Expanding Our Transit Networks After Sandy
Penn Station Flooding via LIRR's West Side Yard (MTAPhotos)
On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy swept through the metropolitan region, devastating its public transportation networks. Commuter rail and subway lines flooded and lost power, crippling mass transit throughout New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. While most lines have restored service in the weeks following the storm, the temporary suspension of our mass transit systems revealed a lot about how we should invest in our future infrastructure.
The Three Stations of Penn Station
During its rebuilding in the 1960s, Penn Station, which used to exclusively serve the Pennsylvania Railroad, was sectioned off for three different rail operators: Amtrak, NJ Transit, and LIRR. However, today, the allocation of station space and track resources is highly disproportionate to each transit system’s use of Penn Station.
Amtrak’s Fiscal Health and the Growth of NY/NJ Commuter Rail
In terms of budgeting, Amtrak has, over the past three years, received federal subsidies averaging $1.5 billion and has seen ridership steadily climb from around 21 million passengers in 2000 to over 30 million passengers in 2011. However, despite this apparent growth, Amtrak has operated at an average loss of over $1.2 billion since 2009.
How Low Will the 7 Line Go?
The one-stop extension of the 7 Line to 34th Street makes sense...for now. Such was the sentiment of M.T.A. chairman Joe Lhota, speaking at the Regional Plan Association’s 22nd annual regional assembly.
East Side Access Completes Third Queens Tunnel Ahead of Schedule
Last night, crews working on the MTA’s East Side Access project brought a 642-ton tunnel boring machine to a halt underneath Sunnyside Yard in Queens seven weeks ahead of schedule, completing the third of four tunnels the MTA is building in Queens.
In The News
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