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
Privatize the MTA.
Your anecdote illustrates that cell phone service was not required after all.
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.
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.
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…
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?
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.
“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?
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.