'09 Subway Ridership Down at RI Subway Station

The NYC Transit Authority has released their annual ridership results for 2009, and according to a graphic above, accompanying today's NYT article,, the ridership at the Roosevelt Island subway station decreased from 2008 by 2.8 percent with average daily riders at 5,138. This statistic alone seems low based on the number of residents that work off island. The station was ranked 235 out of 422 stations based on ridership. The full station by station data is available on the NYCTA website linked HERE.

Do you agree that this stat is low? Or does it seem right based on your experiences this past year?

Local Subway Stop Renamed to Honor This Blog?

Before anyone goes issuing official cease and desist orders again for my illegal use of MTA logos, fonts, etc the above image was created on a retail site officially licensed by the MTA to produce personal use signage matching the signs in the NYCTA subway system.

Pretty cool site named Undergroud Signs. Worth checking out. Prices are a bit high to become a craze among purchasers but plenty of folks I am sure will consider it.

Cease and Desist: MTA 1; This Blogger 0

This past week I was copied on an electronic cease and desist letter, sent to me via email, from the MTA regarding a graphic I created for Roosevelt Island's local newspaper The Main Street WIRE, which ran in its March 7, 2009 edition. The graphic was titled "Unofficial Service Changes" and detailed the weekends the MTA has planned (for the period March 1 through June 1) to institute service disruptions affecting the stations serviced by the 63rd Street Tunnel between Manhattan and Queens. I say planned as all New Yorkers know any service changes, announced or otherwise, or always subject to change.

The letter asserts that the graphic violates the MTA's federal copyrights as well as puts forth service information not sanctioned by the MTA and which may be subject to change.

While I admit the graphic was created to evoke the image of Service Change notices issued by the MTA it could not generally be confused to be an officially sanctioned and issued notice due to its header which read "Unofficial Service Changes". I do admit I mistakenly left the MTA's footer on the image which only upon being enlarged to 400% could even be read and was still blurry.

As for the content of the notice I can only say the information stated was provided to me by an MTA spokesperson in writing (via email) and who had provided such info to me in the past and knew its purpose was for publication (from earlier correspondence) in the WIRE. Granted this individual did not know nor did I state I would be presenting the info in an "unofficial" service change mock up.

The whole goal of the graphic notice was to present information to the public not to mock or berate the MTA so the intent was only to benefit the public. I see on the Internet, on TV, and within print media use of the subway line bullet logos all the time so I was highly surprised this little graphic caused an issue warranting a cease and desist letter.

The WIRE in its current issue, dated March 21, 2009, has referred to the cease and desist letter in its editorial and presented it, in full, within its "Letters to the Editor" section along with a response from the WIRE's legal counsel. The info I provided is again presented but within a simple text box, not prepared or designed by me, titled "Subway Dis-Service".

For myself, this blog post is my mea culpa for something I do believe was not copyright infringement nor done with malice. But as a working dad supporting a family in this fragile economy I will be more careful to not use official logos in such forms prospectively as legal action is not something I can afford right now. But where it is called for I expect to publish photos, graphics, and stories dealing with the F subway line and the local station without hesitancy.

The graphic in my left side bar is my current method for stating the possible service change dates communicated to me. I don't believe I am threatening the copyrights held by the MTA at this time. I am sure I will be told if I cross the line as they see it again.

So right now the result is: MTA 1; This Blogger 0

Do all the lower escalators have to go "up"?

A reader commenting on our last post questioned why all four of Roosevelt Island's subway station escalators that run between the platforms and the station's lower mezzanine are running solely in the "up" direction:

"Why do both escalators from the platform to the mezzanine go in the up direction 24/7? Before the replacement we had one escalator going down and the other one up. Can we have this back?"

It is a good question. My kids have also been asking me why they can't take any of these escalators down to the platforms as well. Granted the stairs work fine to walk down to the platforms but they keep asking.

For them it's fun but for an individual that can't walk down stairs easily and for whom the escalators are a necessity having all four running in the "up" direction must be very annoying. Perhaps someone at the NYCTA figured walking up was harder so they arbitrarily set them all to "up"?

Note: The escalators in question here are not the six escalators that run between the street level down to the lower mezzanine.

Subway Stairwell Glass Panel Replacement?

Now that the escalators at the Roosevelt Island subway station have been replaced and for the most part are working normally it is time to submit our requests for general maintenance of this subway station.

For the past few weeks the stairwell down to the Manhattan bound platform has needed the glass / plexi panel at the base of the stair to be replaced. It has seen its caution tape slip and tear and as such tape disappears I worry that my kids and others will not notice the missing panel and perhaps fall through.

Ms. Deirdre Parker, spokewoman for NYC Transit, upon my request has notified the Station Department of the need to speed up this panel's replacement. If there are other requests I suggest calls be made into 311 or ket me know and I will pass the issues along accordingly.

Escalator Update: Early and Delayed Returns

Escalators ?

Good news and bad news regarding our Roosevelt Island subway escalators. According to the advisory posters the remaining two sets of escalators were slated to both return on September 25th but that is no longer the case.

According to Deirdre Parker, NYC Transit spokeswoman, the ES 413/416 set is scheduled to re-open on September 19th, six days early. The ES 412/415 set however is expected to return to service in mid-October two weeks late. No reason has been reported at this time for the delay.

Weekend Service Disruptions ?

Unrelated to the escalator construction, Ms. Parker indicated that there are no scheduled service disruptions scheduled for any weekend affecting the 63rd Street Tunnel stations, including Roosevelt Island, through the end of October. So we can expect approximately 6 weeks of full weekend subway service to run through Roosevelt Island.

Fireworks Crowd Dispersal Offers Evacuation Lessons

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

As I mentioned in my post of yesterday evening I did not attend the fireworks this year but I purposely positioned myself to view the crowds when they arrived at the subway station to leave the island. My goal was to see how the MTA and the NYPD handled up to a few thousand bodies wanting to leave the island at one point in time. The picture I posted from Flickr confirmed what I fully expected that being a pile up. But what the picture does not show is how these separate departments worked together to funnel the attendees through and why it took for the last individual stragglers up until 11:10 pm to enter the subway station.

My goal was to watch what worked and what might have worked better with an eye towards a possible evacuation of Roosevelt Island if an emergency or weather condition force such an evacuation. There are only three ways off this island and only the subway has the capacity to transport large numbers of residents far enough off the island which would be needed. Sure the Roosevelt Island Bridge could accommodate a large number of residents to tranverse it by foot (few residents have cars overall) but that leaves those residents in the middle of nowhere with out a mass transit answer on the other side.

Overall I believe the MTA and NYPD did a good job of ensuring that the flow of riders did not result in one continuous burst of individuals trying to access the escalators, elevators, stairs and platforms all at once which could have lead to accidents at any of those points. The flow of individuals was staggered to allow for easy access down to the platforms and also to ensure the platforms were never overly crowded.

The first thing I noticed was that the MTA set up three defined entrance points (1) Metrocard holders (2) individuals with strollers, and (3) Roosevelt Island residents. The Metrocard holders entry point snaked a bit off towards the East / right away from the entrance and then back to the entrance to prevent the line from simply being a straight line back from the door to ensure no straight rush could be made for the doors. The RI residents line allowed residents immediate access no matter what with no delays which was a great feature.

The man in charge was Mr. Clayton W. Conaway Sr. who holds the position of New York City Transit General Superintendent for District #4 – Parsons Archer Stations Operations. In addition to about a 8 to 12 uniformed officers at the station I counted about another dozen MTA personnel directing traffic flow in and outside the station all apparently deferring to this man’s direction. He and his staff constantly were viewing the monitors gauging the flow of individuals once they passed through the turnstiles to determine when and how many more individuals to let enter the station.

As Mr. Conaway states in the video the MTA’s primary focus was safety and not speed and upon watching this applied in action from the many vantage points afforded me that evening I belief it worked well. Sure there were many individuals that would have like to get through faster but in most cases I believe the MTA staffers handled themselves and the crowd well. Sure at the initial choke point there were a few instances of riders that climbed over the wall that tested the MTA staffers patience but the woman I saw at the forefront of the line appeared forceful but never disrespectful despite everyone dealing with the rain which thankfully was never truly a downpour.

At one point there were in effect two Metrocard holder lines one which snaked towards Duane Reade and a second which bordered Main Street. Entrance from these lines alternated and neither line seemed favored. The MTA staffers were quick to let families with strollers and elderly through and in most cases the Superintendent with an eye towards keeping traffic flowing directed these individuals through the gate entrance rather than through the turnstiles. I also noted that for the few minutes I wandered down to the track level that MTA reps did indeed hold trains in response to rider needs and traffic flow.

The only suggestion I heard from both MTA staffers and NYPD officers that perhaps two distinct lines should have been created for Manhattan/Brooklyn bound riders versus that of Queens bound riders to better control line movement with that of platform levels and train arrivals. It seemed the logical step and an idea for next year.

From the many people I spoke to and observed most seemed in reasonable spirits and no one seemed truly put out. I do believe many had no clue what they were going to encounter when they left but to those individuals I say what else could you have expected as you either came in with the crowds or watched the fireworks with them next to you unless they though the event’s attendance was mostly residents.

Overall I believe the MTA met its goal of processing everyone through but with the overriding goal of safety first. I can’t think of anything else that could have been done to make it less painful that it had to be. Processing 2000 to 3000 persons through between 9:30/9:45 pm though 11:00 pm did not seem overly burdensome or unfair to anyone that passed through that station.

As for whether these same tactics could be applied to an evacuation it is unclear as then one would expect a lot more irritation and underlying fears on the part of the residents trying to enter the station and the MTA personnel and in addition to individuals evacuating would be carrying a mountain of belongings etc which always clogs up the works. Given enough time though if residents heed warnings to leave early if proper staffing was present at the station a good chunk of residents could get out this way. If an emergency came out of nowhere timewise and that is main option open to us we may have a big problem.

Quick Shot: Exiting After the Fireworks

I actually did not attend the fireworks but spend the time photographig and taking video of the set up to help attendees at this years Fireworks Festival get off Roosevelt Island. I have not yet put together that post but in the mean time here is a view of the subway entrance after the show by one attendee. The caption of the above photo, titled "Good Luck Getting Home" on Flickr by etienne_laurie was:

"The subway was kinda crowded. Somehow the website and ads for the Roosevelt Island Fireworks Festival neglected to mention this part..."

The bulk of my own views I will hold until tomorrow night. I will say I observed the MTA and NYPD personnel very closely and for the most was allowed free access in, out and around the station where I saw how the exit setup was managed and how resident access needs to the station were taken into account despite the crush of visitors trying to get off the island.

From a statistical standpoint I did forget to videotape the turnstyle counters before and after the show but I can say by 11:10pm the last major lines of attendees were process into the subway entrance.

From There to Here: 23rd Street / Ely Avenue to Roosevelt Island

This afternoon I ran across a blog, “Preesh Police”, where the blogger made a subway train mistake that most Roosevelt Island residents have probably made at one time or another. That is you have gotten on a V Train thinking it was an F Train expecting to ride to out from Manhattan to the Roosevelt Island subway station only to find yourself heading underground with no alternative to ride it out and determine how to recover from your mistake.

The blogger recalled something about being able to get to Roosevelt Island from Queens by bus but could not recall what bus or how to get to it. It all started when she mistakenly took a V Train and she found herself above ground outside the 23rd Street / Ely Avenue subway station. As per her blog her goal was to get to Coler – Goldwater Hospital. In the end she apparently took the V back into Manhattan to 53rd and Third Avenue and walked up to the Tram taking it to Roosevelt Island.

As I stated in my comments to her blog, two of the possible mass transit solutions would have been:

(1) She could have gotten back on the Queens bound V and taken it to Roosevelt Ave and then switched back onto a Manhattan bound F train, or

(2) she could have gotten back on the Queens bound V and taken it one more stop to Queens Plaza. From there she could have taken a Roosevelt Island bound Q102 directly to one of the campuses of Coler - Goldwater Hospital.

Do you have other There to Here experiences you would like to share where readers might benefit from your experience? We’d like to hear them.

Subway Reminder - Service Disruptions This Weekend 3/8-10 (And Next 3/15-17)

As a reminder yet again this weekend (and next) we will be dealing with subway service cut off in one drection. This weekend marks 8 out 10 weekends in 2008 and next will make it 9 out of 11 weekends involving disruptions.

It is just so nice of the MTA to give us a week's notice just to remind us that it will never end.

I am beginning to feel sorry for the MTA staffer whose job is to generate all these service update posters as life must be pretty dull. Same old choices of text. Either Queens Bound or Manhattan Bound. You wonder if they get a bit silly in that office what the posters must look like. Do they wonder if we'd notice if they published one that read "Staten Island Bound Trains Will Run on ...". Yes I am losing it.

Could They Have Switched the Escalator's Direction?

This morning as expected the only remaining escalators were running up to the street when the majority of the rush hour traffic was heading down to the platforms. It was a royal pain and I was carrying a 3 year old down all four flights of stairs. My back is not happy.

Upon arriving at work I found a message from RIOC President Steve Shane which included the following information:

"MTA's Alissa Kosowsky, Assistant Director of Government & Community Relations as a follow up to my meeting with them:

"Here is the information on the escalator replacement:

NYC Transit is in the process of replacing eight escalators at the Roosevelt Island F station. This contract was awarded for $15.3 million on September 15, 2005 with a duration of 39 months. The contractor, Skanska Mechanical, is on schedule. As of this time, four escalators are completed. The remaining four escalators - two platform escalators and two street escalators are scheduled for completion by the end of 2008. We appreciate the community's patience as we complete this work.""

My back does not hurt any less. And somebody should tell Ms. Kosowsky that this station has ten escalators. I guess two of them are either not being repaired / replaced or they are just being left alone.

MTA Roberts to Roosevelt Island: No Increased Service Coming Your Way

MTA NYCTA President Howard Roberts issued a reply, dated February 11, 2008, regarding the call to examine and increase subway service to Roosevelt Island. The reply was in regards to a January 20, 2008 request to President Roberts made by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, State Senator Jose Serrano, Assembly Member Micah Kellner and City Council Member Jessica Lappin.

In short the letter reads that the ridership levels are within capacity and that the request to extend the Q Train to 21st Street / Queensbridge would only slow down the overall system as it would interfere with existing F, E and V Train service.

Please let us know your comments as they are being reviewed by our elected representatives.

Five ? of Ten Roosevelt Island Escalators Now Under Reconstruction

Upon reviewing the NYCTA Escalator and Elevator status page it is being reported that a fifth escalator ES 413 has been recorded as "Under Construction". We already been dealing with the center escalators being out (ES 412 and ES415) but the addition of ES 413 at this time is a surprise as it effectively renders ES 416 worthless as a dead end.

The construction boarding of ES 412 and ES 415 does not allow commuters using ES 413 and ES 416 to exit to another path of egress from the Center / Upper Mezzanine. ES 411 and ES 414 have the option of allowing riders to exit either onto the stairs at the Center / Upper Mezzanine. I will investigate tomorrow morning and report what I find here. If anyone has been at the station in the last day and can update us here that would be great.

UPDATE: 11:21pm

As of 9:52 pm this evening the MTA page changed the additional elevator out of service from ES 413 to ES 416. Same end result. Both are useless if one is blocked off for construction.

Reminder: No F Train to Manhattan This Weekend and Fare Increases

Just a reminder that there is NO subway service (F Train) directly from Roosevelt Island to Manhattan this weekend and that fare increases go into effect tomorrow March 2, 2008.

Additional information regarding "hoarding" of unlimited fare cards purchased prior to March 2, 2008 can be found at Second Avenue Sagas and on a poster the MTA has released on the issue.

Also the MTA has already announced next weekend we will as always be losing service in one direction. Next week no Queens bound service from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island. This announcement raises the tally to 8 weeks of service disruption out of a total of 10 weeks this year. Remember we got a break last weekend when they cancelled track work due to the snow.

I can’t even fathom how we will do this when the Tram is out. Red buses to Queensboro plaza I guess.

Weather Disrupts F Train Service Disruption (This Week Only)

UPDATED 4:33pm

The Main Street WIRE is reporting that the MTA has announced that all scheduled track work, for THIS weekend, FEBRUARY 23-25, 2008, has been CANCELLED due to the weather. I see no announcement on the MTA website and the MTA advisories I have received did not include this statement. However the NY Times City Room blog is reporting the same report but again with no links to official notices.

The WIRE states that the MTA annnouncement makes no specific mention regarding the F Train so the announcement should be questioned until you see specific signage at the subway station.

At the same time the MTA has already announced that service NEXT weekend, March 1-3 is scheduled to be disrupted. If this weekend's service is "restored" then next weekend will represent disruption weekend # 7 out of 9 total weekends this year.

MTA Construction Disrupts Service Yet Again...Weekends 6 & 7 Out 8 Total

The Roosevelt Islander today asks why yet again is the MTA slamming the F Line 63rd Street Tunnel yet again with service disruptions. The poster states it is due to needed electrical improvments but this absolutly ridiculous.

It used to be every weekend during the summer and we could count on service during the rest of the year but now it is virtually continual all year long.

To those individuals that say that the current service covers RI look again at the truth of this info. Yes, we get service in one direction and yes if we took the train along the alternative provided we can get home or to where we are going but other than the recent 7 line disaster what other section gets pounded with service disruptions like this.

Subway Service To/From Roosevelt Island: First Weekend This Year

This weekend marks the first weekend of 2008 that Roosevelt Island will have subway service in both directions to Manhattan and to Queens. For the last 5 weekends we had to endure with no service in one direction or another.

Did someone pay off MTA NYCTA President Roberts? Did the joint letter from our elected officials asking for increased service convince him to allow us to have one weekend of normal service? Is this a gag because they are going to schedule another 5 weekends of disruptions?

I feel like singing Joy to the World ! Sorry I am getting a bit carried away.