Protests arise, as the MTA decides to eliminate student fares

A QM10 MTA Express Bus runing through Queens

Elected officials are protesting that the MTA reinstates the student reduced bus fare for the MTA Express buses before the school year begins.

According to NY1 News, “The MTA cancelled the discount on some express bus service routes that gave students half off. The rate will increase $3, to $5.50 per trip.”

If this stays in effect, 36 of the express bus routes will be affected by this elimination for routes from Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.

Why slash student fares? It is bad enough students pay what they pay now, and then you want to slash that too? What is the basis of this elimination? These questions remain un-answered. It is time for the MTA to step to the plate.

Conflicting Points – MTA Far hikes, and now salary raises for Transit Workers

A M5 Limited New York City Transit bus travels through Manhattan

With these budget cuts, the MTA wants to throw bus and subway workers salary raises? This is a conflicting story.

According to the MTA, a panel is going to, according to NY 1, “outline terms of a new contract for bus and subway workers.” Transit workers are positive they will get there raises, but is it really in the MTA’s best interests?

You can only give so much stuff free. The proposed free Crosstown bus service, another fare hike, and now this? Sure, the transit workers keep the MTA moving, but is this in the MTA’s budget? They JUST raised fare prices, and now they want to give a bigger salary to workers?

It is a conflicting argument. On one side, I want the raises for workers, for everything they do, to keep transit moving. But it is going to cost riders in the long run? If this gets passed I can almost GUARANTEE the MTA will raise prices.

I guess we will have to see how this plays out…

See! New York still has nice subway riders! Passenger reunites lost kid with parents

Sarah Kranzberg of Jersey City poses on the platform © NY Daily News

A New York City Transit Subway rider claimed “Good Samaritan” according to the NY Daily News, after reuniting a 10 year old boy with his family.

The whole story started with a Upstate New York family visiting the city. Inside the 47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center Subway Station, the family was confused as to get on the Queens bound (V) train, when the boy stepped onto the train just as the doors were closing.

That’s when Sarah Kranzberg of Jersey City, stepped into action. She motioned to them to meet her at the next stop. Then, at the next stop, 5 Avenue- 53 Street, he was reunited with his family.

This is proof, that New York still has nice, helpful subway riders.

LIRR Engineer who let passenger drive a train, finally brought to justice

LIRR passenger William Kutch (left) allegedly drove a LIRR train with the permission of Engineer Ronald Cabrera (right). © NY Daily News

Two thumbs up to the MTA/ Long Island Rail Road. If you had not heard the news earlier, a Long Island Rail Road engineer let a passenger operate the train. The Long Island Rail Road, offers service between 34th Street-Penn Station in Manhattan, to all portions of Long Island, and is the main transportation service, for commuters getting into the city.

According to the NY Daily News, the engineer let the passenger drive the train “at speeds up to 80 mph.” They have been charged with endangering passenger’s lives. This is the train that is, according to the MTA, “the busiest commuter railroad in North America” , “and the oldest railroad in the U.S. still operating under its original name.”

Much thanks to the MTA for taking the responsibility to adhere to this action. This is absolutely uncalled for. ANYONE who would risk passenger’s lives like this should have NO job in transportation operations. Being the train buff, that I am, I would love to drive the LIRR, but I understand that I am not legally licensed to do it, I wouldn’t want to risk my own life like that.

With System-Wide Transit cutbacks, the Staten Island Railway Remains Free

A Tottenville bound Staten Island Railway Train

After all the cutbacks in train service, the permanent removal of the (Z) train service, and cutting a chunk of the (G) route, the MTA still has the audacity to keep most of the SIR (Staten Island Railway) free to ride.This angers me so much, when I think about this.

The current fare is $2.25. Fares are paid on entry and exit only at St. George, Tompkinsville, and Ballpark stations. Rides not originating or terminating at St George, Tompkinsville, or Ballpark are free. And even at that, people that are getting off at St. George to get on the ferry, just get off at the stop before and just walk.

This disappoints me. Why should Staten Island residents get a free pass on the same system that serves most Transit riders in New York City? Not to mention that the MTA won’t even keep the Staten Island Railway stations in good condition. Some stations have even been declared unsafe.

Why do Staten Island residents get a break? I don’t approve.

New PATH Rolling Stock, resembles some of the New York City Transit Subway Cars

PATH PA5 Ariving at Harrison from Newark

If you have ridden PATH (Port Authority Trans Hudson) lately, you probably noticed the new cars you have been riding in. These are the Kawasaki built PA5 Rail Cars, the newest, and high tech in the system. The PA5’s technology includes on-board video, closed-circuit television recording capability, prerecorded station announcements, Capability for passengers to communicate with the crew, as well as digital LED displays, showing the next station.

A R160 (L) Train looks similar to the new PA5's

But the PA5’s seem like a knock off the MTA’s R160 Trainset. The PA5’s and the R160’s are built by Kawasaki, as well. Both include the LED Displays, prerecorded announcements, as well as the on board video. Also, the seating is the same.

I noticed how the PA5’s have the capability for closed-circuit television recording. I think this is a great feature to add to the system, after PATH was a major possible terrorist attack system. The new technology seems to run frequent within transit systems now, as technology progresses.

Proposed Free Crosstown Bus Service, on One of the MTA’s Slowest’ Buses

M50 Crosstown Bus © NY Daily News

Ironic isn’t it? Bloomberg proposes to offer free crosstown service on the M50 Route, knowing it is one of the slowest routes.

First off, free service would be AMAZING, to beat the $ 2.25 one way subway/bus fare. But why not give it free on a useful route? Like the crowded M104 or M1? According to the NY Post, “Bloomberg said eliminating the $2.25 fare on selected routes would speed the notoriously slow crossings since there would be no more slowly-snaking lines at the fare box, where a single passenger fumbling for a Metrocard or for exact change can delay everyone else.”

Although the M50 is a pretty big bus, running along 49th & 50th Streets.

I fully support Bloomberg, for his activism in the Transit Community to make it better. But this decision may need so reconsidering…