WE'RE STUCK WITH THE SHUTTLE BUS AGAIN THIS WEEKEND

This weekend, the service disruptions on the F and G trains will be the same as last weekend: from Friday, November 19th, at 11:30 p.m. through Monday, November 22nd, at 5:00 a.m., the F won't run between Jay Street and Church Avenue, and the G won't run between Hoyt-Schermerhorn Streets and Church Avenue.

Instead, free shuttle buses will travel from Jay Street to Church Avenue and back, making stops at Bergen Street, Carroll Street, Smith-9th Streets, 4th Avenue, 7th Avenue, 15th Street, and Fort Hamilton Parkway.

WARNING: last weekend, the bus didn't stop at either end of the Fort Hamilton Parkway station--it stopped at Prospect Park Southwest by Greenwood Avenue.

The F will run its normal route between 179th Street and Jay Street and then be rerouted along the A local line to Euclid Avenue. It will also run its normal route between Church Avenue and Coney Island.

On the G train going toward Church Avenue, transfer between the G and A trains at Hoyt-Schermerhorn Streets. Take a Manhattan-bound A train to Jay Street and transfer to the shuttle bus. 

On the G train going toward Court Square, transfer between the shuttle bus and the A train at Jay Street. Take a Lefferts Boulevard/Far Rockaway-bound A train to Hoyt-Schermerhorn Streets where Court Square-bound G service is available.

RATING THE F TRAIN

"Transit has greatly improved the F, but the line still lags far behind the average subway performance," says "Still underperforming, the F shows improvements.

 

A follow-up report to last year's MTA internal review of the F train shows improvements in on-time rates, a smaller number of car failures, and less time spent at the Delancey Street station. The report also contains the bad news that F train riders are already aware of--for example, the time spent waiting for a train on a weekday.

B23 BUS REPLACEMENT FAILS

The private van service that tried to replace the B23 bus (eliminated in June by the MTA) didn't get enough passengers, lost money, and has been abandoned. 

The van, part of the MTA's Group Ride Vehicle Pilot Program, served Flatbush, Ditmas Park, Kensington, and Borough Park along Cortelyou Road and 16th Avenue.

B23 BUS REPLACEMENT STARTS OPERATING TOMORROW

Starting tomorrow, September 20th, the discontinued B23 bus, which served Flatbush, Ditmas Park, Kensington, and Borough Park, will be replaced by Group Ride Vehicles in a trial program. The vehicles, operated by Sunset Service Transportation, will run from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week for $2.00 per ride. Free transfers won't be provided between Group Ride Vehicles and the city's buses and subways.

The article "Group Ride Service Officially Launches on Former B23 Route," published today in "Vos Iz Neias?," points out that designated stops are marked with signs and are “No Standing” zones; cars aren't permitted to park there. In addition to the designated stops, "riders and drivers may also agree to unique drop off locations that are not among specified stops."

For answers to the questions "How do I know I am taking a licensed Group Ride Vehicle?" and "How do I file a complaint or a compliment?," see Passenger Information-Group Ride Vehicles.

"DOLLAR VANS" NOW PERMITTED ON DISCONTINUED BUS ROUTES

The Taxi and Limousine Commission has licensed five commuter van operators, allowing them to pick up riders along bus routes that were discontinued on June 27th.

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) today voted unanimously to authorize a pilot program that would create a framework for livery van group ride service in certain areas throughout the city that are either underserved by mass transit or impacted by recent MTA service cuts. The program was announced by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith, TLC Commissioner David Yassky and Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn on June 22, 2010.

The new service will allow point-to-point, shared ride service among specified pick up and drop off locations, with initial service areas based around MTA bus routes that have been eliminated or significantly reduced. It is anticipated that passengers will pay a flat fare of $2. Vehicles will be clearly marked (both outside and inside) for identification as participating in the pilot. Pick up and drop off locations will be marked with DOT-provided signage. Drop-offs can occur at the fixed stops or at other locations passengers negotiate with drivers.

“The TLC’s action today paves the road for a new form of service that we believe will be of great benefit to people affected by the MTA’s service reductions,” said Commissioner Yassky. “One of the great advantages of having a comprehensive transportation network as we do in New York City is that it sometimes has the flexibility to serve people in new and better ways that never before existed, and this van program is a perfect example of this.”

Bases, commuter van authorities, and other businesses capable of providing the service can participate by responding to a Notice of Solicitation that will be distributed shortly. The program is limited to vehicles that can hold 6 to 20 passengers. Drivers, vehicles, and bases/commuter van authorities will apply for a new license specific to the piloted service. Insurance and licensing requirements for the pilot will be similar to existing van/livery service requirements. TLC will select operators for the pilot and enter into MOU agreements with them. We anticipate the service being available to the public on or around August 16, 2010.

The following are five service locations that have been initially chosen. Several others will follow. (Specific pick-up and drop-off locations will be announced once MOU agreements have been finalized.):

1. Former B23 Borough Park, Kensington, Flatbush
1,580 weekday customers

2. Former B71 Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Prospect Heights
1,080 weekday customers

3. Former B39 Williamsburg, Manhattan
1,180 weekday customers

4. Former Q74 Kew Gardens, Queens College
2,100 weekday customers

5. Former Q79 Little Neck, Glen Oaks, Bellerose
650 weekday customers

The program, which will be implemented in close coordination with members of the New York City Council and other elected officials, will include a strong enforcement component in conjunction with the NYPD.

The program, which will be implemented in close coordination with members of the New York City Council and other elected officials, will include a strong enforcement component in conjunction with the NYPD.

PLAN YOUR ROUTE

Changes in bus and subway routes go into effect on Sunday. Check these out to find the best way to get where you're going:

new Brooklyn bus map
summary of Brooklyn bus route changes and restructurings
summary of Manhattan bus changes and restructurings

new F train timetable
new G train timetable
new timetables for all subway lines

Good luck!

BUS SERVICE CUTS ARE JUST THREE WEEKS AWAY

The following MTA service cuts go into effect on Sunday, June 27th:

Brooklyn bus service reductions
Affected lines include the B16, B35, B67, and B69.

Access-A-Ride Service-Related Changes
Service changes will be phased in over the next several months.

Links to all service changes for New York City Transit, Long Island Rail Road, Long Island Bus, Metro-North Railroad, MTA Bus Company, Access-A-Ride, Able-Ride, and MTA Bridges & Tunnels.

FHP BIKE PATH OPEN

As of yesterday morning, a bike path running from Prospect Circle to the intersection of Fort Hamilton Parkway and McDonald Avenue is officially "open for business." The aqua-colored line on the lower left side of the diagram shows its route.

The overpass over the Prospect Expressway that leads to Fort Hamilton Parkway now has a left lane for cars and a right lane for bikes, with a concrete barrier between them. Fort Hamilton Parkway also has a car lane on the left and a bike lane on the right.

As of this afternoon, some cyclists are still riding on the sidewalk, and a car that was traveling in the bike lane abruptly crossed in front of a car in the left lane to go to the gas station. Whether you're a driver, a cyclist, or a pedestrian, please be careful!

HOW BUSY ARE YOUR SUBWAY AND BUS LINES?

The MTA's 2009 statistics for subway and bus ridership rank the amount of use for each subway station and local bus route. The charts also include each station's and route's Annual Total, Average Weekday, Average Saturday, and Average Sunday ridership.

Subway stations are arranged alphabetically by borough. Out of 422 stations, Church Avenue (F and G) ranks as the 153rd most used and Fort Hamilton Parkway (F and G) as the 289th.

Bus routes are arranged numerically by borough. Out of 194 local routes, the B67 ranks as the 123rd most used, the B35 as 6th, the B16 as 111th, and the B69 as 168th.

Not included are figures for how many other commuters are pressed up against you at any given time.

TRANSIT SERVICE CUTS REVISED

The transit service cuts proposed in January were revised in March and will go into effect on Sunday, June 27th. The B16, B35, B67, and B69 buses are all affected.

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle article "Goodbye B75, B77; Hello Longer B57, B61" details the changes that will affect the B67, B69, and other bus lines:

"the B67 route between Downtown and Kensington will continue to operate on weekdays but on a reduced schedule, alternating trips with a rerouted B69 along Seventh Avenue in Park Slope, 19th and 20th streets and McDonald Avenue, to a turnaround point for both routes at Cortelyou Road."

On page 7 of the Transit Service's report (page V of the document) is a summary and index for all local Brooklyn buses. A fuller description starts on page 57 (page 47 of the document).