MOre reason to kill off the MTA - G Train Fiasco

[Popping Mad]

https://nypost.com/2024/01/26/metro/mta-six-week-g-train-closure-will-save-50m-avoid-a-year-of-weekend-outages/

Six-week G train closure will save $50M, avoid a year of weekend and
night outages: MTA
Nolan Hicks
4–5 minutes

The MTA is pushing back against calls from Brooklyn politicians to ditch
plans for a six-week G line shutdown to replace its ancient train
control systems, arguing the alternative would mean a year of weekend
closures — and add as much as $50 million to the cost.

Officials say they need the shutdown to get into the Brooklyn-Queens
crosstown line’s tunnels and rip out the Depression-era stop light
signals that frequently break and replace it with a new computerized
system, which will increase reliability and allow trains to run more
frequently.

The MTA’s tentative shut down schedule would hit Greenpoint,
Williamsburg, Bedford-Stuyvesant and Clinton Hill with a set of 24/7
outages over a six-week period:

June 28-July 5: No service between Court Square and Greenpoint Avenue;
July 5-Aug. 12: No service between Court Square and Bedford-Nostrand;
Aug. 12-Sept. 2: No service between Bedford-Nostrand and
Hoyt-Schemerhorn;

Image of a G Train coming down a tunnel
A G train approaches a signal at the Hoyt-Schemerhorn station in
Brooklyn. The MTA plans to replace the ancient signals that control the
A, C and G lines that run through this station as part of two major
projects. Angel Chevrestt

The MTA has said it would provide frequent shuttle bus service to
replace the trains during the closure.

The alternative, according to agency plans, would result in shutdowns
across 40 weekends, plus additional overnight outages at an extra cost
of $20-$50 million to the $621 million project.

And even if they spread out the work, officials say, G train would only
be able to run a limited schedule at slower speeds, changes that also
frequently leave enrage straphangers.

A rider sitting in a G Train
A G train pulls through the Classon Avenue stop in Brooklyn’s BedStuy in
2016. Gregory P. Mango

“The MTA is committed to delivering a world-class subway system for G
train customers, including through upgrades to install modern, more
reliable signals, and appreciates the perspectives of local leaders in
Brooklyn and Queens on ways to improve the transit experience,” said
agency spokesman Eugene Resnick.

However, the six-week plan has run into massive resistance from
delegations to the City Council and Albany statehouse, who are pushing
the MTA to come up with another option as G train is the only subway
serving in Greenpoint and the only line that runs north-south along the
booming waterfront.

“I think they’re overstating the number of weekend closures that would
be necessary to get the work done,” said the local Councilman Lincoln
Restler (D-Brooklyn). “But, we’ve been in active communication with the
MTA and exploring having even more frequent shuttle bus service.”

The G train at Church Avenue station
Commuters board a G train in 2020, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic
lockdowns began. Paul Martinka

“If the MTA is unwilling to reconsider the six week long shutdown, we’re
going we can to ensure that Greenpoint has access to fast, reliable and
frequent shuttle bus service,” he added.

The G has long been the source of jokes, complaints and pride for
neighborhoods in Brooklyn and in Queens.

A decade ago, the northern section was shut down for five weeks to
repair and rehab the Greenpoint tunnel following flooding from
Superstorm Sandy.

Officials have kept the line running during other repair programs. But,
it often requires the agency to run the line in segmented chunks that
require frequent transfers and limited schedules, both of which also
leave frustrated and furious riders railing against the MTA.

[Popping Mad]

On 1/28/24 05:39, Popping Mad wrote:
> https://nypost.com/2024/01/26/metro/mta-six-week-g-train-closure-will-save-50m-avoid-a-year-of-weekend-outages/
>
> Six-week G train closure will save $50M, avoid a year of weekend and
> night outages: MTA
> Nolan Hicks
> 4–5 minutes
>
> The MTA is pushing back against calls from Brooklyn politicians to ditch
> plans for a six-week G line shutdown to replace its ancient train
> control systems, arguing the alternative would mean a year of weekend
> closures — and add as much as $50 million to the cost.
>
> Officials say they need the shutdown to get into the Brooklyn-Queens
> crosstown line’s tunnels and rip out the Depression-era stop light
> signals that frequently break and replace it with a new computerized
> system, which will increase reliability and allow trains to run more
> frequently.
>

In what universe is the modern computer crap more reliable that
depression era lights. It sure as hell doesn't workl on the Brighton line.