach Klein
November 4, 2009
East River Ferry Service in Jeopardy—Again
In what can't be taken as anything but a blow to the already challenging marketing campaigns of the handful of high-end waterfront developments in Brooklyn, New York Water Taxi announced that it might have to stop its East River commuter service for the third time in four years after being unable to come to an agreement with the city; to make matters worse, EDC announced that plans to create more routes had been tabled by the recession. The news will definitely create problems for those already living on the waterfront. Take Robert Thorne, who lives at Schaefer Landing in South Williamsburg with his family: “[The ferry] saves us 35, 40 minutes each way,” he said. “That’s more time with our daughter.” A spokesperson for City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said that she's “confident we will be able to preserve and expand existing service.” We shall see.
East River Commuter Ferry Service Could Be Halted, Again [NY Times]
Photo by Tom Hoboken
October 28, 2009
Breaking Up the B61
Changes are in store for residents of Brooklyn who rely on the B61 bus line. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority says it is breaking up the route in hopes of cutting down on delays and improving service. The line, which currently serves 18,500 riders a day, will now run from Queens Plaza to Downtown Brooklyn. Riders will then have to hop on a new second line, the B62, to travel the rest of the way from Downtown Brooklyn to Red Hook. The agency hopes to have the plan in place by early next year. Update: The NY1 article had it wrong. This is from the MTA press release: "The southern B61 route will travel between the Ikea Terminal in Red Hook and Downtown Brooklyn (Smith Street and Livingston Street). The northern B62 route will travel between Downtown Brooklyn (Boerum Place and Livingston Street) and Queens Plaza and will be rerouted past the Williamsburg Bridge Plaza Bus Terminal."
October 13, 2009
MTA Sets Course for F Train
The MTA recently released a 25-page report outlining current and future projects to improve the F train line, which runs through Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. According to the Daily News, the MTA is going to add new cars, build barriers to protect workers and prevent delays on parallel tracks, and discontinue the policy of skipping certain stops during rush hours—a practice that, research showed, made congestion worse. Officials could not guarantee the return of express service to the F line, however, and even if express service does come back, it won't be until 2013. State Senator Daniel Squadron of Brooklyn, who requested the MTA report, told The New York Times that the MTA is being "honest about putting facts behind what we already knew: that the F line is not working.” Senator Squadron praised the MTA's efforts, saying "We should start seeing improvements this month, and more significant improvements as we begin next year.”
F Line Finally on Track for Fixes [NY Daily News]
On the F Train, the M.T.A. Confirms What Riders Know [NY Times]
Photo by Joe Holmes
September 9, 2009
A Peek Inside the Atlantic Terminal Station
It's not open to the public yet, but according to one tipster (who goes on Twitter by @steadyblogging), the interior is now visible from the 2/3 turnstiles. Very futuristic—in a 1980s kind of way.
Atlantic Terminal Station May One Day Be Complete! [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: Atlantic Terminal Station [Brownstoner] GMAP
Atlantic Terminal Station Gets Glassy [Brownstoner]
Atlantic Terminal Station Starting to Show its Face [Brownstoner]
September 1, 2009
Red Hook's Streetcar Plan Garners Support
As we mentioned in August, the discussion of trolley lines to service underserved areas of Brooklyn and Queens has been gaining momentum over the past couple of years, including the recent announcement of a $259,000 Department of Transportation feasibility study. Mayor Bloomberg has shown interest in a possible streetcar system, and The Brooklyn Eagle reported recently that Brooklyn Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez is taking action: "In her request for funding for the Fiscal Year 2010 surface transportation bill, she has included $10 million for 'design and construction of a light rail system along the Brooklyn waterfront from Red Hook to Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn, N.Y.'"
Resurrecting Red Hook's Trolley Tracks [Brownstoner]
Red Hook's Trolley Idea Picks Up Support [Brooklyn Eagle]
August 31, 2009
Remembering Michael Jackson
The Michael Jackson memorial birthday party hosted by Spike Lee took place on Saturday, despite the gloomy weather, and The New York Times reports "It went over without a hitch." Guests included Reverend Al Sharpton, comedian Tracy Morgan, and radio personalities Ed Lover and Free, as well as DJ Spinna, who played classic MJ tracks. "It was a Brooklyn family affair where, for once, being packed like sardines felt like a privilege," said the Times. The Times also reports in a separate article, that the MTA will not be honoring the late king of pop by renaming the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station after him. The request to rename the station, where Jackson shot the music video for "Bad" in 1987, which was directed by Martin Scorsese, began with City Councilwoman Letitia James and has gathered momentum. Supporters of the idea have been rejected on all counts: the MTA will not rename the station, mount a plaque, nor allow a memorial of any sort. So now MJ fans are investigating the possibility of raising funds to purchase naming rights to the station, as Barclay's has done with the Atlantic-Pacific station ($4 million for 20 years). This solution seemed more possible than the others, based on the MTA's response; "I would defer on commenting on any hypotheticals," said Kevin Ortiz, a spokesman for the transportation authority. But he added: "We are in the middle of developing some guidelines and protocols and helping us move forward with what we feel is a viable revenue source."
In Celebration of MJ [The Local, NYT]
Spike Lee Throws MJ Birthday Bash [NY Daily News]
Compromise for the MJ Subway Station [City Room, NYT]
Image from "Bad" video, 1987
Seniors Call for Bus Stop
There used to be a bus stop in front of Met Food on Fulton between Cambridge and St. James. The downtown B25 and B26 buses stopped there, which was especially convenient for the residents of the Grace Agard Harewood senior center at Fulton Street and Cambridge Place. The Local reports that the bus stop was removed two years ago for street reconstruction, but when construction ended last December, the MTA and DOT decided not to reinstate the bus stop. Instead, seniors must use a stop between Washington and Waverly Avenues, which adds another two blocks to their walk. "They don’t think about seniors in this area when they make decisions like that" Iyanth Robinson, 82, told The Local. The paper reports: "Olanike Alabi, 57th Assembly District Leader, has contacted the Department of Transportation in hopes of having the stop restored." The MTA and DOT are still discussing that request.
Seniors: 'Bring Back Bus Stop!' [The Local, NYT]
August 27, 2009
The Three Minute Miracle
As we mentioned towards the end of July, the Governor's Island Alliance, Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will launch a new ferry service to Governor's Island from Pier 6 (at the end of Atlantic Avenue). The Alliance made a brief announcement on its website saying that the project will use $1 million from Port Authority and $400,000 from city Councilman Bill de Blasio of Brooklyn; it will launch next summer and there are plans for service to other harbor landings. The neat tidbit from the announcement was that the ride to Governor's Island will take only three minutes from Pier 6, as opposed to the seven minutes it takes from southern Manhattan. The blog The Word on Columbia Street wonders, as we do, if the existing service from Fulton landing will continue and what will happen to the proposed Atlantic Basin service from Pier 11.
New Ferry Service Between Brooklyn & Governor's Island [Brownstoner]
New Governor's Island Ferry Coming to Pier 6 [WCS]
Ferry Service to Governor's Island Starts This Weekend [Brownstoner]
Updated Future of the Atlantic Basin [WCS]
August 26, 2009
Atlantic Terminal Station May One Day Be Complete!
Check it out! Scaffolding is down at the Atlantic Terminal Station, a project that feels like it's taken 200 years to complete. There's a possibility it may even open one of these days, or years. In honor of the structure's progress, here's a photo gallery of the station through the past couple years.
Development Watch: Atlantic Terminal Station [Brownstoner] GMAP
Atlantic Terminal Station Gets Glassy [Brownstoner]
Atlantic Terminal Station Starting to Show its Face [Brownstoner]
August 17, 2009
Carroll Gardens Up in Arms Over MTA Doings
The Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association's listserv lit up this weekend with angry messages about the MTA's plans for the neighborhood. First off, the transportation authority announced last week that the Carroll Street station entrance (update: at 2nd Place) will be closed beginning on September 14th for 10-12 months to make way for the construction at 360 Smith Street. More upsetting to residents, it seems, is the MTA's plan to phase out the station agent at the stop's President Street entrance during the period. (The station is one of dozens that are slated to see the removal of attendants in coming months as a belt-tightening measure.) An online petition has been established to protest the change.
Keep the Station Agents at Carroll Street! [iPetitions] GMAP
August 4, 2009
Bye Bye, B Line
Bad news for B train commuters: starting September 28, the MTA will cease express service along the B route for two years, due to repairs and restorations, according to the Daily News. Local service will continue, but this will lengthen the commutes for residents of Midwood, Sheepshead Bay, Flatbush, Brighton Beach, and Coney Island. Nixon Williams, one such commuter, complained to the News: "The train just keeps getting more expensive, and the service gets worse." What else is new.
2 Years of Pokey B Line [NY Daily News]
June 30, 2009
Closing Bell: Signs of the G Train Extension
This photo was just submitted by a tipster along with the comment, "Evidence that they may actually finally be extending the G train to Church." In fact, service to Church Avenue is scheduled to start July 5. For more background on the track work and reroutings can be found here.
May 27, 2009
Sunset Parkers Protest Street-Sweeping Regs
The Daily News looks into the war for the streets, Sunset Park-edition: "After battling the city for more than 30 years, Sunset Park drivers are furious the city has refused to slash their street cleaning regulations - even though two other Brooklyn neighborhoods have won reduced service, which makes it easier to find parking. 'It's an issue of fairness,' said Jeremy Laufer, district manager of Community Board 7. The board has been asking the city to cut back its street sweeping in residential areas from four times a week - twice on each side - to twice a week since 1978 to save drivers from having to constantly move their cars. Park Slope became a car owners' dream last summer when the city Sanitation Department temporarily suspended all alternate side parking regulations there while changing all the signs and cutting the neighborhood's street cleaning service to once a week on each side on most streets." Sanitation says the new regs can't be adopted in the neighborhood because its streets haven't met the two-year "average cleanliness rating" that's required.
Sunset Park Drivers Fuming Over Street Cleaning Regulations [Daily News]
Photo by redxdress
April 23, 2009
Closing Bell: May is Bike Month in NYC
Transportation Alternatives has teamed up with the Department of Transportation to bring you Bike Month NYC, a month of cycling celebration. In 2008, bicycle commuters increased by 35% (the recent hoopla with MTA and its increases probably helped that stat) so Bike Month is a chance to bring the commuters together. Bike Month NYC 2009 will kick off with a party at the Queens Museum of Art this Sunday, April 26. Meet at 1 p.m. at Grand Army Plaza to begin the group bike ride to the party. To RSVP, contact Larry Gast at 314-550-5859 or larrygast@gmail.com.
April 8, 2009
Closing Bell: L Train Gets A Blog
The L train always gets everything. First, a computerized signal system and now a blog. Why does the L need a blog? According to Metro, MTA wants to expand on the monthly newsletter it sends out and connect with the riders. People will be able to ask questions and leave comments. Expect some fun times with those comments. The blog is expected to roll out sometime next month so we will let you know when it does.
Photo by ashleigh44.
March 11, 2009
Transit Overload for Brooklyn
The L Train isn't the only train that's gotten overloaded in recent years as a result of Brooklyn's burgeoning popularity, but it's been the hardest hit. The L line had the most number of stations among the Top 50 fastest growing stations around the city, followed by the N train, according to the recent report from the Center for an Urban Future. The Bedford L stop, which gets a lot of attention for its crowdedness, ranked 11th in Brooklyn in terms of rate of change over the past decade: Brooklyn's original hipster station saw an increase of 111% between 1998 and 2008, placing it behind the Avenue U and 8th Avenue N train stops as well as the York Street F train. The Bedford L is still almost unrivaled in terms of absolute number of riders, with over 18,000 on an average weekday. Overall, Brooklyn had 51 of the 111 stations in New York City that saw ridership rise at least 50 percent over the past decade. As the report points out, all of this data is particularly scary in light of the potential MTA cutbacks. Gulp.
Report: Transit Overload [Center for an Urban Future]
Transit Overload in Brooklyn Confirmed by Center for an Urban Future
February 24, 2009
Closing Bell: Robo Train Has Arrived
Starting today, the L train is finally a robo train. The line will be fully controlled by a computerized signal system. The system will enable "the NYC Transit to run trains closer together, more frequently, and safer than the current antiquated signal system allows." Motormen will still be on the trains though just in case a problem arises. When a rider was asked by NY Daily News about it, he replied, "I have to be honest. I'm a little afraid." Are you afraid of your line becoming a robo train?
Photo by okreitz.
February 10, 2009
Local Groups Hit Atlantic Station to Push Ravitch Plan
Faced with a $1.2 billion deficit, the MTA has threatened to hike fares from $2.00 to $2.50 and institute severe cutbacks to outer-borough service; in Brooklyn, which would be particularly hard hit, the M train would lose 28 rush hour trains and the Z train would be eliminated altogether. In the face of this crisis, several groups set up shop in the Atlantic-Pacific station to urge riders to let Governor Paterson know that they support the recommendations of the Ravitch Commission (which include a toll on East River bridges). Citywide groups NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign, Environmental Defense Fund, Regional Plan Association, Transportation Alternatives and the Tri-State Transportation Campaign joined the Brooklyn-based UPROSE, Pratt Center and Downtown Brooklyn Partnership in handing out fliers and collecting signatures on a giant plea to the governor.
December 5, 2008
Majority of Readers Opposed to Bridge Tolls
Although the pro-toll crowd dominated in the comments section, the people have spoken: According to our poll yesterday, roughly 2/3 of readers are opposed to charging drivers to cross the Brooklyn, Manhattan and W'burg bridges. Guess Marty's on the right side of this one.
December 4, 2008
Adding Tolls to Brooklyn Bridges?
Marty Markowitz was just on the Brian Lehrer show arguing against the Ravitch Commission's proposal to add tolls to the three bridges in Brooklyn as well as the Queensboro Bridge as part of its solution to the MTA deficits. (Rosie Perez just called in agreeing with Marty too.) Are you in favor of adding the tolls?
November 18, 2008
50% Less G Service Coming Our Way
November 12, 2008
Closing Bell: Hop on the [Culture] Bus
Brooklyn's cultural institutions offer so many wonderful activities. Only problem: shuffling between them. So now the Heart of Brooklyn, the umbrella group for the Brooklyn Museum, Botanic Garden, Children's Museum, Public Library, Prospect Park and its Zoo, is offering the HOB Connection, a free shuttle bus running along three routes, and helping Manhattanites embrace Brooklyn, too. Museum Mile to Brooklyn Style runs on Sundays, picking up passengers outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and at Bryant Park, then driving to all six HOB institutions. Saturday Scene runs from Bay Ridge (second Saturdays), Red Hook (third Saturdays), and Williamsburg (fourth Saturdays) to HOB settings. And the Target First Saturdays Shuttle runs on the first Saturday of each month, and takes folks from the museum to "places to eat, drink and shop, to support local merchants in surrounding neighborhoods." The bus has tour guides, maps, brochures and coupon books for said local merchants.
November 10, 2008
New F Trains Leaving the Station
Now that some old asbestos-filled Redbirds are being used as makeshift reefs in the Atlantic ocean, there's room for a new train in town. Control Geek spotted the shiny new cars at the 15th Street/Prospect Park West station this weekend. F train riders will now be treated to the automated announcements and periwinkle blue seats that L train-ers have become accustomed to.
Latest Restaurant Additions
-
Chickadee Chick
added November 6, 2009 12:00 PM in Park Slope -
Vutera
added November 5, 2009 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Park Cafe
added November 4, 2009 12:00 PM in Park Slope -
Bahia
added November 3, 2009 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Aqualis Grill
added November 2, 2009 12:00 PM in Fort Greene -
Wombat
added October 30, 2009 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Organic Heights
added October 29, 2009 12:00 PM in Park Slope -
Giardini Pizza
added October 28, 2009 12:00 PM in Carroll Gardens -
Rye
added October 27, 2009 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Bati
added October 26, 2009 12:00 PM in Fort Greene