While attending the Linux World trade show in Manhattan, I decided to check out the new, long-awaited Airtrain at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens. There is good news, bad news, more good news and more bad news about this project.
The good news is that the JFK AirTrain is a massive, efficient, attractive system that fills a major hole in the New York City transportation grid. The bad new is that it is far more difficult to use the JFK Airtrain than it should be. The good news is that simple, inexpensive steps could remedy many of the usability issues. The bad new is that responsibility is so fragmented that nothing may be done.
Two billion dollars well spent
The JFK AirTrain is a project that New York City should be proud of. It provides a fast, frequent, and quiet ride between the eight airline terminals at Kennedy, a rental car center, long term parking and not one, but two mass transit facilities. The AirTrain stations have automatic doors that line up with the doors on the cars, so travelers stand in a comfortable, indoor space while waiting for their train. The cars are well lit and have plenty of space for luggage and even luggage carts. Since the AirTrain is fully automated, there is no cab for an engineer. Instead a picture window allows passengers to see where the train is going.
AirTrain is now the primary way JFK travelers move between terminals to make connecting flights. It also replaces the swarm of car rental vans and brings people to the long term parking lot. These internal airport rides are free and are expected to be the most common use of Airtrain. Trips to either transit station cost $5. Subway or commuter rail fare is extra. Airport workers can buy a monthly pass for $40. There are ample automated ticket machines at both transit stations.
Can we make Airtrain harder to use?
There is an old adage: never ascribe to malfeasance what can be adequately explained by incompetence. None the less, I can't help wondering if there isn't a conspiracy to keep Airtrain ridership down. Perhaps officials are still pouting because the JFK Airtrain doesn't provide a "one seat ride" to Manhattan. It doesn't cure cancer either. Whatever its merits, it's built, it cost a lot of public money, and it should be utilized to the greatest possible extent. Here is a summary of the problems I found.
Problems at Penn Station
The best connections to the JFK AirTrain from Manhattan are from Penn Station, the busiest train station in North America. From there you can take either the NYC Subway or a Long Island Railroad commuter train to the Jamaica AirTrain terminus. The subway is less expensive but takes longer.
Yet there is almost no hint in the entire Penn Station complex that a link to JFK even exists. All I could find was one blue banner hanging in the Long Island Railroad waiting area deep in the bowels of the station. The information booth in the main rotunda still has a big sign advertising bus service to JFK and Laguardia Airports.
By contrast, the rail service to Newark Airport, also called AirTrain, is prominently advertised. I found three Newark AirTrain kiosks in the Amtrak/New Jersey Transit area, each with an ample supply of leaflets describing only the Newark service. On the main display board, trains that stop at the new Newark Airport station, where passengers transfer to the Airtrain monorail, are clearly marked. By contrast, the LIRR has not modified any of its train displays to include mention of JFK.
Amtrak also ignores the JFK Airtrain. Amtrak's Web site makes no mention of JFK. Yet with a little effort, Amtrak could develop a thriving airline connection sub-market on its Northeast corridor, which has rail connections to Baltimore-Washington, Boston, Islip, JFK, Newark, Philadelphia, and Washington National airports.
Penn Station's favorable treatment of the Newark AirTrain while ignoring the JFK AirTrain is hard to justify. Both involve taking a commuter train to a stop near the airport and then transferring to an airport circulation system for rides to the individual terminals. The ride from Penn Station to the Newark Airport station takes 25 minutes. It's only 20 minutes from Penn Station to Jamaica. Ticket prices are about the same. Jamaica LIRR trains are more frequent than Newark Airport trains and JFK handles slightly more traffic than Newark (31.5 Million passengers per year vs 29.5).
Problems at Jamaica
The new AirTrain terminal at Jamaica is a bright, attractive space. Connections from the LIRR are simple. There are well-marked stairs and elevators at the west end of the LIRR platforms that lead up one level to the AirTrain upper lobby and center platform. Direct connections to the subway station are still under construction, so for now you have to exit the subway and walk around the block under the LIRR tracks to the impressive AirTrain street entrance.
When you arrive at the AirTrain lobby at Jamaica, you are confronted with a bank of eight automated MetroCard ticket machines. There are no fare booth on the automated AirTrain system. Six airline check-in positions have been installed, but none are in use.
The displays on the MetroCard machines will confuse many visitors. Someone who simply wants to get to the airport has to wade through seven levels of screen to buy a ticket:
1. Touch Start to Begin [this screen is only in English]
2. Which Language? English / Spanish / French / German / Chinese / Italian / Japanese / Korean [The choices are at least labelled in the actual language, e.g. Deutch]
3. Please select card type: MetroCard / SmartLink [There is no further explanation for this confusing choice. SmartLink is a monthly pass for New Jersey Transit and Newark Airport. How many New Yorkers know this, much less visitors from out of town?]
Remember this is in the upper lobby facing the ticket gates to the AirTrain. Most visitors at this point simply want to buy a $5 ticket to JFK. A menu item marked "$5 JFK" could easily be displayed on the third screen.
On the other side of the fare gate, there are eight more MetroCard machines and two LIRR ticket machines. I did not actually try it, but I fear that a traveler wanting to get to Manhattan from JFK via the faster LIRR route must negotiate two ticket machines, one to get out of the Airtrain and the other to buy a ticket for the train. Why not a one-ticket ride? The airport side of the Airtrain lobby would also be an ideal place to sell visitors a combine MetroCard with a round trip ticket on Airtrain and a one-week pass on the subway.
Problems on the AirTrain
The AirTrain itself is not as user friendly as it might be. Stops are announced in English inside the cars, but only the airport terminal number is given. There is a smallish card on each car listing the eight terminals and the airlines they serve.
Howard Beach
Howard Beach is where the Airtrain connects with the subway A train. Again there are banks of MetroCard machines. Here, the logical choice for almost all travelers (the exceptions are people who live in or are visiting the small Howard Beach community) is $7 JFK + Subway. To get to the subway, you have to go through two sets of ticket gates about 20 feet apart, one to leave the airport and one to enter the subway. The subway station is an open platform, but the station designers provided a window at the enclosed upper level from which you can see the train approaching.
Cheap ways to make AirTrain easier to use
Here are some simple ways ways to make AirTrain more usable. Some require an modest investment in time or money, but many are essentially free.
At Penn Station o Include "JFK" in LIRR train announcements. The public address announcements for trains that stop at Jamaica usually end with "Change at Jamaica for..." followed by a long list of stations. Why not include "JFK" in that list? All it would take is a "make it so" phone call from LIRR management.
o Add "JFK" to Jamaica sign over Penn Station LIRR next train display There is a large display over the LIRR ticket windows that lists, in alphabetical order, each station on the LIRR, followed by time and track number for the next train to that station. The times and tracks change, of course, but the station names are fixed, so it would be very easy to add the letters "JFK" after the word "Jamaica." This would be a huge aid for travelers unfamiliar with New York.
o Stock AirTrain-JFK leaflets at existing AirTrain-Newark kiosks There are several kiosks at Penn Station advertising AirTrain Newark, each filled with flyers for the Newark service. All it would take is slapping on a decal that says "JFK" next to the word "Newark" and devoting half the shelves to JFK AirTrain Flyers.
o Make sure the rotunda Information boot staff is cool with the JFK AirTrain There should be a supply of LIRR Jamaica schedules in stock at the booth. Lose the bus sign.
o Display JFK AirTrain info in the main Amtrak NJT waiting area There is an auxiliary display board next to the main train listings that is used for special advisories. Usually it tells people not to leave baggage unattended. It could direct JFK passengers to the LIRR, perhaps "For JFK Airport connections follow signs to LIRR."
o Put up some signs directing travelers to the JFK Airtrain Connections between NJ Transit and the LIRR should also be facilitated.
o Modify LIRR video displays The New Jersey Transit displays include the letters "EWR" (the international airport code for Newark) next to every train that stops at the Newark Airport Station. The LIRR should modify its video display system to add "JFK" next to each train that stops at Jamaica.
o Place a MetroCard vending machine in Amtrak/NJT lobby
> While attending the Linux World trade show in Manhattan, I decided to > check out the new, long-awaited Airtrain at John F. Kennedy > International Airport in Queens. There is good news, bad news, more > good news and more bad news about this project.
> The good news is that the JFK AirTrain is a massive, efficient, > attractive system that fills a major hole in the New York City > transportation grid. The bad new is that it is far more difficult to > use the JFK Airtrain than it should be. The good news is that simple, > inexpensive steps could remedy many of the usability issues. The bad > new is that responsibility is so fragmented that nothing may be done.
> Two billion dollars well spent
> The JFK AirTrain is a project that New York City should be proud of. > It provides a fast, frequent, and quiet ride between the eight airline > terminals at Kennedy, a rental car center, long term parking and not > one, but two mass transit facilities. The AirTrain stations have > automatic doors that line up with the doors on the cars, so travelers > stand in a comfortable, indoor space while waiting for their train. > The cars are well lit and have plenty of space for luggage and even > luggage carts. Since the AirTrain is fully automated, there is no cab > for an engineer. Instead a picture window allows passengers to see > where the train is going.
> AirTrain is now the primary way JFK travelers move between terminals > to make connecting flights. It also replaces the swarm of car rental > vans and brings people to the long term parking lot. These internal > airport rides are free and are expected to be the most common use of > Airtrain. Trips to either transit station cost $5. Subway or commuter > rail fare is extra. Airport workers can buy a monthly pass for $40. > There are ample automated ticket machines at both transit stations.
> Can we make Airtrain harder to use?
> There is an old adage: never ascribe to malfeasance what can be > adequately explained by incompetence. None the less, I can't help > wondering if there isn't a conspiracy to keep Airtrain ridership down. > Perhaps officials are still pouting because the JFK Airtrain doesn't > provide a "one seat ride" to Manhattan. It doesn't cure cancer either. > Whatever its merits, it's built, it cost a lot of public money, and it > should be utilized to the greatest possible extent. Here is a summary > of the problems I found.
> Problems at Penn Station
> The best connections to the JFK AirTrain from Manhattan are from Penn > Station, the busiest train station in North America. From there you > can take either the NYC Subway or a Long Island Railroad commuter > train to the Jamaica AirTrain terminus. The subway is less expensive > but takes longer.
> Yet there is almost no hint in the entire Penn Station complex that a > link to JFK even exists. All I could find was one blue banner hanging > in the Long Island Railroad waiting area deep in the bowels of the > station. The information booth in the main rotunda still has a big > sign advertising bus service to JFK and Laguardia Airports.
> By contrast, the rail service to Newark Airport, also called AirTrain, > is prominently advertised. I found three Newark AirTrain kiosks in the > Amtrak/New Jersey Transit area, each with an ample supply of leaflets > describing only the Newark service. On the main display board, trains > that stop at the new Newark Airport station, where passengers transfer > to the Airtrain monorail, are clearly marked. By contrast, the LIRR > has not modified any of its train displays to include mention of JFK.
> Amtrak also ignores the JFK Airtrain. Amtrak's Web site makes no > mention of JFK. Yet with a little effort, Amtrak could develop a > thriving airline connection sub-market on its Northeast corridor, > which has rail connections to Baltimore-Washington, Boston, Islip, > JFK, Newark, Philadelphia, and Washington National airports.
> Penn Station's favorable treatment of the Newark AirTrain while > ignoring the JFK AirTrain is hard to justify. Both involve taking a > commuter train to a stop near the airport and then transferring to an > airport circulation system for rides to the individual terminals. The > ride from Penn Station to the Newark Airport station takes 25 minutes. > It's only 20 minutes from Penn Station to Jamaica. Ticket prices are > about the same. Jamaica LIRR trains are more frequent than Newark > Airport trains and JFK handles slightly more traffic than Newark (31.5 > Million passengers per year vs 29.5).
> Problems at Jamaica
> The new AirTrain terminal at Jamaica is a bright, attractive space. > Connections from the LIRR are simple. There are well-marked stairs and > elevators at the west end of the LIRR platforms that lead up one level > to the AirTrain upper lobby and center platform. Direct connections to > the subway station are still under construction, so for now you have > to exit the subway and walk around the block under the LIRR tracks to > the impressive AirTrain street entrance.
> When you arrive at the AirTrain lobby at Jamaica, you are confronted > with a bank of eight automated MetroCard ticket machines. There are no > fare booth on the automated AirTrain system. Six airline check-in > positions have been installed, but none are in use.
> The displays on the MetroCard machines will confuse many visitors. > Someone who simply wants to get to the airport has to wade through > seven levels of screen to buy a ticket:
> 1. Touch Start to Begin [this screen is only in English]
> 2. Which Language? English / Spanish / French / German / Chinese / > Italian / Japanese / Korean > [The choices are at least labelled in the actual language, e.g. > Deutch]
> 3. Please select card type: MetroCard / SmartLink > [There is no further explanation for this confusing choice. SmartLink > is a monthly pass for New Jersey Transit and Newark Airport. How many > New Yorkers know this, much less visitors from out of town?]
> Remember this is in the upper lobby facing the ticket gates to the > AirTrain. Most visitors at this point simply want to buy a $5 ticket > to JFK. A menu item marked "$5 JFK" could easily be displayed on the > third screen.
> On the other side of the fare gate, there are eight more MetroCard > machines and two LIRR ticket machines. I did not actually try it, but > I fear that a traveler wanting to get to Manhattan from JFK via the > faster LIRR route must negotiate two ticket machines, one to get out > of the Airtrain and the other to buy a ticket for the train. Why not > a one-ticket ride? The airport side of the Airtrain lobby would also > be an ideal place to sell visitors a combine MetroCard with a round > trip ticket on Airtrain and a one-week pass on the subway.
> Problems on the AirTrain
> The AirTrain itself is not as user friendly as it might be. Stops are > announced in English inside the cars, but only the airport terminal > number is given. There is a smallish card on each car listing the > eight terminals and the airlines they serve.
> Howard Beach
> Howard Beach is where the Airtrain connects with the subway A train. > Again there are banks of MetroCard machines. Here, the logical choice > for almost all travelers (the exceptions are people who live in or are > visiting the small Howard Beach community) is $7 JFK + Subway. To get > to the subway, you have to go through two sets of ticket gates about > 20 feet apart, one to leave the airport and one to enter the subway. > The subway station is an open platform, but the station designers > provided a window at the enclosed upper level from which you can see > the train approaching.
> Cheap ways to make AirTrain easier to use
> Here are some simple ways ways to make AirTrain more usable. Some > require an modest investment in time or money, but many are > essentially free.
> At Penn Station > o Include "JFK" in LIRR train announcements. > The public address announcements for trains that stop at Jamaica > usually end with "Change at Jamaica for..." followed by a long list of > stations. Why not include "JFK" in that list? All it would take is a > "make it so" phone call from LIRR management.
> o Add "JFK" to Jamaica sign over Penn Station LIRR next train display > There is a large display over the LIRR ticket windows that lists, in > alphabetical order, each station on the LIRR, followed by time and > track number for the next train to that station. The times and tracks > change, of course, but the station names are fixed, so it would be > very easy to add the letters "JFK" after the word "Jamaica." This > would be a huge aid for travelers unfamiliar with New York.
> o Stock AirTrain-JFK leaflets at existing AirTrain-Newark kiosks > There are several kiosks at Penn Station advertising AirTrain Newark, > each filled with flyers for the Newark service. All it would take is > slapping on a decal that says "JFK" next to the word "Newark" and > devoting half the shelves to JFK AirTrain Flyers.
> o Make sure the rotunda Information boot staff is cool with the JFK > AirTrain > There should be a supply of LIRR Jamaica schedules in stock at the > booth. Lose the bus sign.
> o Display JFK AirTrain info in the main Amtrak NJT waiting area > There is an auxiliary display board next to the main train listings > that is used for special advisories. Usually it tells people not to > leave baggage unattended. It could direct JFK passengers to
>The JFK AirTrain is a project that New York City should be proud of. >It provides a fast, frequent, and quiet ride between the eight airline >terminals at Kennedy, a rental car center, long term parking and not >one, but two mass transit facilities. The AirTrain stations have
One of those mass transit facilities used to have *free*, regular, quick shuttle-bus service to all areas at JFK. That shuttle bus service was discontinued when the AirTrain came online. The result? The AirTrain actually *increases* the cost and time required to get from JFK to many parts of Manhattan -- any part served by the "A" train of the subway system, and offers no improvement in convenience whatsoever -- it's still a two-seat ride.
It just costs $7 now instead of $2. Yeah, that was worth spending two billion dollars. *Sure* it was.
-- Thor Lancelot Simon t...@rek.tjls.com But as he knew no bad language, he had called him all the names of common objects that he could think of, and had screamed: "You lamp! You towel! You plate!" and so on. --Sigmund Freud
> The AirTrain itself is not as user friendly as it might be. Stops are > announced in English inside the cars, but only the airport terminal > number is given. There is a smallish card on each car listing the > eight terminals and the airlines they serve.
Announcements in languages other than English would be a good idea but I'm not sure what languages you would pick.
Terminal 4 serves more than 30 airlines. To announce them all would take a while.
> Howard Beach
> Howard Beach is where the Airtrain connects with the subway A train. > Again there are banks of MetroCard machines. Here, the logical choice > for almost all travelers (the exceptions are people who live in or are > visiting the small Howard Beach community) is $7 JFK + Subway. To get > to the subway, you have to go through two sets of ticket gates about > 20 feet apart, one to leave the airport and one to enter the subway.
There are two sets of fare gates as you leave the Airtrain. One set lets you out of the Airtrain and into the subway and deducts $7 from your MetroCard. These fare gates are in front of you as you come from the Airtrain platform. The other set of fare gates lets you out out of the Airtrain and deducts $5 from your MetroCard. These are off to the right. People who have an unlimited ride MetroCard would want to use the second set of faregates and then use their unlimited card to enter the subway.
Arnold Reinhold <reinh...@world.std.com> wrote: > While attending the Linux World trade show in Manhattan, I decided to > check out the new, long-awaited Airtrain at John F. Kennedy > International Airport in Queens. There is good news, bad news, more > good news and more bad news about this project.
Thanks for a very thoiughtful post; I hope you take it a step further and forward this on to the relevant authorities (of which there are many).
One thing that may help understand the difference in signage at Penn Station is that New Jersey Transit (which runs trains to Newark's AirTrain) is a different entity from the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority that runs LIRR. They may have different priorities or different time lags to deal with a new service.
Just for the record, I'd like to echo the annoyance of the other posters who griped about having the subway ride to JFK more than quadruple in price with the advent of the AirTrain.
miguel -- Hundreds of travel photos from around the world: http://travel.u.nu/
In article <c0jpcc$3u...@panix5.panix.com>, t...@panix.com says...
>One of those mass transit facilities used to have *free*, regular, >quick shuttle-bus service to all areas at JFK. That shuttle bus >service was discontinued when the AirTrain came online. The result? >The AirTrain actually *increases* the cost and time required to >get from JFK to many parts of Manhattan -- any part served by the >"A" train of the subway system, and offers no improvement in >convenience whatsoever -- it's still a two-seat ride.
>It just costs $7 now instead of $2. Yeah, that was worth spending >two billion dollars. *Sure* it was.
The folks making those decisions don't care. They know they have the only train ride to the airport, so they charge what they want. If they really cared, they would have worked with the MTA to give us a single ride to the airport. If they had done that, the $5 fare would be fair. -------------- Alex
Alex Rodriguez wrote: > The folks making those decisions don't care. They know they have the only > train ride to the airport, so they charge what they want. If they really > cared, they would have worked with the MTA to give us a single ride to the > airport. If they had done that, the $5 fare would be fair.
As I understood it, the reason Airtrain is a separate system is because it was built using money from the Federal Aviation Trust Fund that can be used on airport access projects.
According to the Feds' rules (as I saw them interpreted in the press), said airport access projects can *only* be used to reach the airport.
Now I would think that a spur off an existing subway or regional rail line that had stops only on the airport property ought to qualify. But from what I recall reading, it wouldn't. -- -----------Sandy Smith, Exile on Market Street, Philadelphia---------- Managing Editor, _Penn Current_ / smi...@pobox.upenn.edu 215.898.1423 / fax 215.898.1203 / http://pobox.upenn.edu/~smiths/ Got news? Got events? Got stories? Send 'em to curr...@pobox.upenn.edu If you see this line, the opinions expressed are mine, not Penn's
"There is only one thing worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about." ---------------------------------------------------------Oscar Wilde--
I agree with the original poster as far as the menus to purchase a ticket.
If a foreigner is presented with a choice of only 2 options (Metrocard and some other type of card), he won't have a clue of which is needed for a single journey to manhattan.
$5.00 is very steep for a ride of a couple of minutes. $5 should get you downtown on either LIRR or subway. But for JFK bound pax, they would probably have to charge the $5.00.
My guess is that they fear loss of parking revenus.
At Gatwick, it is a no brainer to obtain a single card that covers both the Gatwick express and the tube, even though you travel on 2 different systems.
> Howard Beach is where the Airtrain connects with the subway A train. > Again there are banks of MetroCard machines. Here, the logical choice > for almost all travelers (the exceptions are people who live in or are > visiting the small Howard Beach community) is $7 JFK + Subway. To get > to the subway, you have to go through two sets of ticket gates about > 20 feet apart, one to leave the airport and one to enter the subway. > The subway station is an open platform, but the station designers > provided a window at the enclosed upper level from which you can see > the train approaching.
As I posted awhile back, when I tried out the Airtain and negotiated the Howard Beach transfer, I swiped my Pay-Per-Ride Metrocard once to reach the A train and had $7 deducted at once, not being given the opportunity to switch to my Unlimited Metrocard to pay my subway fare. A reply to my post back then had indicated that there was another set of turnstiles that I had missed which would have allowed me to use both cards separately.
> o The A trains that service the Howard Beach Station should have some > clear airport marking. I suspect the a train fleet is still equipped > with the old "Train to the Plane" signs. It might make sense to use > them again.
I have noticed that since Airtrain service began, the route indicator signs on those affected A trains have been altered. On both the R-38 subway cars with roll signs and the R-44 with LCD signs, the destination now reads "Far Rockaway via JFK Airport".
Another problem that I have with Airtrain is that at the stations at the Airline terminals are too far away from the terminal, making for an uncomfortable walk if one has much baggage. Stations should have been built alongside the upper levels of the terminals for easy access, like at Newark.
to make connecting flights. It also replaces the swarm of car rental
> vans and brings people to the long term parking lot. These internal > airport rides are free and are expected to be the most common use of > Airtrain. Trips to either transit station cost $5. Subway or commuter > rail fare is extra. Airport workers can buy a monthly pass for $40. > There are ample automated ticket machines at both transit stations.
> Can we make Airtrain harder to use?
> There is an old adage: never ascribe to malfeasance what can be > adequately explained by incompetence. None the less, I can't help > wondering if there isn't a conspiracy to keep Airtrain ridership down. > Perhaps officials are still pouting because the JFK Airtrain doesn't > provide a "one seat ride" to Manhattan. It doesn't cure cancer either. > Whatever its merits, it's built, it cost a lot of public money, and it > should be utilized to the greatest possible extent. Here is a summary > of the problems I found.
> Problems at Penn Station
> The best connections to the JFK AirTrain from Manhattan are from Penn > Station, the busiest train station in North America. From there you > can take either the NYC Subway or a Long Island Railroad commuter > train to the Jamaica AirTrain terminus. The subway is less expensive > but takes longer.
> Yet there is almost no hint in the entire Penn Station complex that a > link to JFK even exists. All I could find was one blue banner hanging > in the Long Island Railroad waiting area deep in the bowels of the > station. The information booth in the main rotunda still has a big > sign advertising bus service to JFK and Laguardia Airports.
> By contrast, the rail service to Newark Airport, also called AirTrain, > is prominently advertised. I found three Newark AirTrain kiosks in the > Amtrak/New Jersey Transit area, each with an ample supply of leaflets > describing only the Newark service. On the main display board, trains > that stop at the new Newark Airport station, where passengers transfer > to the Airtrain monorail, are clearly marked. By contrast, the LIRR > has not modified any of its train displays to include mention of JFK.
> Amtrak also ignores the JFK Airtrain. Amtrak's Web site makes no > mention of JFK. Yet with a little effort, Amtrak could develop a > thriving airline connection sub-market on its Northeast corridor, > which has rail connections to Baltimore-Washington, Boston, Islip, > JFK, Newark, Philadelphia, and Washington National airports.
> Penn Station's favorable treatment of the Newark AirTrain while > ignoring the JFK AirTrain is hard to justify. Both involve taking a > commuter train to a stop near the airport and then transferring to an > airport circulation system for rides to the individual terminals. The > ride from Penn Station to the Newark Airport station takes 25 minutes. > It's only 20 minutes from Penn Station to Jamaica. Ticket prices are > about the same. Jamaica LIRR trains are more frequent than Newark > Airport trains and JFK handles slightly more traffic than Newark (31.5 > Million passengers per year vs 29.5).
> Problems at Jamaica
> The new AirTrain terminal at Jamaica is a bright, attractive space. > Connections from the LIRR are simple. There are well-marked stairs and > elevators at the west end of the LIRR platforms that lead up one level > to the AirTrain upper lobby and center platform. Direct connections to > the subway station are still under construction, so for now you have > to exit the subway and walk around the block under the LIRR tracks to > the impressive AirTrain street entrance.
> When you arrive at the AirTrain lobby at Jamaica, you are confronted > with a bank of eight automated MetroCard ticket machines. There are no > fare booth on the automated AirTrain system. Six airline check-in > positions have been installed, but none are in use.
> The displays on the MetroCard machines will confuse many visitors. > Someone who simply wants to get to the airport has to wade through > seven levels of screen to buy a ticket:
> 1. Touch Start to Begin [this screen is only in English]
> 2. Which Language? English / Spanish / French / German / Chinese / > Italian / Japanese / Korean > [The choices are at least labelled in the actual language, e.g. > Deutch]
> 3. Please select card type: MetroCard / SmartLink > [There is no further explanation for this confusing choice. SmartLink > is a monthly pass for New Jersey Transit and Newark Airport. How many > New Yorkers know this, much less visitors from out of town?]
> Remember this is in the upper lobby facing the ticket gates to the > AirTrain. Most visitors at this point simply want to buy a $5 ticket > to JFK. A menu item marked "$5 JFK" could easily be displayed on the > third screen.
> On the other side of the fare gate, there are eight more MetroCard > machines and two LIRR ticket machines. I did not actually try it, but > I fear that a traveler wanting to get to Manhattan from JFK via the > faster LIRR route must negotiate two ticket machines, one to get out > of the Airtrain and the other to buy a ticket for the train. Why not > a one-ticket ride? The airport side of the Airtrain lobby would also > be an ideal place to sell visitors a combine MetroCard with a round > trip ticket on Airtrain and a one-week pass on the subway.
> Problems on the AirTrain
> The AirTrain itself is not as user friendly as it might be. Stops are > announced in English inside the cars, but only the airport terminal > number is given. There is a smallish card on each car listing the > eight terminals and the airlines they serve.
> Howard Beach
> Howard Beach is where the Airtrain connects with the subway A train. > Again there are banks of MetroCard machines. Here, the logical choice > for almost all travelers (the exceptions are people who live in or are > visiting the small Howard Beach community) is $7 JFK + Subway. To get > to the subway, you have to go through two sets of ticket gates about > 20 feet apart, one to leave the airport and one to enter the subway. > The subway station is an open platform, but the station designers > provided a window at the enclosed upper level from which you can see > the train approaching.
> Cheap ways to make AirTrain easier to use
> Here are some simple ways ways to make AirTrain more usable. Some > require an modest investment in time or money, but many are > essentially free.
> At Penn Station > o Include "JFK" in LIRR train announcements. > The public address announcements for trains that stop at Jamaica > usually end with "Change at Jamaica for..." followed by a long list of > stations. Why not include "JFK" in that list? All it would take is a > "make it so" phone call from LIRR management.
> o Add "JFK" to Jamaica sign over Penn Station LIRR next train display > There is a large display over the LIRR ticket windows that lists, in > alphabetical order, each station on the LIRR, followed by time and > track number for the next train to that station. The times and tracks > change, of course, but the station names are fixed, so it would be > very easy to add the letters "JFK" after the word "Jamaica." This > would be a huge aid for travelers unfamiliar with New York.
> o Stock AirTrain-JFK leaflets at existing AirTrain-Newark kiosks > There are several kiosks at Penn Station advertising AirTrain Newark, > each filled with flyers for the Newark service. All it would take is > slapping on a decal that says "JFK" next to the word "Newark" and > devoting half the shelves to JFK AirTrain Flyers.
> o Make sure the rotunda Information boot staff is cool with the JFK > AirTrain > There should be a supply of LIRR Jamaica schedules in stock at the > booth. Lose the bus sign.
> o Display JFK AirTrain info in the main Amtrak NJT waiting area > There is an auxiliary display board next to the main train listings > that is used for special advisories. Usually it tells people not to > leave baggage unattended. It could direct JFK passengers to the LIRR, > perhaps "For JFK Airport connections follow signs to LIRR."
> o Put up some signs directing travelers to the JFK Airtrain > Connections between NJ Transit and the LIRR should also be > facilitated.
> o Modify LIRR video displays > The New Jersey Transit displays include the letters "EWR" (the > international airport code for Newark) next to every train that stops > at the Newark Airport Station. The LIRR should modify its video > display system to add "JFK" next to each train that stops at Jamaica.
> o Place a MetroCard vending machine in Amtrak/NJT lobby
> o Place an LIRR train display monitor in the Amtrak/NJT waiting area > Or alternately, a monitor showing the next train to JFK. This could be > accomplished by pointing a video camera at the Jamaica next train > display described above.
> At Jamaica and Howard Beech
> o Easier ticketing > The MetroCard machines at Jamaica and Howard Beach should be fixed to > simplify purchase of the most common tickets, eliminating the current > seven screen mess. It should also be possible to issue a single ticket > that covers the JFK Airtrain and the LIRR to Penn Station. Making > travelers to Manhattan navigate two separate ticket machines pretty > much eliminates the time saving over just taking the subway, for which > there already is a single ticket option. A single ticket between JFK
> Another problem that I have with Airtrain is that at the stations at the > Airline terminals are too far away from the terminal, making for an > uncomfortable walk if one has much baggage. Stations should have been built > alongside the upper levels of the terminals for easy access, like at Newark.
> to make connecting flights. It also replaces the swarm of car rental > > vans and brings people to the long term parking lot. These internal > > airport rides are free and are expected to be the most common use of > > Airtrain. Trips to either transit station cost $5. Subway or commuter > > rail fare is extra. Airport workers can buy a monthly pass for $40. > > There are ample automated ticket machines at both transit stations.
> > Can we make Airtrain harder to use?
> > There is an old adage: never ascribe to malfeasance what can be > > adequately explained by incompetence. None the less, I can't help > > wondering if there isn't a conspiracy to keep Airtrain ridership down. > > Perhaps officials are still pouting because the JFK Airtrain doesn't > > provide a "one seat ride" to Manhattan. It doesn't cure cancer either. > > Whatever its merits, it's built, it cost a lot of public money, and it > > should be utilized to the greatest possible extent. Here is a summary > > of the problems I found.
> > Problems at Penn Station
> > The best connections to the JFK AirTrain from Manhattan are from Penn > > Station, the busiest train station in North America. From there you > > can take either the NYC Subway or a Long Island Railroad commuter > > train to the Jamaica AirTrain terminus. The subway is less expensive > > but takes longer.
> > Yet there is almost no hint in the entire Penn Station complex that a > > link to JFK even exists. All I could find was one blue banner hanging > > in the Long Island Railroad waiting area deep in the bowels of the > > station. The information booth in the main rotunda still has a big > > sign advertising bus service to JFK and Laguardia Airports.
> > By contrast, the rail service to Newark Airport, also called AirTrain, > > is prominently advertised. I found three Newark AirTrain kiosks in the > > Amtrak/New Jersey Transit area, each with an ample supply of leaflets > > describing only the Newark service. On the main display board, trains > > that stop at the new Newark Airport station, where passengers transfer > > to the Airtrain monorail, are clearly marked. By contrast, the LIRR > > has not modified any of its train displays to include mention of JFK.
> > Amtrak also ignores the JFK Airtrain. Amtrak's Web site makes no > > mention of JFK. Yet with a little effort, Amtrak could develop a > > thriving airline connection sub-market on its Northeast corridor, > > which has rail connections to Baltimore-Washington, Boston, Islip, > > JFK, Newark, Philadelphia, and Washington National airports.
> > Penn Station's favorable treatment of the Newark AirTrain while > > ignoring the JFK AirTrain is hard to justify. Both involve taking a > > commuter train to a stop near the airport and then transferring to an > > airport circulation system for rides to the individual terminals. The > > ride from Penn Station to the Newark Airport station takes 25 minutes. > > It's only 20 minutes from Penn Station to Jamaica. Ticket prices are > > about the same. Jamaica LIRR trains are more frequent than Newark > > Airport trains and JFK handles slightly more traffic than Newark (31.5 > > Million passengers per year vs 29.5).
> > Problems at Jamaica
> > The new AirTrain terminal at Jamaica is a bright, attractive space. > > Connections from the LIRR are simple. There are well-marked stairs and > > elevators at the west end of the LIRR platforms that lead up one level > > to the AirTrain upper lobby and center platform. Direct connections to > > the subway station are still under construction, so for now you have > > to exit the subway and walk around the block under the LIRR tracks to > > the impressive AirTrain street entrance.
> > When you arrive at the AirTrain lobby at Jamaica, you are confronted > > with a bank of eight automated MetroCard ticket machines. There are no > > fare booth on the automated AirTrain system. Six airline check-in > > positions have been installed, but none are in use.
> > The displays on the MetroCard machines will confuse many visitors. > > Someone who simply wants to get to the airport has to wade through > > seven levels of screen to buy a ticket:
> > 1. Touch Start to Begin [this screen is only in English]
> > 2. Which Language? English / Spanish / French / German / Chinese / > > Italian / Japanese / Korean > > [The choices are at least labelled in the actual language, e.g. > > Deutch]
> > 3. Please select card type: MetroCard / SmartLink > > [There is no further explanation for this confusing choice. SmartLink > > is a monthly pass for New Jersey Transit and Newark Airport. How many > > New Yorkers know this, much less visitors from out of town?]
> > Remember this is in the upper lobby facing the ticket gates to the > > AirTrain. Most visitors at this point simply want to buy a $5 ticket > > to JFK. A menu item marked "$5 JFK" could easily be displayed on the > > third screen.
> > On the other side of the fare gate, there are eight more MetroCard > > machines and two LIRR ticket machines. I did not actually try it, but > > I fear that a traveler wanting to get to Manhattan from JFK via the > > faster LIRR route must negotiate two ticket machines, one to get out > > of the Airtrain and the other to buy a ticket for the train. Why not > > a one-ticket ride? The airport side of the Airtrain lobby would also > > be an ideal place to sell visitors a combine MetroCard with a round > > trip ticket on Airtrain and a one-week pass on the subway.
> > Problems on the AirTrain
> > The AirTrain itself is not as user friendly as it might be. Stops are > > announced in English inside the cars, but only the airport terminal > > number is given. There is a smallish card on each car listing the > > eight terminals and the airlines they serve.
> > Howard Beach
> > Howard Beach is where the Airtrain connects with the subway A train. > > Again there are banks of MetroCard machines. Here, the logical choice > > for almost all travelers (the exceptions are people who live in or are > > visiting the small Howard Beach community) is $7 JFK + Subway. To get > > to the subway, you have to go through two sets of ticket gates about > > 20 feet apart, one to leave the airport and one to enter the subway. > > The subway station is an open platform, but the station designers > > provided a window at the enclosed upper level from which you can see > > the train approaching.
> > Cheap ways to make AirTrain easier to use
> > Here are some simple ways ways to make AirTrain more usable. Some > > require an modest investment in time or money, but many are > > essentially free.
> > At Penn Station > > o Include "JFK" in LIRR train announcements. > > The public address announcements for trains that stop at Jamaica > > usually end with "Change at Jamaica for..." followed by a long list of > > stations. Why not include "JFK" in that list? All it would take is a > > "make it so" phone call from LIRR management.
> > o Add "JFK" to Jamaica sign over Penn Station LIRR next train display > > There is a large display over the LIRR ticket windows that lists, in > > alphabetical order, each station on the LIRR, followed by time and > > track number for the next train to that station. The times and tracks > > change, of course, but the station names are fixed, so it would be > > very easy to add the letters "JFK" after the word "Jamaica." This > > would be a huge aid for travelers unfamiliar with New York.
> > o Stock AirTrain-JFK leaflets at existing AirTrain-Newark kiosks > > There are several kiosks at Penn Station advertising AirTrain Newark, > > each filled with flyers for the Newark service. All it would take is > > slapping on a decal that says "JFK" next to the word "Newark" and > > devoting half the shelves to JFK AirTrain Flyers.
> > o Make sure the rotunda Information boot staff is cool with the JFK > > AirTrain > > There should be a supply of LIRR Jamaica schedules in stock at the > > booth. Lose the bus sign.
> > o Display JFK AirTrain info in the main Amtrak NJT waiting area > > There is an auxiliary display board next to the main train listings > > that is used for special advisories. Usually it tells people not to > > leave baggage unattended. It could direct JFK passengers to the LIRR, > > perhaps "For JFK Airport connections follow signs to LIRR."
> > o Put up some signs directing travelers to the JFK Airtrain > > Connections between NJ Transit and the LIRR should also be > > facilitated.
> > o Modify LIRR video displays > > The New Jersey Transit displays include the letters "EWR" (the > > international airport code for Newark) next to every train that stops > > at the Newark Airport Station. The LIRR should modify its video > > display system to add "JFK" next to each train that stops at Jamaica.
> > o Place a MetroCard vending machine in Amtrak/NJT lobby
> > o Place an LIRR train display monitor in the Amtrak/NJT waiting area > > Or alternately, a monitor showing the next train to JFK. This could be > > accomplished by pointing a video camera at the Jamaica next train > > display
> Did your brief comment warrant copying over 200 lines of the original post?
> "Booge" <BA4...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message > news:8XkXb.34427$fV5.715838@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net... > > Another problem that I have with Airtrain is that at the stations at the > > Airline terminals are too far away from the terminal, making for an > > uncomfortable walk if one has much baggage. Stations should have been built > > alongside the upper levels of the terminals for easy access, like at Newark.
On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 01:12:52 -0500, nobody <nob...@nobody.dot> wrote: >I agree with the original poster as far as the menus to purchase a ticket.
>If a foreigner is presented with a choice of only 2 options (Metrocard and >some other type of card), he won't have a clue of which is needed for a single >journey to manhattan.
I suppose I'm the target traveler. I flew into JFK last Sunday from San Diego on my first ever trip to New York City. I fly all over the word but believe it or not Sunday was the first ever time I visited NYC. Anyway as an absolute novice here was my experience.
Wasn't immediately obvious how you got from the terminal to the train. I had to walk across traffic which was fine but I guess I expected a covered, elevated walkway. It was not immediately clear to me there was two trains. I just got on the first train that arrived and it was the wrong one. Fortunately I read the map on the wall of the train and realized this in time to get off at the next station. The correct train came along a couple of minutes behind the one I was on so it was no big deal. At the station where I was to catch the subway I found the machines were easy to operate but it wasn't clear what kind of pass I needed to pay my fare. "$5 metrorail card??" Why don't they just have a "$5 Air train ticket" it would seem a little more obvious. But here is the one that was really screwy. On the vending machine inside the turnstiles you can not buy a "all day funpass" You first have to buy a $5 metrorail card, then walk through the turnstiles and only then can you buy an all day funpass which is what I imagine most out of town travelers would want.
Anyway. It wasn't the easiest transportation ever but as a novice I really had no major troubles. The part where I have to use two vending machines on separate sides of the turnstiles to buy the two separate passes I needed to get to Manhattan was absolutely ludicrous. Maybe they are trying to discourage use of the $7 all day subway funpass by out of towners.
$5 each way really seemed a little steep to me as well. I kind of felt ripped off. Hearing that it cost $2 billion to build, I suppose for that price I would have been fine on a shuttle bus.
On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 08:13:44 -0500, me wrote: > Did your brief comment warrant copying over 200 lines of the original post?
Did yours?
-rest snipped-
-- Tim Kynerd Sundbyberg (småstan i storstan), Sweden tkyn...@spamcop.net Sunrise in Stockholm today: 7:34 Sunset in Stockholm today: 16:28 My rail transit photos at http://www.kynerd.nu
On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 23:55:10 -0500, Exile on Market Street wrote:
> Alex Rodriguez wrote:
>> The folks making those decisions don't care. They know they have the only >> train ride to the airport, so they charge what they want. If they really >> cared, they would have worked with the MTA to give us a single ride to the >> airport. If they had done that, the $5 fare would be fair.
> As I understood it, the reason Airtrain is a separate system is because > it was built using money from the Federal Aviation Trust Fund that can > be used on airport access projects.
> According to the Feds' rules (as I saw them interpreted in the press), > said airport access projects can *only* be used to reach the airport.
-snip-
That in itself doesn't dictate charging $5 to use AirTrain to reach the Howard Beach subway station while allowing free rides to the parking lots. If the PA for some weird reason felt constrained to charge for the ride to Howard Beach, then it should have charged for the parking lot ride as well.
-- Tim Kynerd Sundbyberg (småstan i storstan), Sweden tkyn...@spamcop.net Sunrise in Stockholm today: 7:34 Sunset in Stockholm today: 16:28 My rail transit photos at http://www.kynerd.nu
>> The AirTrain itself is not as user friendly as it might be. Stops are >> announced in English inside the cars, but only the airport terminal >> number is given. There is a smallish card on each car listing the >> eight terminals and the airlines they serve.
> Announcements in languages other than English would be a good idea but I'm > not sure what languages you would pick.
The train that moves people between terminals at Hartsfield Atlanta airport has multilingual displays (though not announcements), and has for some years now. They show, if memory serves, English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese and Korean. (Chinese should have been there too, and it may be. My memory ain't what it used to be....)
-rest snipped-
-- Tim Kynerd Sundbyberg (småstan i storstan), Sweden tkyn...@spamcop.net Sunrise in Stockholm today: 7:34 Sunset in Stockholm today: 16:28 My rail transit photos at http://www.kynerd.nu
> On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 23:55:10 -0500, Exile on Market Street wrote:
> > Alex Rodriguez wrote:
> >> The folks making those decisions don't care. They know they have the only > >> train ride to the airport, so they charge what they want. If they really > >> cared, they would have worked with the MTA to give us a single ride to the > >> airport. If they had done that, the $5 fare would be fair.
> > As I understood it, the reason Airtrain is a separate system is because > > it was built using money from the Federal Aviation Trust Fund that can > > be used on airport access projects.
> > According to the Feds' rules (as I saw them interpreted in the press), > > said airport access projects can *only* be used to reach the airport.
> -snip-
> That in itself doesn't dictate charging $5 to use AirTrain to reach the > Howard Beach subway station while allowing free rides to the parking lots. > If the PA for some weird reason felt constrained to charge for the ride to > Howard Beach, then it should have charged for the parking lot ride as well.
Trust me. They get back the "free" ride to the parking lot in parking fees many times over. Aitrain represents a major potential hit to one of their most profitable activities no doubt the $5 is to keep the lots full.
Robert Coté wrote: > Trust me. They get back the "free" ride to the parking lot in parking > fees many times over. Aitrain represents a major potential hit to one > of their most profitable activities no doubt the $5 is to keep the lots > full.
Plus, the cost to build and maintain it is probably astronomical
> Another problem that I have with Airtrain is that at the stations at the > Airline terminals are too far away from the terminal, making for an > uncomfortable walk if one has much baggage. Stations should have been built > alongside the upper levels of the terminals for easy access, like at
Newark.
The Airtrain station is right inside the terminal at terminal 4.
@X. wrote: > Anyway. It wasn't the easiest transportation ever but as a novice I > really had no major troubles. The part where I have to use two > vending machines on separate sides of the turnstiles to buy the two > separate passes I needed to get to Manhattan was absolutely ludicrous. > Maybe they are trying to discourage use of the $7 all day subway > funpass by out of towners.
The (originally $4, when a single fare was $1.50) FunPass was invented _for_ tourists and initially they made it very difficult for a local to get one. But at $7 it's rarely the best choice, since you need to make four two-leg trips to make it cheaper than simply using your per-ride card ($1.67). For a commuter, the weekly ($21) or monthly ($70) unlimited cards are the best deal. -- Peter T. Daniels gramma...@att.net
> In article <pan.2004.02.14.20.40.16.455...@kynerd.no-ip.com>, > Tim Kynerd <r0yoh6...@sneakemail.com> wrote:
> > On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 23:55:10 -0500, Exile on Market Street wrote:
> > > Alex Rodriguez wrote:
> > >> The folks making those decisions don't care. They know they have the only > > >> train ride to the airport, so they charge what they want. If they really > > >> cared, they would have worked with the MTA to give us a single ride to the > > >> airport. If they had done that, the $5 fare would be fair.
> > > As I understood it, the reason Airtrain is a separate system is because > > > it was built using money from the Federal Aviation Trust Fund that can > > > be used on airport access projects.
> > > According to the Feds' rules (as I saw them interpreted in the press), > > > said airport access projects can *only* be used to reach the airport.
> > -snip-
> > That in itself doesn't dictate charging $5 to use AirTrain to reach the > > Howard Beach subway station while allowing free rides to the parking lots. > > If the PA for some weird reason felt constrained to charge for the ride to > > Howard Beach, then it should have charged for the parking lot ride as well.
> Trust me. They get back the "free" ride to the parking lot in parking > fees many times over. Aitrain represents a major potential hit to one > of their most profitable activities no doubt the $5 is to keep the lots > full.
Did the parking fee go up when Airtrain opened? -- Peter T. Daniels gramma...@att.net
Peter T. Daniels <gramma...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
> @X. wrote:
>> Anyway. It wasn't the easiest transportation ever but as a novice I >> really had no major troubles. The part where I have to use two >> vending machines on separate sides of the turnstiles to buy the two >> separate passes I needed to get to Manhattan was absolutely ludicrous. >> Maybe they are trying to discourage use of the $7 all day subway >> funpass by out of towners.
>The (originally $4, when a single fare was $1.50) FunPass was invented >_for_ tourists and initially they made it very difficult for a local to >get one. But at $7 it's rarely the best choice, since you need to make >four two-leg trips to make it cheaper than simply using your per-ride >card ($1.67).
Or more than that still if you can manange to take one or two of the legs on a bus using a free subway-bus or bus-subway transfer.
On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 22:31:40 +0000, mrtravelkay wrote: > Robert Coté wrote:
>> Trust me. They get back the "free" ride to the parking lot in parking >> fees many times over. Aitrain represents a major potential hit to one >> of their most profitable activities no doubt the $5 is to keep the lots >> full.
> Plus, the cost to build and maintain it is probably astronomical
Sorry, Robert, but there's no logical reason why people who pay to park shouldn't also pay to ride AirTrain to and from the parking lots. Parking is one service; AirTrain is another.
Unless, of course, the PA raised parking fees when AirTrain opened -- and presumably by $5 for the first hour/day. Otherwise, airport parkers are being subsidized by other riders.
-- Tim Kynerd Sundbyberg (småstan i storstan), Sweden tkyn...@spamcop.net Sunrise in Stockholm today: 7:32 Sunset in Stockholm today: 16:31 My rail transit photos at http://www.kynerd.nu
> Did your brief comment warrant copying over 200 lines of the original post?
> "Booge" <BA4...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message > news:8XkXb.34427$fV5.715838@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net... > > Another problem that I have with Airtrain is that at the stations at the > > Airline terminals are too far away from the terminal, making for an > > uncomfortable walk if one has much baggage. Stations should have been > built > > alongside the upper levels of the terminals for easy access, like at > Newark.
> > to make connecting flights. It also replaces the swarm of car rental > > > vans and brings people to the long term parking lot. These internal > > > airport rides are free and are expected to be the most common use of > > > Airtrain. Trips to either transit station cost $5. Subway or commuter > > > rail fare is extra. Airport workers can buy a monthly pass for $40. > > > There are ample automated ticket machines at both transit stations.
> > > Can we make Airtrain harder to use?
> > > There is an old adage: never ascribe to malfeasance what can be > > > adequately explained by incompetence. None the less, I can't help > > > wondering if there isn't a conspiracy to keep Airtrain ridership down. > > > Perhaps officials are still pouting because the JFK Airtrain doesn't > > > provide a "one seat ride" to Manhattan. It doesn't cure cancer either. > > > Whatever its merits, it's built, it cost a lot of public money, and it > > > should be utilized to the greatest possible extent. Here is a summary > > > of the problems I found.
> > > Problems at Penn Station
> > > The best connections to the JFK AirTrain from Manhattan are from Penn > > > Station, the busiest train station in North America. From there you > > > can take either the NYC Subway or a Long Island Railroad commuter > > > train to the Jamaica AirTrain terminus. The subway is less expensive > > > but takes longer.
> > > Yet there is almost no hint in the entire Penn Station complex that a > > > link to JFK even exists. All I could find was one blue banner hanging > > > in the Long Island Railroad waiting area deep in the bowels of the > > > station. The information booth in the main rotunda still has a big > > > sign advertising bus service to JFK and Laguardia Airports.
> > > By contrast, the rail service to Newark Airport, also called AirTrain, > > > is prominently advertised. I found three Newark AirTrain kiosks in the > > > Amtrak/New Jersey Transit area, each with an ample supply of leaflets > > > describing only the Newark service. On the main display board, trains > > > that stop at the new Newark Airport station, where passengers transfer > > > to the Airtrain monorail, are clearly marked. By contrast, the LIRR > > > has not modified any of its train displays to include mention of JFK.
> > > Amtrak also ignores the JFK Airtrain. Amtrak's Web site makes no > > > mention of JFK. Yet with a little effort, Amtrak could develop a > > > thriving airline connection sub-market on its Northeast corridor, > > > which has rail connections to Baltimore-Washington, Boston, Islip, > > > JFK, Newark, Philadelphia, and Washington National airports.
> > > Penn Station's favorable treatment of the Newark AirTrain while > > > ignoring the JFK AirTrain is hard to justify. Both involve taking a > > > commuter train to a stop near the airport and then transferring to an > > > airport circulation system for rides to the individual terminals. The > > > ride from Penn Station to the Newark Airport station takes 25 minutes. > > > It's only 20 minutes from Penn Station to Jamaica. Ticket prices are > > > about the same. Jamaica LIRR trains are more frequent than Newark > > > Airport trains and JFK handles slightly more traffic than Newark (31.5 > > > Million passengers per year vs 29.5).
> > > Problems at Jamaica
> > > The new AirTrain terminal at Jamaica is a bright, attractive space. > > > Connections from the LIRR are simple. There are well-marked stairs and > > > elevators at the west end of the LIRR platforms that lead up one level > > > to the AirTrain upper lobby and center platform. Direct connections to > > > the subway station are still under construction, so for now you have > > > to exit the subway and walk around the block under the LIRR tracks to > > > the impressive AirTrain street entrance.
> > > When you arrive at the AirTrain lobby at Jamaica, you are confronted > > > with a bank of eight automated MetroCard ticket machines. There are no > > > fare booth on the automated AirTrain system. Six airline check-in > > > positions have been installed, but none are in use.
> > > The displays on the MetroCard machines will confuse many visitors. > > > Someone who simply wants to get to the airport has to wade through > > > seven levels of screen to buy a ticket:
> > > 1. Touch Start to Begin [this screen is only in English]
> > > 2. Which Language? English / Spanish / French / German / Chinese / > > > Italian / Japanese / Korean > > > [The choices are at least labelled in the actual language, e.g. > > > Deutch]
> > > 3. Please select card type: MetroCard / SmartLink > > > [There is no further explanation for this confusing choice. SmartLink > > > is a monthly pass for New Jersey Transit and Newark Airport. How many > > > New Yorkers know this, much less visitors from out of town?]
> > > 4. Refill your card / Get card info/ New card
> > > Remember this is in the upper lobby facing the ticket gates to the > > > AirTrain. Most visitors at this point simply want to buy a $5 ticket > > > to JFK. A menu item marked "$5 JFK" could easily be displayed on the > > > third screen.
> > > On the other side of the fare gate, there are eight more MetroCard > > > machines and two LIRR ticket machines. I did not actually try it, but > > > I fear that a traveler wanting to get to Manhattan from JFK via the > > > faster LIRR route must negotiate two ticket machines, one to get out > > > of the Airtrain and the other to buy a ticket for the train. Why not > > > a one-ticket ride? The airport side of the Airtrain lobby would also > > > be an ideal place to sell visitors a combine MetroCard with a round > > > trip ticket on Airtrain and a one-week pass on the subway.
> > > Problems on the AirTrain
> > > The AirTrain itself is not as user friendly as it might be. Stops are > > > announced in English inside the cars, but only the airport terminal > > > number is given. There is a smallish card on each car listing the > > > eight terminals and the airlines they serve.
> > > Howard Beach
> > > Howard Beach is where the Airtrain connects with the subway A train. > > > Again there are banks of MetroCard machines. Here, the logical choice > > > for almost all travelers (the exceptions are people who live in or are > > > visiting the small Howard Beach community) is $7 JFK + Subway. To get > > > to the subway, you have to go through two sets of ticket gates about > > > 20 feet apart, one to leave the airport and one to enter the subway. > > > The subway station is an open platform, but the station designers > > > provided a window at the enclosed upper level from which you can see > > > the train approaching.
> > > Cheap ways to make AirTrain easier to use
> > > Here are some simple ways ways to make AirTrain more usable. Some > > > require an modest investment in time or money, but many are > > > essentially free.
> > > At Penn Station > > > o Include "JFK" in LIRR train announcements. > > > The public address announcements for trains that stop at Jamaica > > > usually end with "Change at Jamaica for..." followed by a long list of > > > stations. Why not include "JFK" in that list? All it would take is a > > > "make it so" phone call from LIRR management.
> > > o Add "JFK" to Jamaica sign over Penn Station LIRR next train display > > > There is a large display over the LIRR ticket windows that lists, in > > > alphabetical order, each station on the LIRR, followed by time and > > > track number for the next train to that station. The times and tracks > > > change, of course, but the station names are fixed, so it would be > > > very easy to add the letters "JFK" after the word "Jamaica." This > > > would be a huge aid for travelers unfamiliar with New York.
> > > o Stock AirTrain-JFK leaflets at existing AirTrain-Newark kiosks > > > There are several kiosks at Penn Station advertising AirTrain Newark, > > > each filled with flyers for the Newark service. All it would take is > > > slapping on a decal that says "JFK" next to the word "Newark" and > > > devoting half the shelves to JFK AirTrain Flyers.
> > > o Make sure the rotunda Information boot staff is cool with the JFK > > > AirTrain > > > There should be a supply of LIRR Jamaica schedules in stock at the > > > booth. Lose the bus sign.
> > > o Display JFK AirTrain info in the main Amtrak NJT waiting area > > > There is an auxiliary display board next to the main train listings > > > that is used for special advisories. Usually it tells people not to > > > leave baggage unattended. It could direct JFK passengers to the LIRR, > > > perhaps "For JFK Airport connections follow signs to LIRR."
> > > o Put up some signs directing travelers to the JFK Airtrain > > > Connections between NJ Transit and the LIRR should also be > > > facilitated.
> > > o Modify LIRR video displays > > > The New Jersey Transit displays include the letters "EWR" (the > > > international airport code for Newark) next
