F Train Woes and Platform Chatter
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…
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
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.
Incorrect 2:38 pm toilet paper is as old as man.
Suckers
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?
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.
man went without toilet paper for most of history as well.
shall we get rid of that also?
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.
Cell phones are pacifiers for adults.
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.