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Oh goody, politics dictating transit design.
Septa Silverliner V anyone?
“The Governor gave the MTA a mandate to implement new, world-class designs as quickly as possible for all new subway cars and that’s what you’re seeing today – innovation making the lives and commutes of all New Yorkers easier,” MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast said. “Coupled with new methods for redeveloping our stations at the Governor’s direction, customers will see us get in, get done, and return new and improved stations to them in the most efficient way possible.”
Oh goody, politics dictating transit design.
I guess I'm numb to the Governor of New York's endless stream of self-promotion. I was focused on the idea that the NYC subway system might be getting new cars.
Since the story was more political than I realized, perhaps the thread should be deleted.
Well, this is what the proposed R-211 cars are to look like:
---PCJ
Open end eh? I suppose it's like the new London metropolitan design of seven units equals one car. If so what some one fails to see is if you have a problem with that car and it has to be in the shop for s while, you LOOSE ALL those seats when that car is taken out of Service . A real Wile E. Coyote genius!
Well, you already have that situation with the current crop of trains arranged into 5-car sets with drawbars between them rather than couplers. Even the R62's (which debuted as single-unit cars) were converted into drawbar-equipped 5-car sets many years ago.
---PCJ
The curved sides are pointless and reduce air volume within the cars and diminish the ability to push air through the stations. There are an insufficient number of hand holds.
Rule292 posted:Oh goody, politics dictating transit design.
Septa Silverliner V anyone?
“The Governor gave the MTA a mandate to implement new, world-class designs as quickly as possible for all new subway cars and that’s what you’re seeing today – innovation making the lives and commutes of all New Yorkers easier,” MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast said. “Coupled with new methods for redeveloping our stations at the Governor’s direction, customers will see us get in, get done, and return new and improved stations to them in the most efficient way possible.”
So is the Empire State going to pay for these things?
And:
1. Will the things run without the trucks cracking?
2. Will the A?C work?
3. Will there be enough seats?
4. Will the gov RIDE the things!
Dominic Mazoch posted:Rule292 posted:Oh goody, politics dictating transit design.
Septa Silverliner V anyone?
“The Governor gave the MTA a mandate to implement new, world-class designs as quickly as possible for all new subway cars and that’s what you’re seeing today – innovation making the lives and commutes of all New Yorkers easier,” MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast said. “Coupled with new methods for redeveloping our stations at the Governor’s direction, customers will see us get in, get done, and return new and improved stations to them in the most efficient way possible.”
So is the Empire State going to pay for these things?
And:
1. Will the things run without the trucks cracking?
2. Will the A?C work?
3. Will there be enough seats?
4. Will the gov RIDE the things!
Keeping partisan politics out of the discussion, the problem is governments hold the purse strings but have no real knowledge of the things they legislate/mandate.
They legitimately want stations that attract riders but they have no real knowledge of transit vehicle design.
Thus the reason that GG1's, PCC trolleys and green rattlers/red rattlers (Reading and PRR MU cars) survived for many years yet the current transit designs are fraught with problems.
So is the Empire State going to pay for these things?
The NYC subway system is subsidized. It does not generate enough revenue to be self supporting. According to a couple of quick internet checks, fares cover about 50 percent of the costs. No mention of how much revenue is generated by advertising.
And:
1. Boeing is still building UPGRADED 747 and 737 airplanes.
2. Russia's versIon of NASA is using 40 year old rockets and spacecraft to get to the ISS.
General US policy, both private industry and government: IF IT WORKS, GET RID OF IT!
Also good lighting, keeping the stations clean, and keeping panhandlers out would bring greater passenger comfort, hence riders, at lower costs.
Another US Private Business and Government Policy: THOSE WHO CONTROL THE PRODUCTION OF A PRODUCT DO NOT MAKE, OR USE THE PRODUCT THEMSELVES!
Also good lighting, keeping the stations clean, and keeping panhandlers out would bring greater passenger comfort, hence riders, at lower costs.
LOL, according to the articles I've read lately, the NYC subway system is not hurting for passengers. Quite the opposite, they are just about out of capacity.
That written, I certainly can agree that the cars and stations should be kept as clean as possible.
As a twice (or more) daily rider I think riders could care less about the exteriors and more about the interiors and functionality. If wider doors mean that it is easier to get past the "campers" who just stand in the doors that's great. More frequent or higher capacity trains would be ideal.
The best most recent addition to the whole system is the electronic train arrival indicator on the platforms and before the turnstiles that is on some lines like the 1/2/3 it show when the next few trains are coming at actual time not just the scheduled times. It is a life saver if you have to chose to get in a packed train or wait for the next one knowing it is 1 min away vs 17. I know many women since the system came are happy to wait by the station agent booth in off hours for personal safety. That program systemwide would make the whole experience better for the rider.
Posted from NJTRANSIT train 7821 Sec.
Speaking of countdown clocks, here's why it's taking so long to get them on the B (IND/BMT) division:
The Atlantic:
Why New York Subway Lines Are Missing Countdown Clocks
---PCJ
The reason for this is that the subway system, thanks to the boom that has hit NYC over the past decade, decade and a half, is bursting at the seams, I can remember when they said the subway was doomed. As someone who rides the E train every day, the biggest issue, besides crowding (sometimes I have to wait 5 trains to be able to squeeze onto a train at 8th and 42nd), is that they have trouble maintaining a regular schedule, more days than not it seems like the E trains are delayed because of various things, signal malfunction, equipment breakdown, 'police incident' , you name it, and people riding the subways are not happy.
It is the usual story, when cities have a boom going transit is the last thing they think of, and it is kind of ironic that the TA is wanting for money despite the surge in tax money that NYC is generating to the state (which has been stripped off to use for 'other priorities', including trying to stimulate the economy in upstate NY). It is kind of sad that in a city where they are putting up huge highrise apartment buildings that have price tags in the 10's of millions, where there is so much money in the city, that upgrading the subway is like pulling teeth. Given that the subway is one of the lifebloods of this city, you would figure someone would care, but apparently those that do don't make policy.
