Metropolitan Transporation Authority Press Releases

B&T Press Release: Bridge Employees Rescue Kids After Schoolbus Catches Fire at Verrazano-Narrows Bridge Toll Plaza

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

A class outing for a busload of 4–and–5–year old children from a Brooklyn elementary school was interrupted Friday morning when the bus caught fire near the Staten Island–bound toll plaza at the Verrazano–Narrows Bridge. MTA Bridge and Tunnel Officers and staff acted quickly and heroically, dousing the flames and evacuating the children as smoke poured inside the bus.

The officers and maintenance workers formed a zone of safety around the school bus using patrol cars, wrecker trucks and other facility vehicles until the startled pre–schoolers and kindergarteners from P.S. 5 in Brooklyn were safely escorted out of the bus, into other vehicles and then driven to the bridge facility building adjacent to the toll plaza.

Traffic was stopped on the entire Upper Level of the bridge briefly after the 10:30 a.m. incident while the 35 children, their adult escorts and the bus driver were removed from the smoking bus. Roadway lanes on the Upper Level of the bridge reopened in staggered increments and all Upper Level lanes were reopened by 11:30 a.m. Traffic was not affected on the Lower Level of the bridge.Â Â

The fire was first noticed by B&T Lt. Todd Suratt, who was patrolling on the plaza. Facility maintenance workers, B&T Officers and an off–duty NYPD officer worked together quickly to subdue the flames using fire extinguishers. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

After FDNY personnel arrived and secured the bus, the children and passengers were examined by Emergency Medical Services at the site. No one required further medical attention.

While waiting for a school official to pick them up for the ride back to Brooklyn, Verrazano–Narrows General Manager Daniel DeCrescenzo, Maintenance Superintendent William McCann and other employees kept the youngsters entertained with facts about the Verrazano–Narrows Bridge.Â

MTA Bridges and Tunnels' facilities, which connect the five boroughs of New York City, are the Robert F. Kennedy (formerly Triborough), Throgs Neck, Bronx–Whitestone, Henry Hudson, Verrazano–Narrows, Cross Bay Veterans Memorial and Marine Parkway–Gil Hodges Bridges, and the Queens Midtown and Brooklyn–Battery Tunnels.

MNR Press Release: Midday Busing on Port Jervis Ends but Signal Work Planned November 20-21

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Today is the last day of midday busing on the Port Jervis Branch, but beginning at 10 p.m. tonight through noon Saturday, November 21, Metro-North and NJ Transit signal maintainers will be upgrading the signals in the area of Harriman station and this may cause delays of 10 to 15 minutes.

During this work, trains will operate at slower speeds, resulting in expected delays.

Three trains will be affected on Friday, November 20. They are the 9:28 p.m. from Port Jervis to Hoboken, the 9:58 p.m. and the 12:40 a.m. from Hoboken to Port Jervis.

Four trains will be affected on Saturday, November 21. They are the 4:49 a.m., the 7:24 a.m. and the 8:49 a.m. from Port Jervis to Hoboken and the 9:21 a.m. from Hoboken to Port Jervis.

MTA Metro-North Railroad and NJ TRANSIT thank you for your patience during this
signal upgrade work.

NYCT Press Release: No Transfers at Fulton Street/Broadway Nassau Street This Weekend 2345AC

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

MTA NYC Transit announces that due to Phase II construction on the Fulton Street Transit Center Project, ramp and passageway access will be closed this weekend from 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 21 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 23.

Customers will not be able to transfer between the 23 and A trains. They may transfer between the 23 and the uptown A at Park Place-Chambers Street. Brooklyn-bound A trains will operate on the F line between West 4th Street and Jay Street this weekend. Travelers wishing to make a transfer between the uptown A and the downtown 45 must ask the station agent for a transfer ticket, exit the station and reenter at Broadway.

In addition, there are no transfers at Fulton Street/Broadway Nassau Street between 23 and 45 trains. Customers should plan to transfer between the 23 and 4 at Nevins Street in Brooklyn. Signs announcing the service changes have been posted on trains and station platforms and pamphlets are also available at the station booth. Station personnel and platform conductors will be on hand to help riders with directions. Announcements will be made on the affected trains and at the station. We apologize for any inconvenience to customers and urge them to allow extra time for travel.

Customers are encouraged to use Trip Planner at www.mta.info or our new mobile service Trip Planner On the Go! http://tripplanner.mta.info/mobile for customized bus and subway travel information, schedules, service advisories and more. For customers without access to the Internet, Travel Information Center can be reached at 718-330-1234 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

NYCT Press Release: Service Advisory: Weekend Subway Changes Affecting Service On The 123457ACDGNQRS

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Because of capital construction work on the NYC Transit subway system, the following changes will be in place over the weekend. This work is part of NYC Transit's ongoing $11.2 billion Capital Rebuilding Program aimed at upgrading and maintaining our tracks, stations and signal systems in order to continue to provide our customers with safe and reliable service.

2345A
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 21 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 23, there are no transfers at Fulton Street-Broadway Nassau Street between 23 and 45 trains or between 23 and A trains due to Phase II construction of the Fulton Street Transit Center. Customers may transfer between the 23 and 4 at Nevins Street in Brooklyn and between the 23 and uptown A at Park Place-Chambers Street.

12
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 21 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 23, downtown 12 trains skip 66th, 59th, and 50th Streets due to tunnel lighting installation.

3
From 12:01 a.m. to 6:30 a.m., Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22, overnight 3 trains operate to and from 34th Street-Penn Station due to tunnel lighting installation.

4
From 1 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, November 22, downtown 4 trains run local from 125th Street to Grand Central-42nd Street due to signal cable pull.

5
From 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday, November 22, downtown 5 trains run local from 125th Street to Grand Central-42nd Street due to a signal cable pull.

7
From 4 a.m. Saturday, November 21 to 10 p.m. Sunday, November 22, Manhattan-bound 7 trains skip 111th, 103rd, 90th, 82nd, 74th, 69th, 52nd, 46th, 40th, and 33rd Streets due to track panel installation.

A
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 21 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 23, Manhattan-bound A trains run local from Euclid Avenue to Canal Street, then express to 59th Street-Columbus Circle, then trains run local to 125th Street. The work being done on this line includes the Chambers Street Signal Modernization, station rehab at 59th Street-Columbus Circle, and a track chip-out at 163rd Street.

A
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 21 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 23, uptown A trains run express from 125th to 168th Streets due to the track chip-out at 163rd Street.

A
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 21 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 23, Brooklyn-bound A trains run local from 168th Street to West 4th Street, then on the F line to Jay Street, then resume local A service to Euclid Avenue due to the Chambers Street Signal Modernization project.

A
At all times until January 18, 2010, the Far Rockaway-bound platforms at Beach 67th, Beach 44th, and Beach 25th, are closed for rehabilitation.

C
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 21 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 23, there are no C trains running due to the Chambers Street Signal Modernization project. Customers should take the A instead. (Note: A trains run local in Manhattan and Brooklyn with exceptions. See above.)

D
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 21, to 5 a.m. Monday, November 23, uptown D trains run local from 125th Street to 145th Street due to the track chip-out at 163rd Street.

D
From 11:30 p.m. Friday, November 20 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 23, there are no D trains between Pacific Street and 34th Street due to construction of the free transfer passageway from Broadway-Lafayette Street to Bleecker Street. N trains and free shuttle buses provide alternate service.

D
From 12:01 a.m. to 5 a.m. Saturday, November 21, Manhattan-bound D trains skip 167th, 161st, and 155th Streets due to track cleaning.

D
From 12:01 a.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, November 22, Bronx-bound D trains skip 155th Street due to track cleaning.

G
From 8:30 p.m. Friday, November 20 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 23, there are no G trains between Forest Hills-71st Avenue and Court Square due to track maintenance. Customers should take the E or R instead.

N
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 21 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 23, Coney Island-bound N trains run express on the D line from 36th Street to Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue due to NYC DOT repair work on the 65th Street bridge.

N
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 21 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 23, Coney Island-bound N trains run local from Pacific Street to 36th Street due to due to installation of communications equipment at DeKalb Avenue.

N
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 21 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 23, Manhattan-bound N trains run local from 59th Street (Brooklyn) to Pacific Street due to installation of communications equipment at DeKalb Avenue.

N
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 21 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 23, Coney Island-bound N trains run on the R line from Canal Street to DeKalb Avenue due to installation of communications equipment at DeKalb Avenue.

N
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 21 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 23, Manhattan-bound N trains are rerouted over the Manhattan Bridge from DeKalb Avenue to Canal Street due to track maintenance in the Montague tunnel.

N
From 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22, free shuttle buses replace N trains between Ditmars Blvd. and Queensboro Plaza due to switch maintenance and Amtrak bridge repairs at Ditmars Blvd.

Q
From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, November 21 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 23, Coney Island-bound Q trains run on the R line from Canal Street to DeKalb Avenue due to track maintenance in the Montague tunnel.

Q
At all times until 2010, the Coney Island-bound platforms at Avenue H, Avenue M, Avenue U, and Neck Road are closed for rehabilitation.

R
From 6:30 a.m. to midnight, Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22, Manhattan-bound R trains are rerouted over the Manhattan Bridge from DeKalb Avenue to Canal Street due to track maintenance in the Montague tunnel.

R
From 11:30 p.m. Friday, November 20 to 5:30 a.m. Monday, November 23, free shuttle buses replace R trains between 36th and 95th Streets due to NYC DOT repair work on the 65th Street Bridge.

S
From 10:30 p.m. Friday, November 20 to 5 a.m. Monday, November 23, free shuttle buses replace S trains between Rockaway Park and Beach 60th Street due to station rehab work.

S
At all times until December 21, 2009, the Broad Channel-bound platforms at Beach 105th and Beach 90th Street are closed for rehabilitation.

Customers who rely on these lines should allow for additional travel time. For further information, customers should consult the Weekend Service Change notices posted in subway stations. Customers may also call NYC Transit's Travel Information Center at 718 330 1234 or log on at www.mta.info.

LIRR Press Release: MTA LIRR & Newsday Present "The LIRR Holiday Train Event" with Special Guests---The Radio City Rockettes

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Want to get into the holiday spirit? Take two special MTA Long Island Rail Road trains on Saturday, November 21, and you should be well on your way to happy holidays. On November 21, members of the world famous Radio City Rockettes will join LIRR customers on two Babylon Branch trains into Penn Station. To join the festivities, customers should arrive between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM at either the Babylon or Rockville Centre Stations. They'll be greeted at the stations by Rockettes and can participate in a raffle for tickets to the "Radio City Christmas Spectacular" or "Wintuk from Cirque du Soleil."

The holiday trains leave Babylon at 10:02 AM (Holiday Train #2) and Rockville Centre at 10:04 AM (Holiday Train # 1) bound for holiday central, otherwise known as Penn Station. The Rockettes will be aboard the trains handing out candy canes to passengers. At Penn Station, decked out for the holidays, the Rockettes will join Santa Claus from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the 34th Street Entrance where there's the opportunity to win prizes in a holiday "Spin & Win" game. Complete schedules for the two holiday trains follow:

Station	Holiday Train # 1	Holiday Train #2
Babylon	9:28 AM	10:02 AM
Lindenhurst	9:34 AM	--------
Copiague	9:37 AM	--------
Amityville	9:40 AM	--------
Massapequa Park	9:43 AM	10:12 AM
Massapequa	9:45 AM	10:14 AM
Seaford	9:48 AM	10:17 AM
Wantagh	9:51 AM	10:20 AM
Bellmore	9:53 AM	10:22 AM
Merrick	9:56 AM	10:25 AM
Freeport	9:59 AM	10:28 AM
Baldwin	10:01 AM	10:30 AM
Rockville Centre	10:04 AM	10:33 AM
Lynbrook	10:06 AM	--------
Jamaica	10:22 AM	10:52 AM
Kew Gardens	10:26 AM	--------
Forest Hills	10:28 AM	--------
Penn Station	10:44 AM	11:12 AM

If you're unable to take the holiday trains, you're certainly welcome to take the LIRR's other trains to Penn Station. The Railroad's Travel Information Center is available 24-hours a day in Suffolk County at 631-231-LIRR, in Nassau County at 516-822-LIRR or in New York City at 718-217-LIRR. The Travel Information Center's TDD telephone number for the hearing impaired is 718-558-3022. Customers may also consult the LIRR's website at www.mta.info