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,…
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.
“The current “honor” systme doesn’t work.”
What “honor system???” I think NYC set a record last year for arresting fare-beaters. The problem is NOTHING like it was in the 1970s, when I was a kid and the turstile may have well have been a high hurdle! If people aren’t paying beacuse of fare evasion, it’s not a “cost” issue, it’s a police issue.
Thats true, the A-train is immortalized.
But Z-train sounds better. Sounds evil, or German perhaps.
“They shouldn’t eliminate the Z-train. It has the best name of all the trains.”
Wrong…the “A” train is the most famous train in the world, with best name. It’s the only train that’s the subject of a Duke Ellington song. Classic.
Where was the 2nd Ave subway supposed to go when not in Manhattan? If it goes to places underserved in the other boroughs, then it would certainly be a good thing. I also do think it’s needed on the east side, which only has one subway line, in the 4,5,6 Lex Ave line. It is wayyy too overcrowded, and because it is one of the oldest lines in the city, there’s not much that can be done in terms of adding space to cars or stations, both of which are smaller and narrower than newer lines.
I’ve only had one job on the east side, and will go to great lengths, including walking crosstown, to avoid being packed into those trains at rush hour.
Prioritizing has to take a longer view.You can’t maintain just one section of infrastructure at the cost of others. It doesn’t work that way. And it isn’t about serving more people- have you even been on the A during rush hour? And I mean before it gets into Manhattan? People are packed on from nearly the ends of the line- for miles. Yet the second ave. line will run from 125th to the financial district and is merely for convenience sake. Upgrading the outer boroughs is a necessity for the whole system.
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goldie- much prefer the churmudgeon – I would not want to be the reason for your ulcer. It’sa skill I have but I try to apply it judiciously 🙂
“yes, the second avenue subway is phenomenally expensive, but it is going to serve SO many people that it will actually be one of the most cost-effective transit projects of our time. ”
You have any figures or estimates or is this all conjecture and made up as you go along?
11215, my dream would be a series of tunnels or bridges that connect bklyn/queens to jersey so i dont have to go through manhattan. that would ease congestion in manhattan too. just a selfish dream.
no bxgrl, you dont want this drek they pass off as corporate coffee, budget cuts i suppose, but its still an impotent swill. my choices are being a churmudgeon (churlish curmudgeon), or a sweetheart with upset stomach.
look, obviously i would love for the outer boroughs to get more subways and better service overall, but the fact of the matter is we have to prioritize projects based on how many people they will serve.
tell me ONE place where you’d like to see service that you think would serve more people than the second avenue subway.