rossiter@cornell.UUCP (01/01/86)
From: rossiter (David G. Rossiter)
I'm not up on everything that has happened on the NYCTA, but here's what I know:
1. Equipment:
IND/BMT (now operated as one division, as you know): many R46's ("bing-bongs")
on the whiter runs (E, F, N, D), now also appearing on the A and GG. A serious
anti-graffiti campaign seems to have some effect. The R32's (the perfect
rapid-transit vehicle -- Budd 1964) keep rolling -- certainly they give the fastest
acceleration, so are used on many locals (B, RR, AA).
IRT: just received really nice Kawasaki/Bombardier(?) cars. All assigned to the
whiter line (Lex). I rode a car of these for the first time last week -- on the
express track from Utica to Franklin we really FLEW! Unfortunately there are
lots of slow-orders on the IRT, so fast running isn't that common. These are
really nice cars, without the excesses of the R46 (which is trying to be a LIRR
car in the subway).
2. Extensions:
a) 2nd ave subway dead; a large amount of finished tunnel is being rented to
Con-Ed as a storage depot.
b) 63rd st. tunnel complete but with NO eastern connection. They keep putting
off the opening. This will be an extension of the B-train from 6th/59th st.;
also has a connection to the BMT at 7th/59th which won't be used. No plans
to run some LIRR trains thru it (altho it was built big enough). As for the
east end (at LI City), they may just connect it to the GG at Steinway St.,
but this wouldn't ease pressure on Queens Blvd. Best would be to electrify
the Montauk Div. thru Glendale and Richmond Hill to Jamaica and then take
the LIRR Springfield Gardens/St. Albans line, but the neighborhoods think that
"subways == niggers and spics" so are vigorously opposing this. The idea of
using 2 of the LIRR tracks thru Kew Gardens to Jamaica has been dropped.
c) Archer Ave. subway (Jamaica) complete; currently finishing the connections
to the Queens Blvd. line (at Van Wyck sta.) and the Jamaica Ave. L (just past
121 st. in Richmond Hill). Huge cost over-runs, fraud etc. as usual.
d) connecting track between New Lots IRT (at Van Siclen (?)) and Canarsie (LL);
obviously this can't be for thru running (different car widths on the A and B
divisions); maybe to allow IRT access to the E. NY shops? I just noticed this
on my field trip last week.
3. Crime
I've never had any problem, now or ever (24 years of field trips), being really
bothered. I am certainly not physically imposing, and I don't carry a weapon!
And I have a pale complexion. There may be a few more oddballs and drunks
now than a few years ago, and the graffiti and filth can be appalling, but there
are lots of cops, and of course most riders just want to get from here to
there. Of course, I have no problems walking thru the middle of a housing
project in East New York at night, so you can judge my sanity for yourself!
Seriously, I feel that a confident attitude and an ability to talk to all sorts of
people as equals are about all that are needed to keep you from casual or
opportunistic crime. And professionals or crazies we can't do anything about.
4. Decay?
Some sections are extremely bad: Nostrand Ave. IRT (but that has always been
a maintenance headache, due to poor drainage) and 4th ave. BMT have bad
water problems, crumbling concrete etc. These were both built during the
dual contracts years (1917-1924). Newer tunnels, in particular all the IND,
are in good condition. A lot of work has been done on some elevated structures
such as the New Lots IRT, and they're planning a major renovation of the
West End BMT (B). The Sea Beach BMT (N) is in really bad shape, despite being
at grade: many of the retaining walls are crumbled. Signalling on the IRT 7th
ave. line has been completely redone. Conclusion: good work is being done,
but not at the rate that is needed.
Well, as you see I could go on and on about the NYCTA. So long for now.
David Rossiter / CS Dep't / Cornell University / Ithaca / NY / 14850 / USA
{uw-beaver,ihnp4,decvax,vax135}!cornell!rossiter (UUCP)
rossiter@gvax.cs.cornell.edu (ARPAnet) ; rossiter@CRNLCS (BITNET)percus@acf4.UUCP (Allon G. Percus) (01/04/86)
>IRT: just received really nice Kawasaki/Bombardier(?) cars. All assigned to the >whiter line (Lex)... Actually, this has changed now. The Kawasaki's are all operating on the Lexington Ave #4 express, and their look-alike Bombardier's are all operating on the Broadway #1 local. . ------- |-----| A. G. Percus |II II| (ARPA) percus@acf4 |II II| (NYU) percus.acf4 |II II| (UUCP) ...{allegra!ihnp4!seismo}!cmcl2!acf4!percus |II II| -------