New York City - Transit News

[dchan]

Originally Posted by Gantz

The upper deck at Queensboro is a complete disaster. It is one giant traffic jam now.
61st and 62nd St off the ramp is now like a parking lot lol.
And this is before all people realized that you can save $9 by taking the upper deck. The word fast got out, but there are obviously some clueless drivers out there still.

As was expected. Right now, Waze is saying it is 6-7 minutes slower than the lower roadway, so I hope it's not so bad after 6:30 when I have to drive home.

[mrnyc]

winter rush hour union square —


https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDx6AcuRarM/?igsh=MXZvN2hiOGg3ZzdnMA==

[mrnyc]

i’m not paying that toll —


https://www.instagram.com/reel/DElTVgFxA9Y/?igsh=Ymd2cWE0ZXBuczFt

[dchan]

Originally Posted by dchan

As was expected. Right now, Waze is saying it is 6-7 minutes slower than the lower roadway, so I hope it's not so bad after 6:30 when I have to drive home.

No issues for me on Wednesday night on the QB upper roadway "toll-less" route. I went shopping after work and left around 7:30, and the upper roadway was clear. It was also cold as F that night.

At the moment, the CRZ seems to be working well, but we are also in the middle of a bitter & windy cold snap. Will cars stay away when the weather is a bit nicer? Let's see.

[mrnyc]

a nice side bonus to cp —



Congestion pricing: NYPD catching dozens of scofflaws, and even wanted criminals, in Manhattan toll enforcement operations

By Dean Moses
Posted on January 10, 2025

more:
https://www.amny.com/news/congestion-pricing-nypd-scofflaws-enforcement-criminals/

[mrnyc]

early days cp & a staten pov —



Early congestion pricing tracking is in: Staten Islanders got screwed (opinion)

Published: Jan. 12, 2025
By Tom Wrobleski | [email protected]


We don’t yet have official data from the MTA about how congestion pricing is affecting traffic on New York City’s streets.

But amNewYork has some interesting information about the first days of congestion pricing.


more:
https://www.silive.com/news/2025/01/earl...taten-islanders-got-screwed-opinion.html

[Crawford]

Congestion pricing is a huge winner. I know it's early, but so far, the available data suggest that congestion pricing assumptions were spot-on.

Here's the MTA ridership data for last Tuesday, compared to the same Tuesday last year:

Subway: +400,000
MTA Bus: +80,000
LIRR: +30,000
Metro North: +30,000

https://new.mta.info/press-release/trans...-live-wnycs-brian-lehrer-show-friday-jan

That's a 540,000 increase, not including NJT bus and rail, all the ferry providers, private bus providers, etc. Granted, it isn't 100% congestion pricing, as ridership has generally grown somewhat, but congestion pricing is likely a big piece.

Also, bus speeds in Manhattan almost all increased last week.

So far, congestion pricing is working exactly as promised. And no, it isn't the weather, as seen with the huge increase in transit ridership last week.

[202_Cyclist]

Originally Posted by Crawford

Congestion pricing is a huge winner. I know it's early, but so far, the available data suggest that congestion pricing assumptions were spot-on.

Here's the MTA ridership data for last Tuesday, compared to the same Tuesday last year:

Subway: +400,000
MTA Bus: +80,000
LIRR: +30,000
Metro North: +30,000

https://new.mta.info/press-release/trans...-live-wnycs-brian-lehrer-show-friday-jan

That's a 540,000 increase, not including NJT bus and rail, all the ferry providers, private bus providers, etc. Granted, it isn't 100% congestion pricing, as ridership has generally grown somewhat, but congestion pricing is likely a big piece.

Also, bus speeds in Manhattan almost all increased last week.

So far, congestion pricing is working exactly as promised. And no, it isn't the weather, as seen with the huge increase in transit ridership last week.

And right on cue, the NY Post is complaining that the subways and commuter rail are overcrowded now.

[mrnyc]

speaking of fees —



Citi Bike increasing fees for regular and electric bikes, but New York bicyclists say they’re ready to pay up and pedal

By Barbara Russo-Lennon
Posted on January 13, 2025


Citi Bike fees increased on Jan. 6 — with more coming on Feb. 3 just as New Yorkers bear the brunt of higher transportation costs this year, including congestion pricing, toll hikes and looming train and bus fare increases.

Even so, many New York bicyclists who use Citi Bike, powered by Lyft, are willing to pay the higher price because it is convenient for getting around a city notorious for traffic.


more:
https://www.amny.com/news/nyc-citi-bike-fee-increases-2025/

[202_Cyclist]

With Citi Bike, if you have the Future debit card (no annual fee), you can redeem reward points for an annual bikeshare membership.

[dchan]

The 2025 price increases mainly affect non-members (who pay $4.99 for a single 30 minute ride, or $19 for a day pass). It would be nice if Citibike catered to tourists and users who only need to ride several times over a 1 week period. A 1 week pass for $30-40 would be competitive with MTA weekly fare rates.

For members (like me), the only change is a 1 cent increase on e-bikes (from 24 cents to 25 cents). Of course, there were two previous e-bike fee hikes over the past year (17 cents to 20 cents, then 20 cents to 24 cents). I do Bike Angel runs from time to time (reward points for transporting bikes from more crowded docks to less crowded docks), so my e-bike fees are mostly covered by the points I earn.

For the annual membership fee, I am fortunate to have my membership covered by Citigold each year (so far).

[mrnyc]

queenslink on the table —




QueensLink receives $400K federal grant to advance transformative transit project

By Colum Motherway
Posted on January 13, 2025


The QueensLink project received a major boost with a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Announced on Friday, Jan. 10, the funding is part of the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program and will support efforts to enhance transit access and connectivity for Queens residents.


more:
https://qns.com/2025/01/queenslink-400k-grant-transit-project/

[Crawford]

That would be terrific.

The MTA's previous budget estimates for Queenslink were a joke. There's no way an intact surface corridor would have to cost that much.

[Busy Bee]

Great news. Whatever they can do to secure the ROW and prevent that ridiculous dedicated elevated park initiative from advancing in any way. $400k isnt much but it isnt nothing either. It would be nice if some of the funding could be used to clear all the vegitation so people could actually see the corridor again. Maybe they'd have an easier time imagining its potential then.

I also wish the marketing of this thing was better. I don't know if it really needs a slick name like "Queenslink". I think many people dont really know what that is at first glance or understand some of it's nuanced betnefits. Beyond running the 6 Av local to the Rockaways and unlocking a ton of subway mobility for residents that live in that corridor, it also alleviates terminal congestion at 71 Av, speeding up movements through that station. And it also creates the opportunity to re-extend the (G) to 71 Av which would be awesome.

Anyways, I could add a lot more but I'll just say it's good to hear this is getting some good support even if relatively small.

[202_Cyclist]

Would this get near Rockaway Blvd and the Belt Parkway? That would improve my commute. I am going to start commuting via transit soon and I am going to take Metro North to Grand Central and then the LIRR to Jamaica and my scooter from there.

[Busy Bee]

^ This would join the A train at Rockaway Blvd after it veers off the Liberty Av elevated and onto the old LIRR Rockaway embankment. It would share stations with the A train at Aquaduct, Howard Beach JFK and Broad Channel but allow the A to serve Far Rockaway dedicated and the QBL service to service Rockaway Beach.

This would allow Rockaways riders to choose between taking the A over the Fulton St Line to Lower Manhattan or up to the QBL and into Midtown and of course giving subway access to a slew of residents that currently don't have it. There's definitely ways it could be made even better but I don't need to get into them here.

[202_Cyclist]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

^ This would join the A train at Rockaway Blvd after it veers off the Liberty Av elevated and onto the old LIRR Rockaway embankment. It would share stations with the A train at Aquaduct, Howard Beach JFK and Broad Channel but allow the A to serve Far Rockaway dedicated and the QBL service to service Rockaway Beach.

This would allow Rockaways riders to choose between taking the A over the Fulton St Line to Lower Manhattan or up to the QBL and into Midtown and of course giving subway access to a slew of residents that currently don't have it. There's definitely ways it could be made even better but I don't need to get into them here.

So the Ramones could have got to Rockaway Beach without hitching a ride?

[Busy Bee]

Ooof, hitching. I'd wanna be sedated when doing that.

[streetscaper]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

Great news. Whatever they can do to secure the ROW and prevent that ridiculous dedicated elevated park initiative from advancing in any way. $400k isnt much but it isnt nothing either. It would be nice if some of the funding could be used to clear all the vegitation so people could actually see the corridor again. Maybe they'd have an easier time imagining its potential then.

I also wish the marketing of this thing was better. I don't know if it really needs a slick name like "Queenslink". I think many people dont really know what that is at first glance or understand some of it's nuanced betnefits. Beyond running the 6 Av local to the Rockaways and unlocking a ton of subway mobility for residents that live in that corridor, it also alleviates terminal congestion at 71 Av, speeding up movements through that station. And it also creates the opportunity to re-extend the (G) to 71 Av which would be awesome.

Anyways, I could add a lot more but I'll just say it's good to hear this is getting some good support even if relatively small.

Nice info, I didn't even know of all these benefits, especially the extension of the G

Queenslink seems like a no-brainer, if they don't have the funds now for it, I'd even rather they just let it sit empty until the next capital plan in 2029/30 instead of turning it into a park

[Busy Bee]

That's my hope too. Since it would likely be many years away, just secure the ROW from these loony misguided park pushers. Once it's a recreational thing that's it... too politically difficult at that point to claw it back for rail use. It's insane it's even being suggested it be squandered. Nuts. Only in NY.