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MTA Tweaks "Doomsday" Cuts, Saves Z Train And Some Buses
By
Ben Muessig
Published Jan 22, 2010
Modified Jan 22, 2010
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By
Ben Muessig
Published Jan 22, 2010
Modified Jan 22, 2010
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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has revised its proposed plan for "Doomsday" service cuts, potentially rescuing nighttime service on several crosstown buses, saving the Z train, and ensuring that trains run every 20 minutes, not every 30 minutes, late at night. The MTA's new proposed cuts no longer threaten the M79 and M96 buses, and nighttime service on Eighth Avenue's M10 bus would be preserved. The M train would still be cut, though the V train — which currently terminates in the Lower East Side — would extend into Brooklyn to cover its stops in Williamsburg and further east. Though the W train would still be eliminated, Q trains would extend into Queens and N trains would run local in Manhattan to cover its stops.
Under the new cuts which could go into effect in June, the G train would terminate at Court Square at all times (though nighttime might be increased). The agency is planning to reduce weekend service frequency on the D, F, G, J, M, N, Q, and R trains from every eight minutes to every 10 minutes, and 1 train service from every six minutes to every eight minutes to "accommodate ongoing construction work." There will be less midday and evening service on the 1, 7, and A trains, less midday service on the L train, and less evening service on the F train.
According to MTA documents, trains will be more crowded and run less frequently, particularly during off-peak hours on the 1, 7, A, J, L, and V lines because the agency plans to "slightly increase the wait time between trains and the number of standees," upping the number of straphangers without seats suggested in MTA guidelines from zero per car to 10-18.
The MTA — which just announced it will hold eight public hearings in all five boroughs, White Plains, Rockland County, and Long Island — has decided not to eliminate a number of bus lines including the B25, the Bx4, the M10, and the Q56. Other lines are still up for elimination like the B23, B39 and Q75, or service reductions like the M1, B67, and S60. Many bus routes would be restructured. NY1 and the Times have more on the cuts, and you can parse through the proposed cuts here [PDF].
Tagged
budget
bus
crosstown buses
cuts
doomsday
express bus
metropolitan transportation authrority
MTA
public hearing
service cuts
z train
Ben Muessig
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