Metropolitan Transporation Authority Press Releases

LIRR Press Release: LIRR Recognizes 37-year Charter Members of Mail&Ride in Loyalty Award Ceremony at Penn Station

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT

During the bustle of the evening commute at Penn Station, MTA Long Island Rail Road President Helena Williams recognized two 37-year, charter members of Mail&Ride – the LIRR's widely-popular monthly ticket home-delivery service. The two charter members – James Marsano and Stephen Singer – have been getting their LIRR monthly ticket delivered right to their doorstep since 1975.

In appreciation of their years of riding the LIRR and being loyal, original members of Mail&Ride, both were presented with a special certificate of the recognition from the LIRR by President Williams. In the special Loyalty Award Ceremony, the two long-time Mail&Riders were also each given two tickets to an upcoming performance of Broadway's Spiderman, courtesy of the show's producers. Commuting from Port Washington Station for almost 40 years, Mr. Marsano, is a garment center traffic manager – coordinating the delivery of overseas private-label manufacturing for large companies. Mr. Singer commutes from Great Neck and is a partner in the law firm of Barst Mukamal & Kleiner, LLP.

"The ease and convenience that attracted Mr. Marsano and Mr. Singer to Mail&Ride so many years ago continues to draw new members to the service every day," said LIRR President Helena Williams. "So, while the LIRR was honoring its steadfast original Mail&Ride customers, we thought it appropriate to recognized two of the newest subscribers to the service – Jason Lynn and Maribel Valdes."

Mr. Lynn, a managing director of a consulting firm specializing in legal technology, recently started commuting from Huntington to Manhattan and joined Mail&Ride in February. An associate inventory planner at Macy's Herald Square, Ms. Valdes commutes from Lynbrook and signed up for Mail&Ride in March. Both received two Spiderman tickets each, donated by the hit Broadway show.

Celebrating almost four decades of service, Mail&Ride offers customers worry-free convenience. Each month, like clockwork, Mail&Ride subscribers receive their monthly tickets in the mail. Commuters who chose to add an Unlimited MetroCard (for $104) to their Mail&Ride monthly LIRR ticket receive a 2% discount off the LIRR train fare portion of the their monthly ticket.

Mail&Ride offers convenient payment options and the ability to suspend ticket delivery while on vacation. Commuters are able to easily apply their pre-tax benefit – up to $125 in non-taxed income per month for use toward their commute – when paying their monthly Mail&Ride invoice. Additionally, Mail&Ride offers the latest in electronic fund transfer technology for payments – making it more-cost effective and a "green," eco-friendly service.

LIRR President Williams noted, "Mail and Ride customers represent a large group of what I call our bedrock customer base. They are some of our most loyal commuters and we want to say thank you to them and recognize them for their patronage. Mail and Ride is the most hassle free way to get your monthly ticket and ride the LIRR."

As part of a year-long marketing effort to promote the Mail&Ride program, the LIRR introduced monthly "loyalty" giveaways – thanking our Mail&Ride customers for the choice they made with value-added incentives. Each month, Mail&Ride customers are automatically entered in a sweepstakes to win a free LIRR monthly ticket. Four lucky winners are randomly selected each month.

This summer, the LIRR's Mail&Ride service will be implementing a re-designed and enhanced web application – making Mail&Ride on the web more customer-friendly. Among the customer benefits will be greater security, using a new 7 digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) and email addresses will be required for signing up for and accessing a customer account. Additionally, greater customer flexibility will be provided with the ability to place an account in the "vacation status" for up to any one of the next six months – previously the maximum was 2 consecutive months.

Signing up for Mail&Ride is quick and easy by choosing the Mail&Ride option in the "Ways to Pay" box located on the lower left of the LIRR's homepage on the LIRR's website at www.mta.info/lirr.

MNR Press Release: West of Hudson Regional Transit Access Study

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT

MTA Metro-North Railroad will hold an Open House in Orange County to present the latest information on the West of Hudson Regional Transit Access Alternatives Analysis Study (WHRTAS). The Study Team has completed Phase 1 of the Study and is now embarking on Phase 2.

The Open House is scheduled for Tuesday, June 12, 2012 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn, at 15 Crossroads Court, Newburgh, New York just south of Route 17K. Metro-North representatives and other members of the Study Team will present the findings from Phase 1 and the goals and objectives for Phase 2.

During Phase 1, the team evaluated transit alternatives with the goal of recommending the most effective options for improving transit mobility and accessibility in the West of Hudson region. With input from stakeholders and the public, a shorter list of the most viable alternatives was recommended to be evaluated in greater detail in Phase 2.

Despite changes in economic conditions and the deferment of previously planned trans-Hudson crossings, the need to improve transit access between Orange County and New York City remains. Metro-North is committed to improving transit access in the West of Hudson region in the short term by investing in improvements to the Port Jervis Line (PJL) including signaling improvements and reestablishing a second track along the PJL.

After tropical storm Irene destroyed 14 miles of track between Harriman and Suffern, Metro-North demonstrated its commitment to continuous improvement to the Line by repairing it in record time.

The Open House, part of the extensive outreach effort, provides an opportunity for the public to review the findings from the first phase and be briefed on the goals and objectives of the second phase.

The Alternatives Analysis Phase I Screening Report, which details the findings of Phase 1, and additional information about the Study are available is available through the website: www.mta.info/mta/planning/whrtas. Those needing additional information or wishing to comment on the project can call this toll free number: 800-897-0302.

B&T Press Release: Bridges and Tunnels Going Old School Toll Booths At All Nine Crossings Being Repainted MTA Blue

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT

MTA Bridges and Tunnels is sprucing up its toll plazas, repainting toll booths at all nine crossings a uniform and familiar color, MTA blue. The actual color is called â��safety blueâ�� but it happens to also coincides closely with the color of the MTA logo.

The last time all 150 toll booths and their surrounding concrete islands, curbs, and bullnoses were painted was 2001. â��Reverting back to the original blue we once used will help uniformly identify our plazas as being MTA Bridges and Tunnelsâ�� facilities, and it will also help us save money in the procurement of paint,â�� said B&T Chief Maintenance Officer Patrick Parisi.

When the booths were last painted each crossing picked its own color. The result was toll booths at some plazas being yellow (Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel and Bronx-Whitestone), turquoise (Verrazano-Narrows), orange (Throgs Neck) or a unique mixture of banana yellow, blue and mint green (Henry Hudson Bridge).

More than aesthetics, repainting the booths is necessary to keep them in a state of good repair since some are exposed daily to harsh sea and salt air climate that can corrode steel.Â â��Paint is used as the first line of defense against the forces of corrosion.Â Painting is also a cost effective way to extend the useful life and function of our facilities,â�� explains B&T Coating Engineer Peter McDonagh.

It takes two or three nights to repaint each toll booth both inside and out. First, each booth is draped in containment and thoroughly power-washed inside and out. Next, they are sanded down using hand and power-grinding tools before a primer coat of anti-corrosive epoxy is applied. The final step is applying a coat of high-performance urethane paint. A total of about 1,200 gallons of paint will be used.

The $4.5 million project, awarded to L&L Painting Co., of Hicksville, N.Y., also includes work being done on 60 giant 20-by-11 foot tall vent fans at the Brooklyn-Battery and Queens Midtown Tunnel vent buildings, two garages and an auto shop. Â

Work has been completed at the Queens Midtown Tunnel toll plaza. Next up are the two Rockaway bridges and the Manhattan plaza at the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, followed by the rest of the crossings.

The work is being done during off-peak hours between 10 p.m. and 4:30 a.m. to minimize disruption to traffic. All nine crossings are expected to have a fresh coat of paint by the end of the year.

Toll Booth Wash: Queens Midtown Tunnel toll booth getting interior and exterior washing prior to painting. Photo Courtesy MTA Bridges and Tunnels

Inside Containment: Fish-eye lens view inside a containment area at Queens Midtown Tunnel. Photo Courtesy MTA Bridges and Tunnels

Repainted QMT Plaza: The newly repainted Queens Midtown Tunnel toll plaza, done up in MTA blue. Photo Courtesy MTA Bridges and Tunnels

NYCT Press Release: Far Rockaway-Mott Av. Station Rehabilitation Now Complete

Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT

The completion of the work that transformed the dreary-looking southern terminal of the A Line into a sparkling, steel and glass, state-of-the art transit facility was marked today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by MTA leaders and local elected officials.

The project began in 2009 at the Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue station and included the rehabilitation of the existing control building complete with a relocated agent booth, new fare array, new employee areas and a rebuilt staircase to the platform. Situated within an impressive domed enclosure, two new ADA-compliant elevators were installed, linking the control building to the platform.

"The Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue terminal has been upgraded, modernized and transformed into an aesthetically-pleasing facility that is now a fitting gateway to the services offered by the MTA," said MTA NYC Transit President Thomas F. Prendergast. "We are also extremely proud to have been able to add an impressive art installation and the functional elements that now allow the disabled community to take advantage of the subway system."

Major rehabilitation work was performed on several station elements including the control house facade and interior. The project also included upgrades to the train platform, including the renewal of the ADA boarding area and yellow, textured platform edge warning strip. The platform canopy roof membrane was replaced and the canopy deck framing and support columns were freshly painted. In addition, glass artwork was installed in the control building in conjunction with the MTA's Arts for Transit program.

"Far Rockaway residents rely heavily on mass transit to get them to and from work and school. I applaud the MTA for the ADA improvements and creating a transit hub that is open, bright and better lit," stated Congressman Gregory W. Meeks. Meeks continued, "The peninsula is an area that has unlimited potential for economic and residential development. The improvements on the Mott Avenue A Line station are an important step toward increasing the area's economic opportunities."

"This much needed renovation is the first step in the revitalization of the Rockaways. We thank the MTA for making this commitment to the beautification and the accessibility to transportation for the Peninsula," said Assemblywoman Michele Titus.

"This long-awaited restoration of the Mott Avenue train station provides Rockaway families with a more beautiful and accessible station in our neighborhood," said Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder. "The addition of new elevators will make traveling easier for people with disabilities and the installation of new stained-glass windows brings beauty to the station, and is a welcomed improvement to our community. This is a great first step towards the revitalization of this area."

"The refurbishment of the Mott Avenue A train platform in Far Rockaway was a long time in coming, but it's completion will make the station more accessible to more people than ever before, and allow traffic to flow more smoothly," said City Councilman James Sanders. "I thank our friends at MTA New York City Transit and the MTA for their hard work in refurbishing this station, which is now one of the most beautiful and user friendly on the Rockaway peninsula."

The keystone of a major line renewal effort, Mott Avenue was part of a $117 million project to rehabilitate nine A Line stations serving the peninsula. Work on the other eight stations is scheduled to be complete by the Fall of this year.

The Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue station was opened for customer service on January 16, 1958, about two years after subway service was extended to the Rockaways along the former tracks of the Long Island Rail Road. The Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue station is more than 32 miles from the northernmost station on the line, 207^th Street – Inwood, making the A Line the longest in the New York City subway system.

The MTA Arts for Transit installation, titled Respite, is an abstract landscape of birds perched on outstretched branches. The birds' colors blend into the branches, symbolizing the connection between people and their community. The series of luminous glass panels features three distinct color themes (green for dawn, blue for midday and orange for dusk) and relate to the strong links between nature and light in this seaside community.

Designed by artist Jason Rohlf, the new glass artwork at the Mott Avenue terminal building brings brightness, color, and stature to the building, which received a new interior and easier access. The opportunity to create art throughout the terminal head house provided the artist with a large canvas to realize his vision, and the strong light that surrounds the terminal made glass the medium of choice.

"As an artist, this project was a fantastic opportunity to really impact the architecture and create work that serves to connect the viewers with the surrounding landscape," said Rohlf, when asked about the project. "The colors in the glass reflect into shadows that splash throughout the station, providing a welcome and vibrant addition to the rider's experience."

LIRR Press Release: LIRR Replaces Track Ties on the Ronkonkoma Branch Starting May 14

Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 EDT

The MTA Long Island Rail Road will be replacing wooden ties on the Ronkonkoma Branch between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma on weekdays beginning May 14. The work will be completed in three phases to minimize customer impact. When completed by the end of the summer, the work will help ensure greater service reliability and a smoother, more comfortable ride for customers.

Phase One – May 14 through June 22

In the first phase of the work, from May 14 through June 22, midday weekday busing will replace trains between Brentwood and Ronkonkoma stations. Six eastbound and six westbound trains will originate and terminate at Brentwood station.

Eastbound:

The 8:14 AM, 9:14 AM, 10:14 AM, 11:14 AM, 12:14 PM and 1:14 PM trains from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma will terminate at Brentwood, and bus service will be provided for the remainder of the trip to Central Islip and Ronkonkoma Stations.

Westbound:

The midday westbound trains will originate from Brentwood Station at 9:52 AM, 10:52 AM, 11:52 AM, 12:52 PM, 1:52 PM and 2:52 PM; respectively. Westbound customers at Ronkonkoma and Central Islip will have bus service to connect with train service at Brentwood for the remainder of their trip. The bus service will depart Ronkonkoma at 9:22 AM, 10:22 AM, 11:22 AM, 12:22 PM, 1:22 PM and 2:22 PM; and depart Central Islip at 9:32 AM, 10:32 AM, 11:32 AM, 12:32 PM, 1:32 PM and 2:32 PM

Trains between Ronkonkoma and Greenport will operate on normal schedules.

Eastbound midday weekday customers, destined for points east of Ronkonkoma will have express bus service from Brentwood and Central Islip to stations Medford through Greenport, since the busing between Brentwood and Ronkonkoma will not allow them to connect with the regular Ronkonkoma-Greenport trains. Westbound midday weekday customers from stations Greenport through Medford, traveling west of Ronkonkoma will board their regular train to Ronkonkoma. At Ronkonkoma, they will transfer to buses for Hicksville for train service for the remainder of their trip, making local stops as necessary.

Phase Two – June 25 through July 20

The second phase of the work, from June 25 through July 20, requires the use of single track between Deer Park and Brentwood during the midday on weekdays. As a result, six midday weekday westbound Ronkonkoma trains are adjusted to depart Ronkonkoma at 9:41 AM, 10:41 AM, 11:41 AM, 12:41 PM, 1:41 PM and 2:41 PM.

Phase Three – July 23 through August 10

In the final phase, between July 23 and August 10, buses will replace midday weekday train service between Hicksville and Ronkonkoma. All Ronkonkoma Branch midday weekday trains will terminate and originate at Farmingdale.

Customers traveling east of Ronkonkoma will have express bus service between Hicksville and their home station, since the trains operating between Ronkonkoma and Greenport will run on their normal schedules.

Note: From August 13 through August 31, Ronkonkoma Branch midday weekday schedules will return to the schedule used during phase two to allow for increased service levels for the Barclay's Golf event which will be held in Bethpage State Park.

For More Information

Ronkonkoma Branch customers should pick up a copy of the new Ronkonkoma Branch May 14 timetable at the LIRR's major terminals and at Ronkonkoma Branch line stations or consult the LIRR Schedules and Fares page on our website at www.mta.info/lirr . Customers can also call 511, the New York State Travel Information Line and say "Long Island Rail Road." If you are deaf or hard of hearing, use your preferred relay service provider on the free 711 relay to reach the LIRR at 511. For the most up-to-date information on train service, sign up for LIRR E-alerts and text messages at www.mymtaalerts.com.