nerdynel

I considered modifications to 50th Street station in my CPW post, but felt they're too disruptive to be worth it. If we de-interline, leave 50th as is, with the upper level closed except during the overnight hours. To add to Bay Ridge's point, the southernmost exit at 59th is at 57th, and the northernmost exit at 42nd is at 44th. Plus, the transfer at 7th Avenue – 53rd Street is cross-plat regardless of direction for riders traveling between the 8th Avenue local and CPW local stops. That said, as I mentioned upthread, I am considering alternate plans with no CPW de-interlining. I'm leaning toward keeping the de-interlining, but I haven't finalized anything yet.

CPW is indeed a tough nut to crack with regard to de-interlining. In NYTIP, I have all 8th Avenue service express and all 6th Avenue service local with direct express service from both Washington Heights and Concourse preserved, but as you said, there's the 50th Street upper level issue. I am considering alternate plans that leave CPW as is, while still realizing overall improvement.

Thanks for the warm welcome, T! Indeed, resistance to change is likely one of the biggest obstacles to any de-interlining plan (or any other plan requiring some major change, for that matter). And how I could I forget the money pit known as the Backwards AirTrain?! Yes, the 40% cuts (which have yet to be fully defined) are a major cause for concern. If any of those cuts come to pass, transit ridership would remain depressed for years to come. I don't like speculating about cuts - I'd much rather not see cuts at all. That said, I will also wait to see what MTA's plans are. I am not confident that MTA will get its bailout, as much as I'd like to see it.

Greetings all! I see my NYTIP series has gained some traction here, so allow me to clarify some things. For the CPW de-interlining, I envision all routes using full-length trains. I have since revised that proposal to have A/B on Inwood and C/D on Concourse to avoid "rocking the boat" too much with regard to yard access. Having two full-time services on Concourse is intentional and designed to encourage ridership. Before the Rona, I used to joke that the most frequent service on Concourse was the taxi because taxis came more often than buses or trains! Also, bear in mind NYTIP is a long-term improvement strategy. De-interlining certain corridors is just Step 1 of that strategy. I know some say we shouldn't think of such plans in light of the Rona knocking out transit ridership and potential doomsday cuts that make 2010 seem like a dream in comparison; however, I disagree. I think this is the best time, because we effectively have a blank slate in some ways. There will likely be a permanent shift in travel patterns owing to telework, for one, and how MTA recovers will depend on their ability to adapt, IMO. Criticisms of cost are definitely fair, but also remember that the supposedly broke state somehow has money to widen highways, and the supposedly broke city keeps subsidizing empty boats - both to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. My plans may not be perfect, but I think we can all agree on the need to Save Transit and convince city and state leaders to get their priorities in order. Thanks for reading and commenting!