Looking back on a big year for the MTA

Plus: Ideas for the next generation of subway turnstiles. [On The Way - from WNYC and Gothamist] Gothamist relies on your support to make local news available to all. Not yet a member? [Consider donating and join today.]( Looking back on a big year for the MTA By [Stephen Nessen]( and [Clayton Guse]( This year marked the 119th anniversary of New York City’s subway, the 55th anniversary of the MTA — and one of the most consequential years ever for both. After more than a half century of trying and failing, New York officials finally moved forward with a plan to toll motorists who drive into the busiest parts of the city. With the [MTA board’s approval of congestion pricing last month]( the agency is on track to charge motorists a $15 daytime toll to drive south of 60th St. in Manhattan as soon as the spring. The plan still risks being halted by a [series]( of [lawsuits]( filed in federal court, but if all goes as planned money from the tolls will fund [$15 billion in upgrades to the city’s transit infrastructure](. That includes new train cars, more subway elevators, modern signals to help speed up service — and the long-sought [Second Avenue subway extension]( into East Harlem. The MTA desperately needs those upgrades to lure back riders and the fares they pay. The subway saw an increase in usage since last year, with turnstiles clocking more than 4 million entries during the busiest days of the week, compared to 3.6 million this time in 2022. But that’s still far short of the 5.5 million daily riders on the subways before the pandemic upended commutes in the Big Apple. The MTA needs ridership to return to pre-pandemic levels to balance its books and pay off its [massive pile of debt.]( This year also saw steps forward on other work that’s slated to change the region, including the groundbreaking of a pair of new [Hudson River rail tunnels]( that are slated to cost roughly $17 billion and take 12 years to build. Those tunnels are designed to run into an expanded Penn Station, which would require the razing of an entire block south of West 31st Street. The MTA and Amtrak spent much of the year [arguing over the station’s design]( — and former NYC Transit president Andy Byford (aka “Train Daddy), who now works for Amtrak, even [voiced opposition to the demolition plan.]( The future of Penn Station will likely be a big story in 2024. Progress on those projects — as well as the return of riders to mass transit — would have lasting impacts on New York for generations. If they fail, or even stumble, New York will suffer. What New York is reading this week Gary Hershorn/Getty Images [MTA seeks ideas for replacing NYC subway turnstiles, ending fare evasion]( - The MTA put out a call for submissions on Tuesday seeking ideas for the “next generation” subway turnstiles as the agency looks to end fare evasion. [Read more.]( - Everyone is releasing their end-of-year lists this time of year. The MTA just dropped its own featuring the most popular bus stops and subway stations in 2023. [Read more.]( - Port Authority police arrested more than two dozen pro-Palestinian protestors who blocked the Van Wyck Expressway at JFK Airport in Queens on Wednesday in a demonstration that halted traffic for almost an hour. [Read more.]( - It’s your last chance to send the MTA comments on the final recommendations for congestion pricing. You can do so online, by email, regular mail, fax and even voicemail. [Read more.]( - A Battery Park City songwriter who has successfully sued Mariah Carey now has another high-profile target in her legal crosshairs: the MTA’s congestion pricing program. [Read more.]( - You may be a wizz at navigating the city’s subways and buses, but how’s your ferry knowledge? Here’s a handy guide to getting around on NYC’s waterways. ([NY1]( - As the city moves to make its taxi and rideshare fleet all-electric, some disability advocates are wary about whether wheelchair-accessible vehicles will be squeezed out. ([NY1]( - MTA officials are worried that the new electric buses the agency is ordering to meet its goal of fully electrifying its fleet by 2040 won’t be ready for the city’s streets. ([Daily News]( - The NYPD says an MTA subway cleaner was allegedly punched in the face by a stranger who accused the worker of staring at him inside a Bronx subway station. ([NY Post]( Curious commuter Why is the IBX a light rail? - Caleb, from Brooklyn, who submitted [the question on instagram]( What Clayton says: The MTA considered three options for its [planned Interborough Express line]( between Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and Jackson Heights, Queens: A heavy rail line (like a subway), a dedicated bus road and a light rail line. Because the route largely runs along an existing freight line, officials thought it less efficient to build a bus line. The MTA considered moving forward with a heavy rail line, but ran into a few issues. Most notably, an old tunnel in East New York isn’t big enough to fit regular subway or commuter rail cars. To make the line work, officials would need to procure slightly smaller subway cars, like the ones that run on the PATH, which risked delaying the project. The MTA is now moving ahead with the environmental review process for the work — and plans to build the city’s only light rail line. Have a question? Follow [@Gothamist on Instagram]( for special opportunities and prompts to submit questions. If you're not on Instagram, email [cguse@wnyc.org](mailto:cguse@wnyc.org ?subject=Curious%20Commuter)or [snessen@wnyc.org](mailto:snessen@wnyc.org?subject=Curious%20Commuter) with the subject line "Curious Commuter question." You must provide your first name + borough (or city if outside of NYC) to have your question considered. Don’t forget... - IMPORTANT: Exits to street level at the 7th Avenue Times Sq-42 Street station will be closed on New Year's Eve. Consider alternate exits on 8th Avenue or 6th Avenue. [Plan your trip here](. - MTA subway and buses will run on a Sunday schedule on Monday, January 1. [More details here.]( - Metro-North and LIRR trains will run on special schedules on Monday, January 1. [More details here.]( - Queensboro Plaza, a highly trafficked station in Long Island City, will have not have weekend subway service for all of January. [Read more.]( - Through the first quarter of 2024 the M train will not travel above 57th street, and the F train will run on the E line between Rockefeller Center and Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Ave. These changes to the F line means there's no subway service at Roosevelt Island, but the MTA is providing shuttle buses instead. More details [here](. - Every borough currently has one free bus route. [Find yours](. This week in NYC transit history John Hurley/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images The last great transit strike On New Year’s Day 1966, the subways went to sleep. The Transport Workers Union and Amalgamated Transit Union declared a strike the same day Mayor John Lindsay took office. On his second day in the job, he urged New Yorkers to stay home, [declaring on WNYC]( that “under these present conditions, not more than 25%, one quarter, of the people who daily come into Manhattan can be accommodated under these circumstances." In his campaign, the fresh-faced 44-year-old vowed to take on the city’s political machines and “power brokers.” But upon entering City Hall, he ran into the brick wall that was TWU President Michael Quill. The strike lasted for 12 days, and the city eventually buckled to TWU’s demands for wage increases. It was the longest transit strike in the city, and led to the passage of New York’s Taylor Law, which bars public employees from going on strike. The increased labor costs eventually led to fare increases. And Lindsay’s handling of the strike helped pave the way for Gov. Nelson Rockefeller to pass legislation bringing the New York City Transit Authority under the umbrella of a new state-run public authority, now known as the MTA. [Instagram]( [Instagram]( [Facebook]( [Facebook]( [YouTube]( [YouTube]( [New York Public Radio] [WNYC]( | [WQXR]( | [NJPR]( | [GOTHAMIST]( [WNYC STUDIOS]( | [THE GREENE SPACE]( Copyright © New York Public Radio. 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