#mta

#mta

There's a coffee shop in East New York, Brooklyn, that does more than sell lattes, cappuccinos and smoothies. With cozy furniture, friendly staff and a relaxed vibe, Bklyn Blend, located a short walk from the next stop on the planned IBX train, marks a sliver of change for a mostly industrial, but working-class and historic section of NYC. Bklyn Blend was buzzing with customers on a recent Thursday night.

The MTA is investigating how two cars of a 4 train in the Bronx separated from each other on Sunday night, forcing passengers to be evacuated. According to the MTA, the incident happened on a southbound 4 train at around 5:20 p.m. on Oct. 19. The third car uncoupled from the fourth car in a tunnel near the 149th-Street Grand Concourse station in Mott Haven. Police and FDNY members rushed to the scene; no injuries were reported.

MTA officials have spent the last three years waiting for a mountain of COVID-19 relief cash from the feds that may never arrive, leaving a hole in the agency's budget that must be filled by riders and taxpayers. Financial reports show the MTA seeks $600 million over the next two years from FEMA as reimbursement for contracts issued 2020 and 2021.

Tolls on major crossings, such as the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, will increase by around 7.5% at the beginning of next year as well. For E-ZPass users, the Verrazzano toll will increase from $6.94 to $7.46. The Staten Island resident discount will remain in place with the toll increase, and anyone enrolled in the program will see their toll bill increase from $3.90 to $4.19.

The federal government will deny the MTA tens of millions of dollars in requested security grant funding, withholding every dollar the agency asked for because New York City and New York state are a "sanctuary jurisdictions," Streetsblog has learned. DHS's absolute denial of the money the MTA asked for under the Transit Security Grant Program, which pays for security upgrades across the system and not just in New York City, has left law enforcement officials stunned.

"NYC Transit is implementing smart changes that will enhance reliability and operational resilience, which ultimately results in better service that customers can count on,"NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said. "Running the F via the 53 St line and the Mvia the 63 St line between Manhattan and Queens will make for faster, less crowded, and more direct trips between the 63 St line and Queens Boulevard local stations."

Armed with a new strategy for dispatching trains, rail traffic controllers at the MTA are now using various tools - including holding trains at select stations - to speed up the R line through Brooklyn. "If a train is scheduled [to arrive] every six minutes, and customers are waiting 10, that's not good service," Bill Amarosa, NYC Transit's head of subways, said last week.

Almost two years after the MTA announced it would begin a pilot program using its on-board bus cameras to ticket drivers who block bike lanes, the pilot still hasn't surfaced - and it's unclear if the agency has any plans to make it happen. The state in 2023 expanded the MTA's ability to use its bus-mounted cameras to ticket drivers outside of bus lanes - double parked on bus routes, parked in bus stops and even blocking bike lanes.

For anyone who's ever staggered onto the 1 train looking like they've just completed a Bikram yoga class, relief may finally be on the horizon. The MTA is exploring geothermal cooling-a technology more commonly used to heat and chill buildings-as a way to keep New York's notoriously sticky subway platforms tolerable in the summer. In a request for information issued last week and , the agency asked experts to pitch ideas for tapping into the earth's subsurface to move and store heat.

Viral footage shows the moment that commuters in New York City's famous Grand Central Terminal were plunged into darkness on Thursday night after a voltage drop cut power across parts of the iconic Manhattan hub. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) confirmed the blackout struck at around 8:30 p.m., dimming lights across portions of the building while leaving train services untouched. No train service was impacted, officials said, noting that Grand Central Madison remained fully operational.

From the Boston Herald: The call comes as some districts across the Bay State have suspended teachers for making social media posts that appear to celebrate Kirk's death, including one educator who allegedly commented, just a reminder, we're NOT offering sympathy. MTA President Max Page and Vice President Deb McCarthy are urging districts and public colleges and universities to be partners with unions in the fight to defend educators from bullying and harassment.

President Trump is wading into the brewing labor dispute between the Long Island Rail Road and its labor unions, announcing today the formation of an "emergency board" to " investigate " the conflict. The presidential intervention heads off, for now, a strike, and comes at a time when Republicans are making an effort to forge closer ties with labor unions - worthy goals, to be sure.

The MTA on Sunday launched the Queens Bus Network Redesign, including changes to numerous Queens routes, with ambassadors out in force at stops, handing out brochures and answering questions. This was the culmination of a process that lasted more than five years, including a draft plan developed in 2019, a new plan in 2022, a proposed final plan late in 2023, hearings in 2024, and MTA board approval of final additions this January.

It has quiet, tree-lined residential streets, a village center and a townhall that offers information and services for seniors, students, veterans and others in the community. Founded in 1642 and named for the Mespachtes, a Native American tribe who lived here, Maspeth is a planned stop along the MTA's ongoing Interborough Express (IBX) light rail line project.

The United States Department of Transportation has threatened to withhold up to 25 percent of federal transit funding from New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) over safety risks to its maintenance workers.

The NYPD says it happened around 11 p.m. Aug. 6 at Miller Avenue and New Lots Avenue. Investigators say the woman walked up to the 48-year-old driver and punched him in the face before running away.

Service on the 4, 5, and 6 trains south of Grand Central will be suspended for two weekends in August due to concrete replacement work as part of infrastructure improvements.

Outages like the ones at West 4th Street paralyzed multiple subway lines, causing hours-long delays. Aging infrastructure and extreme heat are an ongoing challenge.