Commuting from the Burg: Can't Get L From Here
“It’s completely out of control,” said Phil Caponegro, 51, at last night’s CB1 meeting to discuss mass transit’s failure to keep up with a surging population in northern Brooklyn. “You either have to squeeze in or let the train go by – and that’s in the middle of the day.” In addition to the much-discusses…
“It’s completely out of control,” said Phil Caponegro, 51, at last night’s CB1 meeting to discuss mass transit’s failure to keep up with a surging population in northern Brooklyn. “You either have to squeeze in or let the train go by – and that’s in the middle of the day.” In addition to the much-discusses overcrowding of the L train at peak hours, residents are also frustrated that the G train only has four cars. With the population of Williamsburg and Greenpoint rising 30% over the last five years, locals are getting a taste of the downside of the real estate boom. “These neighborhoods are in such transition, and it’s a good thing,” said Gerald Esposito, district manager of CB 1. “We just don’t want to be victims of our own success.”
G, L Train Woes [NY Daily News]
Photo from Urban75
I have to comment on the complaint that the JMZ is now somewhat crowded… To that I say, “Hallelujah!”. Now I don’t have to grip onto a bottle of mace everytime I ride the JMZ. That train was sketchy. Not cool. I’ll take overcrowding to crime any day.
Yo, 5:29….And what do you do for a living? Save the world? As B2B said, try spending a day w/o ANY art and see how it feels. I’m talking books, music, theater, tv, websites…..
I lived near Bedford Ave in the early 90’s. It sucked then but for different reasons. I am a former artist who helped bring all the Euro trash to williamsburg. For this I am truly sorry.However at least I am not a Developer who does not have to pay to improve the infrastructure and or new schools yet fill their apartments with thousands of Bugaboos increasing the debt of the new mommys and daddys.GO USA!!
The best time on the L train was when all the hipsters were reading Paul Bowles. Now that was Lovely…
I don’t think that artists are a vital part of society in the way that doctors or plumbers or bus drivers are. Entertainment is important, but not as much as health, transportation, sewage, and running water. At the very least, society doesn’t need the number of artists that it currently has. The demand for their product simply isn’t there. That’s why so many artists have to invite all of their friends and family to their events. And serve alcohol. If you take away the sympathy factor that loved ones feel obligated to show a struggling artist (as well as the free booze), then there are very few takers.
I haven’t had a ‘decent’ L ride in weeks. Not due to overcrowding, I’m further out on the L, just due to the fact that trains take forever, stop randomly, move slowly, whatever.
Can’t wait till the MTA adds another $.50 to the price, yet no cars to the system. Worthless bastiges, all.
How can you expect the MTA to add more service when they practically gave away the air rights to Ratner? What they didn’t do in Manhattan, they did in Brooklyn. And I’m sure Bloomberg pressured them to let Ratner have his bargain price because he was still pissed about the West Side stadium.
As for artists- the art business in NYC is HUGE. It’a also a moneymaker for hundreds of thousands of people, not necessarily the artist though. But it’s their work that fuels that engine. So, actually, in a very real way artists do affect your life. I am an artist and also a graphic artist. It’s not easy to see your work bring in big bucks- for someone else. But until society realizes that artists (and I include writers, actors, musicians, poets, dancers, etc) are a vital part of society the term starving artist will never disappear. And until people like Anon 11:48 can envision what society would be without artists, then they’ll keep making ignorant remarks like his.
As anon 12:26, notes, what about the increased services that will be needed for the AY development? If what is going on in Wmsburg is any indication of what’s to come with AY, don’t go looking for improvements anytime soon. What people seem to forget is that not only will thousands of new people be getting on the trains in the AY area, the population of the outer parts of the borough – East Flatbush, ENY, Coney Island, and on and on, is also rising, as more and more people have to, or want to move out there to have affordable housing. By the time the trains get to AY, they are already full, and there will hardly be any room for all of the AY people, not to mention the people who get on at Boro Hall, Clark St, DeKalb Ave, wherever.
Lest you think I’m just an anti-AY Cassandra, crying doom – remember what happened in Manhattan at the 72nd Street Station at Broadway for the 1,2,3 trains. Planners forecast for years that the development of the UWS, especially near 72nd St, would overcrowd the area. That was way back in the 80’s. It took them almost 20 years for them to open the new subway station across the street from the old one, and it is still very crowded there. That area is wealthy and well connected, and it still took forever to get anything done.
So don’t expect to see the MTA add any trains, or cars anytime soon on the L. And don’t expect anything much in the way of change in the AY area after that is built either. There will be some reason, most likely they will cry poor, or say there aren’t any cars available, sympathetic noises will be made, but that and a Metrocard swipe will get you packed into a subway car on your way to work.
Hey anon 11:48: I’m laughing! And I’m …are you sitting down?…an artist! I’ll have you know, however that the 4 hour workday is a somewhat antiquated notion- I get to work by 10 and I’m usually not in front of the TV until 3:30
Does anyone know what is planned as far as increased subway service once everything is built on the Atlantic Railyards? During the original arena debate, I thought the city’s argument regarding traffic was that everyone would take the subway to/from the games. Then I thought I read somewhere that the MTA does not think subway svc will need to be increased. Anyone with more informed & up to date info?