Seen/Scene in NYC: Transit & Road Improvements Begin

Shortly after the City of New York and the DOT announced game-changing bus and bike lanes running along First and Second Avenues, DOT got right to work on them. Forgetting the fact that they are truly not and will never be "surface subways" as the bureaucrats put it (due to the bus lanes not being physically separated, problems will arise when cars, trucks, and yes, even emergency vehicles park or stand in it,) lanes have been popping up over the past few weeks. On Second Avenue (with a better redesign of "bus bulbs" on Broadway as well) and First Avenue.

I got my first-hand look Tuesday along First Avenue: for the several minutes or so walking South along 1st it looked as if most vehicles were respecting the new bus, bike and parking lanes.  But only time (and NYPD enforcement or mockery of) will tell.

Update 7/21/10: The problem with the Second avenue bus lane is that is adjacent to the curb, which means that trucks park there to load/unload. This is a clear difference from 1st Ave, where the bus lane is adjacent to a parking lane.

Here's some pics!

Clear view of new bike lanes at 1st and E 9th (looking South):

DOT Contractors painting bus lane along 1st Avenue:


DOT Contractors installing pedestrian refuge island at 1st and Houston:


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Seen/Scene in NYC: Forget Cabbies, 34 St Bus Lane a Parking Lot

Btwn Lexington and 3rd Aves/34 St: On Tuesday, I witnessed a new Bus Arrival sign, not in operation yet, installed at a Northbound Madison Avenue/32 St bus shelter (probably M4, M16).

But forget that, the bigger news story was the extreme abuse of the 34th Street bus lane. The lane was installed earlier this year to help speed up buses running along that street which is notorious for having extremely slow bus speeds. I had previously heard of the NYPD and cabbies leaving their cars in the lanes, but I had to see it for myself to believe that it was worse than that.

You can see for yourself in the following 2 pictures that were taken here. Limos and cars just parked in a bus lane clearly demarcated by a red-colored asphalt topping, along with street signs proclaiming "No Standing, 7am to 7pm Mon to Fri". Both pictures were taken on a Tuesday at 1:09 PM. From what the New York State Dept. of Motor Vehicles' regulations say,

"A NO STANDING sign means you may stop only temporarily to load or unload passengers."

Some of those vehicles didn't even have a driver in the vehicle! Perhaps some transit-advocates (maybe if I had spare time) could document each offending vehicle's license plate as well as the surroundings, and post them somewhere! I was going to do the same thing Tuesday, but there were way too many valet parkers and only one of me...




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Don't Block Bus Lanes says Stringer, DOT-TLC

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer is on a quest for the NYPD to ticket drivers parked illegally in bus lanes. Bus lanes are designated lanes for bus use only during a 12 hour period, 7am to 7pm, to allow for faster bus travel. However, private vehicles and delivery trucks still park in those lanes, and the police aren't doing enough to stop this illegal behavior. Unfortunately, a plan to fund cameras that would capture the licenses of illegal vehicles was defeated thanks to someone in the New York State Assembly named David Gantt.

However, there is hope. The Metro New York edition reported 2 weeks ago that the NYC Dept. of Transportation, which is also leading a renewed attempt at bus tracking technology, will also work with the Taxi and Limousine Commission "to use cameras to bust cabbies in bus lanes." They will first start with the bus lanes on 34th St as well as the Select Bus Service BRT route in the Bronx. With regards to Albany lawmakers such as David Gantt who have relented against using cameras to catch red light runners, Mayor Bloomberg said, "It defies common sense."

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DOT Leads 3rd Try at Bus Arrival Signs

Nearly 7 months ago, the MTA gave up on their second attempt at successfully installing and operating bus arrival signs. The interesting thing about my post was how I titled it "Maybe the Third Time's the Charm." It turns out I was right about that.

Two weeks ago, the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) along with the MTA and Mayor Bloomberg unveiled a new pilot program on 34th St. The displays fit perfectly into the top rectangular box of the Cemusa-designed bus shelters, since they were designed with these signage in mind. It shows the current time and temperature, as well as the next 3 buses due to arrive with their route numbers, destinations, and Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA). It uses GPS-technology, which despite the MTA's claims that it was partially the reason for the failure of the last 2 trials, works to relay the bus' current location through an estimation that takes into account traffic patterns. The bottom of the sign also displays "Welcome to New York. It's a Metro Card City. Please visit www.mta.info for more information on the Metro Card". The signs are provided free by a company called Clever Devices, which has successfully worked with Chicago's buses to cover their bus network with similar technology. This is an important step at increasing the reliability of mass transit in NYC, as well as increase its appeal, and I look forward to seeing this technology rolled out to other bus shelters throughout the city.



Of course, being NYC, there are its shares of miscreants who just ignore the law by parking or standing in bus lanes. What's worse is when the NYPD does it. This of course can really upset the ETAs of the signs not to mention impede traffic flow.

edited 8/27

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BRT Not as Efficient, But Cheaper in Long Run

I decided to republish the following remarks I made in response to a few people at a forum called Skyscraper City on the topic for the New York City Subway. In it, I describe briefly why Bus Rapid Transit should be considered instead of a new subway line on Second Avenue, whose opening was just recently delayed another 2 years on top of a previous delay of 2 years. This delay is only for Phase 1 of 4...

Original Post: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=40110610&postcount=598

[Quote=ADCS]
BRT is not the right idea. This is the United States; no matter how fancy the bus, there's still the stigma.[/quote]

What stigma? Buses are used to connect to subways and for cross-borough travel here in NYC all the time. True, BRT is slower than subway and is more affected by weather conditions, but the proposal of Bus Rapid Transit takes a fresh approach at bus travel by having as much of a physically separated lane for buses. Think about it: along with prioritized signaling, attractive stations, longer distances btwn stops, and paid-before-boarding will make BRT run faster than conventional buses and close to subway functionality.

And here's another reason to support BRT over a new subway route: wouldn't you want your taxes to be used more effectively?

(More info at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/fer...sservice.shtml)

[Quote=ArthurK] As I think about it, a BRT is far less effective compared to the SAS. There's no way a bus in Manhattan can keep up with the speed and quality of an (express) subway. Plus: you waste a lot of space at street level. Plus: the SAS will be integrated in the NYC subway network, with Q-trains running from Brooklyn via lower Manhattan and the SAS to 125th street, and a possible further extention into The Bronx. That's almost impossible with bus services. Manhattan is just to crowded for a BRT at street level.
The construction of the SAS is IMHO an effective way of spending taxes. And it gives no pollution at street level and is sustainable for the future.[/QUOTE]

[Quote=davsot]Honestly, I just think that trains are way more efficient. If you manage your power sources correctly, subways don't pollute. Subways might be a tad bit quieter.
Buses pollute directly, though it doesn't need to be said they are more efficient than private cars.[/QUOTE]

True, a bus will never beat a train running under normal speeds. And trust me, as a railfan, there is no doubt I would prefer a subway over a bus. But the point of BRT is not to equal the subway but act as a substitution to complement it - currently the Lexington Ave. Line is the most crowded line during rush hours and is frequently delayed because of it is over-capacity. Having anything running parallel service would help relieve this line.

The new express track for the Q train has already been shelved several months ago with the elimination of the central track of the 96th St station on the SAS. An extension into the Bronx is unlikely in the next 430 years since it would involve completely new construction. Construction costs will undoubtedly rise and the current projection of 2018 is the completion date of ONLY PHASE I. 3 more phases remain.

Why BRT saves more money in the long run:

• No foundation/settlement issues during construction-something that, especially with the legacy of Manhattan buildings, is constantly in the news.
• There is no need to power lights in the tunnels or stations, street lights are already present
• Signaling powering and maintenance is provided by DOT, initial build costs are cheap
• Track flooding, a major problem, creates the need for higher maintenance costs for pumps, leak prevention, etc.
• No need for powering fans for ventilation-BRT is out in the open
• Today's MTA buses are "Clean Air Hybrid-Electric Buses": quiet and a lot less polluting. New buses are also handicapped accessible with planks that fold out onto the street. Eliminates the need for installing costly elevators, especially since they breakdown all the time and take forever to repair.
• Opens the way for a shared and protected bike lane
• Space is not an issue: 2nd Ave is 4 lanes (+2 for parking), and the point of building mass transit is to discourage driving = less pollution
  

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Published Post Number:142/148
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Better Bus Lanes in NYC?

The following video shows how a "Bus-only" street would work. Taking place possibly in Italy *(Edited as suggested by commenter: Newcastle-on-Tyne?)*, it utilizes mechanized poles that protrude from the roadbed. As buses approach the poles, a sensor sends a signal to lower the poles. After the bus has passed, the poles reset to their risen position. Of course, as you will see, some drivers think they maybe quick enough to beat the poles, or do they...?



This idea can be utilized in NYC's Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) or as the MTA calls it, "Select Bus Service" lanes, once in an experimental mode but now expanding its reach with Phase II. Since funding for camera-enforced lanes were defeated by a certain Gantt (David Gantt) last year, the NYC Department of Transportation and the MTA have been having trouble stopping people from driving into the lanes or leaving vehicles in it. In fact, I was at 34th St & 7th Ave recently, and spotted someone leaving a whole bunch of crates in front of an H&M in a special 34th St bus lane reserved for buses. (Picture follows-bus lane is near curb, painted red)



Published Post Number:129/135
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Edited 5/11/09

Gantt Reappointed

David Gantt, the man infamous for screwing over New York City's traffic enforcement cameras as well as defeating funding for new bus-lane traffic cameras has been reelected to his position as chairman of the State Assembly's Transportation Committee. By Sheldon Silver. Even the New York Times called for Gantt's removal. SHAME ON SILVER!

Published Post Number (PPN):103/109

Arrest This Murderer NOW

Earlier this week, a passenger fatally stabbed a bus driver on the B46 route in Brooklyn illustrated the immorality some people have. The passenger did not pay the fare when boarding after his MetroCard failed to work and was not confronted by the driver, as per their protocol. However, when that passenger demanded that the driver give him a free transfer ticket, the driver refused since he had not paid for his ride. The passenger then got off the bus but got back on to stab the driver with a knife. The suspect then fled the scene. The driver leaves behind two children.

It has been 27 years since the last fatal bus driver attack in New York City. The problem are passengers who either refuse to pay or simply sneak aboard from the rear exit of the bus. This tactics are both barbaric and unethical, and most often characterize people who may perhaps have a criminal history or malicious intent. This is why there is a need for greater police on the most problematic bus routes in order to decrease this type of activity.

Streetsblog: David Gantt

This time, the MTA is not too blame for screwing over its riders. Streetsblog writes about how the transportation committee's chairman in the New York State Assembly screwed over New York City's attempts to enforce a new bus rapid transit program. The defeated bill, which would have allocated money to the MTA to install cameras onto the rear of special buses to enforce bus rapid transit, which was a proposed plan to offer faster transit on the surface. Alhough the MTA has a knack for these upgrade programs taking longer than anticipated and ending up costing more than planned for, at least there could have been a source of money to begin with. Some critics say that Gantt's moves were fueled by the city not using the technology products of a good friend of his. This follows another devastating blow to the NYC transportation system and economy of the whole state; the defeat of congestion pricing a few months earlier.

>>>Streetsblog: How David Gantt Sent Bus Cameras to Defeat in Albany

My First Experience as a Corrupted Lawmaker (Sort of)

You know how lobbyists and corporations often pay congressmen and women, Democrats and Republicans, with either cold, hard cash or vacations or travels in order to get that lawmaker to shuttle taxpayer money to them. Those lawmakers often insert these payments into bills (ex: Defense appropriations bills) at the last minute, without review by other lawmakers. This is called pork-barrel spending or earmarking.

Just yesterday, I volunteered at an information session to help answer questions about my high school for accepted students and their families from my former middle
school. However, in order to attract families to come at 10 on a Saturday morning required some refreshments such as bagels, pastries, coffee, tea, etc. Oh, and it came with someone to help set-up the food and serve it. The total bill: $950.00. Guess who was paying for it: a private bus company that serves my high school. Let me get this straight: I have no problem with that bus company; I've been taking it for four years and I love it.

However, throughout the information session, I felt pressured to promote them and not the other company, since they were paying for the snacks and had a presence there. In addition, the families were subjected to constant praise and Q&A with only that bus company present. In addition, my role there was to answer questions primarily relating to the school, not about the price of the bus service or how many new buses they have. I felt like a bribed lawmaker, except I was not enjoying the benefits.