realizm Posted January 3, 2013 Share #1 Posted January 3, 2013 No. 7 line short for Lunar New Year State Sen. Toby Stavisky, left, Councilman Peter Koo and Flushing Business Improvement District Executive Director Dian Yu joined local small business owners and elected officials in demanding the 7 train run during Flushing’s Lunar New Year celebration. Photo by Joseph Orovic Posted: Thursday, December 13, 2012 10:30 am | Updated: 11:39 am, Thu Dec 20, 2012. The Metropolitan Transit Authority plans to cut service along portions of the No. 7 line during Flushing’s annual Lunar New Year celebration, leaving local businesses and elected officials promising to fight for full service the weekends of Feb. 10 and 16. The MTA plans to shut down the 7 during selected weekends for ongoing signal upgrades along the line’s Steinway tunnel, only running the train from Main Street to Queensboro Plaza from 12:01 a.m. on Saturday to 5 a.m. on Monday. The MTA said the new signal system will increase the reliability, speed and safety of the line. It expects the work to be completed by 2016. The upgrade will occur virtually every non-holiday weekend this winter, with exceptions for Christmas and New Year’s. Flushing’s business community is contending the annual Lunar New Year parade should also be included in the roster of days when work is suspended, citing economic impact and cultural insensitivity. More: http://www.qchron.co...584fa66fe5.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6 Lexington Ave Posted January 3, 2013 Share #2 Posted January 3, 2013 The service change also occurred during New Year's weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmallParkShuttle Posted January 3, 2013 Share #3 Posted January 3, 2013 The service change also occurred during New Year's weekend. A better comparison would be comparing it to New Year's Eve, say at about 8-9 PM, though only on the . Even more so this year since Chinese New Year is on the 10th this February. I've been to the parades on 8 Ave in Brooklyn and in Chinatown and I can tell you it gets crowded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realizm Posted January 3, 2013 Author Share #4 Posted January 3, 2013 Much of the argument here concerns the fact that the MTA for whatever reason decided to schedule the GO's for weekend of Feb 10th and the 16th 2013, during practically the busiest event of the year for Flushing residents and business owners. Looking at it objectively it would greatly hurt businesses on those weekends. Actually isn’t the MTA shooting itself in the foot sort of speak? Don’t the stations along the line on these weekends bring in alot of revenue for the MTA in terms of much higher ridership? Now looking at this subjectively, this is the most significant East Asian holiday of the year. The fact that the MTA is doing this with lack of regards to this important holiday shows a definite lack of really, cultural awareness on the part of the MTA. It really does not make sense to me whatsoever. If the MTA is so concerned about completing the CBTC project on the for the sake of people who are dependent on the line (like Flushing residents) then why on Earth are they so persistent in scheduling the ongoing weekend work during this holiday celebration? Chinese New Year is celebrated by a huge majority of New Yorkers. Indeed the three major Chinese American communities in New York City are extremely busy with people during this time. The last time I was at parades myself was also in Brooklyn Chinatown. Believe me, the and the on the South Brooklyn BMT are absolutely packed with commuters carrying on festivities. This move by the MTA doesn't help in terms of public relations that's for sure. And that's putting it lightly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowblock Posted January 3, 2013 Share #5 Posted January 3, 2013 Everybody is talking like there wont be ANY subway service that weekend. Change at Queensboro Plaza Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itmaybeokay Posted January 3, 2013 Share #6 Posted January 3, 2013 Everybody is talking like there wont be ANY subway service that weekend. Change at Queensboro Plaza Also they have extended the to ditmars for these weekends to help shuttle the riders. Obviously the loss of a one-seat ride is inconvenient, but this is a cross platform transfer to a train that reaches times sq slightly faster than the 7. There would be 10 tph on the 7 normally out of queensboro midday sat, and with the additional weekend trains there will be 11 manhattan bound tph from the same station at the same time. Inconvenient, yes, but hardly halting celebrations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilbluefoxie Posted January 3, 2013 Share #7 Posted January 3, 2013 Everybody is talking like there wont be ANY subway service that weekend. Change at Queensboro Plaza plus theres also the LIRR Port Washington branch at Flushing Main St and Woodside stations, take that if you want a one seat to Manhattan that weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itmaybeokay Posted January 3, 2013 Share #8 Posted January 3, 2013 plus theres also the LIRR Port Washington branch at Flushing Main St and Woodside stations, take that if you want a one seat to Manhattan that weekend. Not a bad point, but problematic becuase service is only hourly from flushing weekends, and at $3.75 each way the increased cost would disproportionately affect lower income riders. It might help ease the outcry some if there were an easy way for the LIRR to cross-honor metrocards between woodside and penn during these times, but to honest, a better solution might be additional and service between 74th/Roosevelt and 42nd st during the same period. Both trains nearly halve the travel time between Jackson Heights and 42nd street versus the Better yet, run the full length those weekends. Still faster than the , and better service to the whole line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilbluefoxie Posted January 3, 2013 Share #9 Posted January 3, 2013 Not a bad point, but problematic becuase service is only hourly from flushing weekends, and at $3.75 each way the increased cost would disproportionately affect lower income riders. It might help ease the outcry some if there were an easy way for the LIRR to cross-honor metrocards between woodside and penn during these times, but to honest, a better solution might be additional and service between 74th/Roosevelt and 42nd st during the same period. Both trains nearly halve the travel time between Jackson Heights and 42nd street versus the Better yet, run the full length those weekends. Still faster than the , and better service to the whole line. its at least something, hourly service just means you have to pay attention to the time. As for the price of the LIRR, I don't think an extra $1.50 is going to adversely affect anyone. $2.25 to stand all the way from Flushing to Manhattan while it running local. Or $3.75 for a more comfortable, padded seat with only two stops till Manhattan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itmaybeokay Posted January 3, 2013 Share #10 Posted January 3, 2013 its at least something, hourly service just means you have to pay attention to the time. As for the price of the LIRR, I don't think an extra $1.50 is going to adversely affect anyone. $2.25 to stand all the way from Flushing to Manhattan while it running local. Or $3.75 for a more comfortable, padded seat with only two stops till Manhattan. I'm not trying to start an argument here, but for those who already bought unlimited cards, it's an extra $3.75 each way, on top of the $104 they've already spent, and there are people for whom that $104 is a real burden. The extra money might be insignificant to many, but the point I'm making is that the MTA cannot simply come out and say as a response to this "Just take the LIRR" because offering that as the alternative would be unfair to those less privileged. Which is why I suggested extra Queens Blvd line service. Trust me, the gets really crowded, as it's the only straight-shot between Times Sq and 74th-Roosevelt. Why people don't transfer to the E at queens plaza is beyond me, (they don't. even when it's across the platform waiting for them). Extra service would ease the burden for everyone along this line on weekends while the is short. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilbluefoxie Posted January 3, 2013 Share #11 Posted January 3, 2013 the people who can afford an extra 3.75 can get an easier ride to manhattan, the rest can transfer trains at Queensboro Plaza, its not even a tough transfer, its a cross platform one. It's not like the transfer from the to the Times Square Shuttle which requires a long walk. or the one from the to the at 14 Street which has a lot of stairs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lance Posted January 3, 2013 Share #12 Posted January 3, 2013 See, that's the thing. Everyone wants better and improved subway service. However, nobody wants to deal with the inconveniences necessary to get said improvements. Yeah, it's a pain in the ass to have to add more time to your commutes and be diverted around all this mess, but there's a limited amount of time to get this stuff done. They want to get it done before baseball season starts and I doubt they want to do this during the summer months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quill Depot Posted January 3, 2013 Share #13 Posted January 3, 2013 Some special's I planned: Extra trains in service, go OOS Roosevelt and then run to 71st turn. Signed "E SPECIAL" with papers on it for Lunar New Year. express, QB Plaza, 61st(LIRR), (Maybe mets,) Main Street. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowblock Posted January 3, 2013 Share #14 Posted January 3, 2013 Hey, the riders had to deal with the same thing back in 2004-06.....and all of you whining about how your ABCDEFGHJKMNQR doesn't have countdown clocks, you'll have to suffer through the same service disruptions before a signaling system which can support them gets installed too. Some special's I planned: Extra trains in service, go OOS Roosevelt and then run to 71st turn. Signed "E SPECIAL" with papers on it for Lunar New Year. express, QB Plaza, 61st(LIRR), (Maybe mets,) Main Street. No, and no. If you're going to run the to 71 anyway, why take it OOS at Roosevelt? And then what, the passengers go upstairs to find the bypassing their station? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itmaybeokay Posted January 3, 2013 Share #15 Posted January 3, 2013 Some special's I planned: Extra trains in service, go OOS Roosevelt and then run to 71st turn. Signed "E SPECIAL" with papers on it for Lunar New Year. express, QB Plaza, 61st(LIRR), (Maybe mets,) Main Street. Since most of the riders seem to be taking the , I still think adding the to augment local service would be a great option to help ease the burden, plus, the serves areas in the LES that will see higher traffic as well. I feel like adding specials would only confuse and frustrate riders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RFC Posted January 4, 2013 Share #16 Posted January 4, 2013 I don't see why they are complaining, So what if the is only gonna go to Queens Borough Plaza You want improvements right? And that is what needs to be done to get to those improvements so stop complaining, anyways they shouldn't be complaining over a weekend service 1 seat loss and such. You got the availability to go to Queens Borough Plaza and across the platform Transfer to the and Bus Service from Main Street to get you to the trains Also. You can also take the Port Washington Branch to Penn Station If ya can afford it and such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan Railer Posted January 4, 2013 Share #17 Posted January 4, 2013 Despite being Chinese myself and sympathizing with the business owners, I have to agree with Snowblock on this one. The locality is blowing the issue way out of proportion. The , and the in the cases of this type of GO, as mentioned before, offers CROSS PLATFORM transfers at QB Plaza, mind you (God forbid that it wasn't built that way and people actually had to walk up and down stair; OH NO!), and goes not only to the 's terminus at Times Square, but continues on to Canal street, which most of us would know that Manhattan's Chinatown is located. In all due honesty, I would bet a sum of money that a good portion of people traveling to Flushing that weekend will be coming from that part of town, or even from Brooklyn's Chinatown, located around the 8th street station, which is ALSO serviced by the . And if they are not coming from either of those two locations, then they'll be transferring anyway. In addition, if you don't like the subway, there's a complimentary shuttle bus that travels between the Flushing LIRR station and Manhattan Chinatown, near Confucius Plaza (Tower). The point is, there really is no point to the arguments being lobbied here by the community. It simply demonstrates ignorance and laziness by certain parties involved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quill Depot Posted January 4, 2013 Share #18 Posted January 4, 2013 Since most of the riders seem to be taking the , I still think adding the to augment local service would be a great option to help ease the burden, plus, the serves areas in the LES that will see higher traffic as well. I feel like adding specials would only confuse and frustrate riders. The terminates in Manhattan, therefor it would be easy. It would just be a short turn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IntExp Posted January 4, 2013 Share #19 Posted January 4, 2013 See, that's the thing. Everyone wants better and improved subway service. However, nobody wants to deal with the inconveniences necessary to get said improvements. Yeah, it's a pain in the ass to have to add more time to your commutes and be diverted around all this mess, but there's a limited amount of time to get this stuff done. They want to get it done before baseball season starts and I doubt they want to do this during the summer months. Especially this year, with the All-Star Game in town. Just the imagine the press if they had a shutdown like this at the time of All-Star Game...and since this is really the only frequent service to Citi....So yeah, I see why they want to get this out before the summer months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QM1to6Ave Posted January 4, 2013 Share #20 Posted January 4, 2013 This is more about the chinese group wanting recognition of its holidays. It's like how lots of religions want alternate side regulations suspended on their holidays, even when the holiday has no impact whatsoever on driving patterns. I understand why they are complaining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobtehpanda Posted January 4, 2013 Share #21 Posted January 4, 2013 At the very least, it'd be nice of them to post service notices in Chinese about the Lunar New Year change in places where there would be lots of Chinese people (Grand St, Canal St, etc.), and for any other groups this would affect. I'm of the opinion that 7 service shouldn't be restored for the Lunar New Year, but I'm kind of confused as to why they wouldn't subject this work to FasTrack considering this is one of the few sections of outer-borough subway with alternate routes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kamen Rider Posted January 4, 2013 Share #22 Posted January 4, 2013 Fastrack would take longer. the amount of time a Fastrack grants them (say 10 to 6) is 32 hours a week to work. shutting down 12 AM Sat to 5AM monday is 53 hours. Fastrack is ment for repair. What they're doing to the 7 is a complete upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realizm Posted January 4, 2013 Author Share #23 Posted January 4, 2013 See, that's the thing. Everyone wants better and improved subway service. However, nobody wants to deal with the inconveniences necessary to get said improvements. Yeah, it's a pain in the ass to have to add more time to your commutes and be diverted around all this mess, but there's a limited amount of time to get this stuff done. They want to get it done before baseball season starts and I doubt they want to do this during the summer months. As much as I respect your opinion I disagree. Yes of course all people have to do is transfer at Queensboro Plaza. But I would think this is more of a public relations issue. Kind of a double standard on the part of the MTA if they are totally disregarding Chinese New Year for the sake of the baseball season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTA1992 Posted January 4, 2013 Share #24 Posted January 4, 2013 But this is one weekend as compared to an entire few months of scheduled events. So it's not a public relations issue, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realizm Posted January 4, 2013 Author Share #25 Posted January 4, 2013 Ok. But can't one weekend be sacrificed for the sake of the events within the community? And if we have community leaders and Asian American activists calling out the agency on this, then I would imagine this is a public relations issue that needs to be considered. I mean usually the MTA cancels GO's during certain major holidays. That's why I can't comprehend why the MTA cannot cancel one weekend GO. I don't think it's fair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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