Penn Station's New Train Hall Has Nice Bathrooms

and lots of natural light! [View this email in your browser]( Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station Opens Tomorrow. Here's A (Safe) Sneak Peek. Plus: a call for overnight speed cameras, a guide to winter biking in New York City, and an old drawing of 'the original High Line.' By James Ramsay [a nearly empty Moynihan Train Hall] Jake Dobkin/Gothamist Moynihan Train Hall is [expected to officially open tomorrow]( increasing Penn Station's size by 50% and bringing tons of natural light (the sun; not the beer) into the transit hub. The extension, which involved converting the former James A. Farley post office building into a waiting area and adding eight new tracks, had been talked about for decades before construction began in 2017. But with [positivity rates spiking]( in the area, it's best to avoid checking it out now, if at all possible. People coming and going from New Year's gatherings won't make for the best company, even in a space with so much open air. Instead, admire these photographs taken by Gothamist's Jake Dobkin. And have a happy New Year! To answer your first question: Yes, there's mood lighting in the bathroom. [the wooden benches in the waiting area] The waiting area's benches feature charging outlets and hostile beams meant to deter people from laying down. There's also a new Acela lounge on the second level. [an Art Deco clock hangs from the ceiling] The ceiling contains an acre of glass. [a stained glass piece by artist Kehinde Wiley in a corridor] Kehinde Wiley, whose stained glass piece is pictured here, was among the artists commissioned to supply installations. [a big escalator leads up towards a skylight] Whooooooooaaa! A Guide To Winter Biking In New York City [a cyclist cuts through a Manhattan intersection in a snowstorm] Erik McGregor/Pacific Press/Shutterstock If October's 30% boost in bike traffic on the East River bridges is any indication, New Yorkers headed into the winter looking to stay on two wheels. If that's you, here are a few ways to do so comfortably: - Consider Citi Biking — those fat tires are great for inclement weather, and you don't have to worry about your own bike rusting out. - If you are using your own bike, get a tune-up. - Warm, dry layers are good, but don't get too bundled — your blood will get pumping quickly enough. - Do not try to brake on a patch of ice. - Wear gloves! — [Reporting by Christopher Robbins]( Here's What Else Is Happening A 33-year-old cyclist was killed on 3rd Avenue in Sunset Park on Christmas Day, becoming the sixth cyclist or pedestrian to die on that street since 2019. According to the NYPD, Alejandro Santos was riding an e-bike on 3rd Avenue shortly after midnight when he "collided with...a parked and unoccupied" truck. So far this year, 25 cyclists have been killed on city streets; that's four short of last year's count, which was a record high under Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration. ([Gothamist]( New York City lawmakers last week asked Albany to pass a law allowing speed cameras to stay on 24/7. As of now, speed cameras only operate between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekdays; state lawmakers would need to change the law to allow the cameras to remain on overnight. So far this year, 237 people have been killed in traffic crashes in the city. It's the highest number since Mayor de Blasio announced his Vision Zero initiative in 2014. ([Gothamist]( Cameras along the Jay Street Busway in Brooklyn are now photographing cars blocking the lane. For the next 60 days, the automated camera system will only issue warnings to drivers who block the lane. After that, drivers will get $50 fines to start, and repeat offenders will have to pay more. Camera enforcement has already correlated with faster commute times on Manhattan's 14th Street Busway, which has had cameras since last fall. ([AM New York]( Hear a series of short radio plays that take place on the (pre-pandemic) 2 train. "The M.T.A. Radio Plays," which are 10 to 15 minutes long, set each episode at a given stop on the 2 train between the Bronx and Brooklyn, highlighting the specific neighborhoods served by that station. Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, which produced the series, released the first three episodes already, and plans to put out three more in February. ([The New York Times]( An Early Drawing Of 'The Original High Line' [a watea drawing of the High Bridge over the Harlem River from 1844] courtesy of the NYPL The High Bridge, which connects Washington Heights with the Bronx and is now known by some as "the original High Line," was originally designed to transport water into the city from the Croton River. Hence, the Roman aqueduct styling, seen above in William J. Bennett's 1844 drawing. It's since been renovated to allow both pedestrian crossings on top and better flow for the Harlem River underneath. This drawing, which was shared by the New York Public Library for our [Dear NYC series]( also offers a sense of Manhattan's bucolic landscape at the time its first bridge was built. [Read more about the bridge's history](. Weekend Service Changes: Night of December 31st – Early Morning on January 4th This is a partial list of major service disruptions scheduled for the weekend. For a complete list of the MTA's Weekender updates, [check here](. Note: The entire subway system is closed each night from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. until further notice. Starting Saturday, trains will not run between 137 St and 242 St. trains will not run between W 4 St and World Trade Center. [Check here]( for complete details about the Long Island Rail Road. For NJ Transit, [check here]( for the latest service advisories. James Ramsay is back to writing this newsletter. He's also now the proud owner and operator of a baby stroller. 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