In the newest issue of Men’s Vogue, Massimo Vingelli publishes an update of his 1972 map of the NYC subway, which was the official map until 1979.

The original can be found here courtesy of nycsubway.org. Vignelli’s map and the current map designed by Michael Hertz illustrate the fundamental debate between transit cartographers; is it better to have a map that is less geographically accurate in favor of one that is easier to read and simpler looking? There were some serious geographic issues with Vignelli’s first map. For instance, the 1 train 50 St station appeared WEST of the C/E train 50 St station. I personally feel that in a city where the subway lines are more chaotic and less streamlined than in centrally designed systems like Berlin or London (remember our system is the relic of three different companies, not one) a more geographically accurate map is helpful. But, Vignelli’s update solves a lot of problems from his first map. The stations are now the correct direction from one another. The modern system’s color scheme is also a great help to Vignelli, whose first map looked a little like a multi-colored lollipop. Overall, he makes a compelling case for his map. But this time, it’s all for charity. A limited run of signed maps are going for $300 each with proceeds going to Green Worker Cooperatives in The Bronx. Check out the full article at Mensvogue.com and geek out map nuts! Bravo Mr. Vignelli.

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There’s a whole series of L train questions this weekend so let’s get right into them!

Why is service only every 16 minutes between Union Sq and Bedford Ave?

This has to do with the fact that the L train is somewhat unique in the subway system. It is only two tracks for the whole line. This means that repairs and maintenance are harder to complete than on a similar line like the 7. Both these trains are unique in that they can not be re-routed onto other tracks (for instance, the F). The 7 has three tracks for most of the line however, so when the local track needs work, they just put the trains on the express track. The L, however, is just two tracks. So here’s what happens. This weekend, there is work being performed somewhere between Bedford Ave and Union Sq. Let’s say it is on the Manhattan-bound track. Suddenly you have only one track going under the river. That means only one train can be under there at one time or else there would be trains going opposite directions on the same track. Bad idea. So why is it a 16 minute wait between trains? Because that’s how long it takes one train to cross under the river to Union Sq, discharge and accept passengers, turn around, and get back to Brooklyn.

OK, I get that, but why is there no service at 3 Ave?

I honestly have no clue. My only two theories are that there is station rehab going on at 3 Ave, which seems unlikely since the station is in pretty good shape. The only other, and more likely possibility, is that they could shave 60 seconds off the turnaround by making people walk from 3 Ave to 4 Ave/Union Sq. These two stations are probably closer together than any other two in the system and perhaps given the limited service the MTA just decided stopping there was redundant. If you know of any station rehab or any better explanation, leave a comment or get in touch with me.

I was away last weekend. What’s up with the 2 train again?

Luckily you can still check out last week’s explanations.

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Well here we are, another week of service changes that affect every borough and almost every single train. This weekend, of the 19 normal weekend trains, 15 (although 14 if you consider the G train terminus at Court Sq. permanent) have some kind of service disruption. Some are minor and some are major. So, it should be easy to pick the winners this week, but what about the losers? Well let’s start with the good news.

WINNERS:

1. D train riders - An uninterrupted ride on one of the longest routes in the system is certainly cause for celebration. And the Yankees aren’t even in town this weekend! Imagine how good it could get when the Bronx Bombers are in town. One can usually count on the MTA not disrupting service during home stands. Though that doesn’t protect Brooklyn. Well you enjoy not worrying about your train D train riders. Plus if you are trying to get to the bypassed 4 train stations in Highbridge and Morris Heights you can hop on the D at 161 St. instead making all stops.

2. 7 train riders - This busy and isolated line always wreaks havoc when parts of it are shut down. Perhaps that accounts for news coverage of weekend service disruption being slightly skewed toward the 7 train. Whatever the reason, the 7 is all green signals this weekend. And this line does have the local team to thank with a weekend series against the rival Braves at Shea necessitating all tracks be open.

3. J/M train riders - This makes the third, fourth, and final trains with no disruptions this weekend. While these two trains might have the least convenient normal weekend service, they are running normally this weekend. Seriously, can’t the J be extended to Broad St and the M extended into Manhattan? Get on that MTA. Nevertheless, no need to consult the map those of you out J/M way.

LOSERS:

1. L train riders - Yeah, it’s another pain in the butt weekend for those on the L. You are going to have to allow plenty of extra time getting into Manhattan today. Brooklyn service is normal but you will have to change trains at Bedford Ave and wait up to 15 minutes for service only going as far as Union Sq. If you live at the end of the line, I would change at Broadway Jct if possible. And if you live in Williamsburg you can pick your poison between the L and G, which will probably be running with about the same frequency this weekend. For an explanation of why the trains are so infrequent across the East River, check out this post.

2. Upper East AND West Siders - Who says the MTA doesn’t inconvenience the rich and powerful of New York (who of course all take the subway) as the Upper East and West Side are both a challenge this weekend. Let’s start on the East Side where the only local service between 125 St and Grand Central is uptown 6 trains. That means if you are at 77 St you will have to watch 4 trains in both directions, uptown 5 trains, downtown 2 trains, and downtown 6 trains blow by the station. It will be a tough weekend for transit on one of the busiest corridors in the city. Good thing the mayor gets a ride to the express station. On the West Side, things are equally, if not more screwy. Like the East Side, there is only local service in one direction, but on the Upper West Side, the direction of local service changes at 72 St. If you are traveling from Columbia U. to Times Sq the train will run express from 72 St to Times Sq. If you are going back along the same route, the train will run express from 72 St to 96 St. This creates the interesting phenomenon of not being able to catch local service in either direction from 72 St. And remember, this is all on top of uptown 2 and 5 trains switching sides of the island, which you can get an explanation for here.

3. Far Rockaway - What’s worse than no service? Planning on there being no service and then being told there was normal service. I love it when the MTA adds a note to a service change telling folks that it didn’t apply YESTERDAY. A day late and two dollars short. I admit that you were misinformed last weekend, and I will endeavor to keep a much closer eye on canceled maintenance in the future. In the meantime the MTA is promising no service this weekend with the A running to Rockaway Park and buses to Beach 90 St. Hang in there Far Rockaway. Or just take the LIRR.

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I know some of you are actually interested in what causes these massive screw-ups, and so I indulge your knowledge seeking ways the best I can. Here goes!

What is up with the 2 train Now?

The 2 train is actually returning to a mild state of normalcy, though a quick glance at the map wouldn’t seem to verify that. In fact 2 trains that travel FROM The Bronx TO Brooklyn are 100% normal. That’s one direction out of the way. However, going FROM Brooklyn TO The Bronx, there is repair work ongoing on the Manhattan-bound track of the Clark St tunnel (the tunnel the 2 and 3 normally use). So, 2 trains going to Manhattan have to take a different route, so they travel under the Joralemon St tunnel (the tunnel the 4 usually takes). Unfortunately, from that tunnel there is no way to reach the 7 Ave line, so the 2 train must mirror the 5 train from the Bowling Green to the Bronx. To make up for the loss of the west side train, the MTA loops 5 trains around South Ferry and sends them up 7 Ave making 2 train stops until The Bronx.

Why is the G going all the way to Coney Island?

This is actually a very small bit of maintenance that causes a big rerouting. If you look at the map, you’ll notice the only place that no trains are running where they normally would is along the F train track between Jay St and Bergen St. That’s where the maintenance is, it’s on that switch that sends F trains to Bergen St instead of Hoyt-Schermerhorn. That would be a major problem except that G trains are already at Hoyt-Schemerhorn and use a different switch to get to Bergen St. So the MTA just sends the G all the way to Coney Island and sends the F train to Euclid Ave to replace the C. And speaking of the C….

What the Hell happened to the C train? Does it exist on weekends anymore?

Good question, I honestly don’t know what is happening to the C train. I don’t know what kind of maintenance could take up that express track every other weekend for 6 months. If any train in the system needs to run express it is the A train that covers almost 33 miles between Far Rockaway and Inwood. Hopefully, it is not being phased out like the weekend G train service along Queens Blvd seems to have been.

Hope all this helps clear things up!

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There’s a lot to discuss with this weekend’s reroutes and weirdness. And, as usual, there are big winners and big losers. But since it’s such a nice week, let’s do the good news first.

WINNERS:

1. The Bronx - That’s right, the whole freakin’ borough wins this week! There is one small (daylight only) express run on the 6 between Hunt’s Point and Parkchester, but other than that the whole borough is clear. No changes in the Bronx for the 1, 2, 4, 5, or D. But remember 2/5 riders. If you’re going to Manhattan it’s normal, but coming from Manhattan the 5 will make 2 stops till Grand Concourse and Vice Versa. Not too big a deal but if you’re going all the way to Wakefield or Eastchester, I guess you’ll have to switch.

2. Broadway Train riders - It’s been quite a clean stretch recently for N, Q, and R riders. There have been very few changes made in 2008 to those trains and this weekend it continues with no changes whatsoever on the N, Q, or R. Though I must admit I noticed a poor communication from the MTA about the Astoria line change last weekend. There were no signs at Queensboro Plaza at all! Oh well. Check out Subwayweekender.com next time instead Astoria residents.

3. Canarsie and New Lots (plus the rest of the L train) - After what must have been an incredibly frustrating weekend last weekend, regular L train service has been restored for the whole line. It’s a straight shot from Canarsie to 8 Ave.

LOSERS:

1. The Ends of the A (Washington Heights, Inwood, Far Rockaway) - These neighborhoods have not gotten a lot of attention recently because of the massive changes elsewhere, but they have been quietly suffering with no A train service at all for about a month now. For the fourth straight weekend, A trains run to Rockaway Park instead of Far Rockaway. Far Rockaway riders have to take a bus to what would normally be the Shuttle train station at Beach 90 St. The ridership in the Rockaways is so low that these changes don’t get much attention, but for the few straphangers on Rockaway Peninsula, this is no doubt getting old. The reason for the lack of attention paid to Upper Manhattan is not low ridership, but the proximity of the 1 train. Most of the A train stops north of 168 St are four or five blocks from a 1 train station. The stop that is probably the biggest hassle is those who live on the bluff by the 190 St A train station. There’s no direct way to walk down the hill to the 190 St 1 train station. While Upper Manhattan residents may have easy access to a secondary train, the 1 runs local and the A is making local stops, so it is a much longer ride. Get ready for at least two more weekends of this variety of change.

2. Brooklyn 2 train riders - While this change is not as bad as the past three weekends, it is still mightily confusing. There are essentially two changes to keep track of here. First, Manhattan-bound trains run express from Franklin to Atlantic Aves. Then the Manhattan-bound 2 stays on the 4 track all the way to the Bronx. Unlike previous weekends, there IS Flatbush-bound 2 service for the Financial District and Brooklyn Heights. Think of it this way 2 train riders. Coming from Times Square, 2 service is completely and totally normal. However, coming from Brooklyn College, the train runs on the 4/5 starting at Franklin Ave and to get to Times Square instead of Grand Central, you need to make that change at the Bowling Green for an uptown 5 train (stopping on the 7 Ave line) which you should have plenty of practice at by now.

3. Brooklyn F train rides - Don’t worry guys, this one isn’t that bad. Actually, this is a pretty minor inconvenience but there’s just no other major inconveniences this weekend. G trains are making all F train stops from Bergen St to Coney Island. This simply means that coming from Brooklyn, you take the G to Hoyt-Schemerhorn where you can tranfer to the F. Given the massive headache with some of the recent changes, this is nothing. But you do lose that one-stop train into Manhattan.

Have a great weekend everybody!

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Lots of small part-time repairs to be made this weekend along Grand Concourse, the Astoria Line, and the Pelham Line. But, there are a few major changes to report, including the continuation of last week’s 2/5 train reroutings. So let’s get to the winners and losers!

WINNERS: 

1. 7 Train Riders and Mets fans - Not only are there no service changes this weekend for the first time in three weeks, but it’s the start of the Mets’ season!  Now this may not seem like such a great thing because Mets fans crowd the trains, but when the Mets have a weekend home-stand, the MTA can’t do major repairs because of the sheer volume of people trying to get on the 7 to Shea. So until October (hopefully Mets fans) expect much fewer repairs on the 7 line. And as an added bonus, the MTA has come up with the most wicked express train in history for after the games. The new “Mets Express” leaves Shea Stadium and makes only 5 stops. 61st St-Woodside, Queensboro Plaza, Grand Central, 42 St-5 Ave, and Times Square. Now that’s an express! Although I have a hunch that you might get stuck behind a few locals between Queensboro and Grand Central that will slow the train to a local pace anyways. Enjoy Mets fans!

2. West Brooklyn and Roosevelt Island F Train riders - You get your F trains back everybody. That major change in Brooklyn is shelved this weekend, and for the first time in a month or more, there is full service to Roosevelt Island. Roosevelt Island gets hit harder than others when there are changes because of the lack of other options, but all is normal now. Happy days are here again.

3. R Train riders - There are no service changes anywhere on the R this weekend, and while I know most people in Brooklyn and Queens just use the R to get to an express train, all those express trains are running normal too. In Queens, E and F trains run normal, and in Brooklyn, N and D trains run normal. Enjoy that ride R train riders.

LOSERS:

1. Canarsie and New Lots - A big change to the L train which is running every 25 MINUTES between Canarsie and Broadway Jct. That means that folks in Canarsie and New Lots will have to be vigilant in checking the MTA’s schedule for L train service. For those that live in Brownsville or East New York, I would head to Livonia Ave and take the 4 train (which is replacing the 3)  for better service to Manhattan. Or just go straight to Broadway Junction. Leave extra time L train riders.

2. J Train riders - Yea, you can get to Manhattan, but just barely. Service is only to Essex St so if you plan on changing to the 4, 5, 6, N, Q, or R you are out of luck. Those coming from Jamaica, Woodhaven, and Cypress Hills can change at Broadway Junction to the L or A (no C). But otherwise, you’re stuck with the shuttle bus. Good luck.

3. Brooklyn 2 Train riders - It’s that same service change again. Riders beyond Atlantic Ave have a long strange trip up the westside of Manhattan that involves changing to the 4 and then changing to the 5 at Bowling Green which is making 2 stop uptown along 7 Ave. Brooklyn Heights riders again have no service at all and should walk to nearby R or A Train stations.

Good Luck Everybody!

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I was reading some of the comments that had been posted on places like the Gothamist and there were a fair number of people clamoring for information about not just the what but the WHY of weekend changes. While I often don’t know what specific kind of track work is being performed (though if anyone else knows they can contact me) but I can usually figure out where work is being done and why trains are rerouted accordingly. The amazing thing is that sometimes a very small change stretch of maintenance can bring about big changes. I will assume that most people can figure out what it means if an uptown 7 is running express but the downtown is running local (hint: it means there’s track work on the uptown local track) but some are a little more puzzling.

Why are the 2 and the 5 making a big loop around Manhattan?

This is all related to the fact that there is no 2 train service between Manhattan and Brooklyn. There is some kind of track work going on under the East River somewhere. Now, in reality, the MTA could run their system without looping the trains like this. 5 trains could make their normal run, and 2 trains could switch to the local track at Chambers and make all local stops to South Ferry. This would be much less confusing. However, the MTA is trying, in a roundabout way, to help out the residents of Flatbush and others in central Brooklyn. The assumption is that many people who live along the 2 train also work along the 2 train in Manhattan. But if you are coming from Brooklyn College this weekend you have to transfer at Atlantic to the 4 train. While the 4 train will get you Manhattan, ti won’t get you to the West side. To get to West side 2 stops, you would have to exit the system at the Bowling Green and walk to South Ferry which the MTA can’t force people to do. Those without unlimited metrocards would not be happy. So to give Brooklyn riders a chance to reach as many of their normal stations with as few transfers as possible, they have sent the 5 trains up 7th Ave. That way Brooklynites can transfer at Bowling Green. And to make up for the loss of an uptown 5 train, the 2 is sent up Lexington/Park Ave. And if you’re wondering how the 5 gets on the 2 track and vice versa, it’s all made possible the handy South Ferry loop, a map of which exists here at nycsubway.org. Hope that helps!

Why are F trains coming FROM Coney Island traveling to 4 Ave-9 St, but you have to go to 7 Ave to get an F train TO Coney Island?

This one is kinda tricky. It has to do with where switches are located and where the trains turn around. F trains can’t go between 4 Ave-9 St and Hoyt-Schemerhorn. But, after the F train terminates at 4 Ave-9 St, it pulls out and goes toward Manhattan so that it can turn around. It switches onto the express track, turns around, switches onto the Coney Island bound express track, but lo and behold, there is no final switch to get to the local track. And as F train riders know, the only platforms at 4 Ave-9 St are on the local track, so a train on the express track can’t stop. Hence, F train riders can’t pick up the F until 7 Ave. In fact, the F has to stay on the local track until Church Ave, which brings us to………….

Why is there an shuttle train for three stops instead of F train service?

This is because the Coney Island bound F train is on the express track (see above) and there is no switch between the local and express tracks so the Coney Island bound trains are running express to Church Ave whether they like it or not. The MTA apparently has decided to have a small shuttle train that stops at 7 Ave, 15th St-Prospect Park, Ft. Hamilton Pkwy, and Church Ave (but only in the Coney Island direction). My guess is that when the train reaches Church Ave, it simply turns around and hurries back to 7 Ave on the same track without picking up passengers because, well, who would be waiting on the Coney Island bound platform to get uptown? I question whether the shuttle train is really necessary however, given the fact that the MTA forces plenty of other trains to skip stops in one direction, like the F train between Queens and Manhattan. Why a shuttle train is necessary here I don’t know. It may be a luxury afforded by a 4-track section, unlike the 63rd St. tunnel which is only 2 tracks.

Why are F trains running to Euclid Ave instead of the C?

This is all part of the same service change thats is taking place between Bergen St and 4 Ave-9 St. Because the G train’s normal terminus at Smith-9 St is closed, it has to terminate at Hoyt-Schemerhorn. With the middle tracks at Hoyt-Schemerhorn taken up by idling G trains, F trains must stay on the A/C track. And because the A train is on the express track, there’s no place for the F to turn around until Euclid Ave. So, the MTA decided that instead of having to local trains on Fulton St, they would just replace the C with the F that has to be there anyways.

Why are D trains running local on 4 Ave?

So that poor F train riders can transfer to a D train at 4 Ave-9 St and then back onto an F train as soon as possible at Broadway-Lafayette.

Why are G trains running to 71 Ave?

Charity?

Well I hope that clears something up. Leave some comments and let me know if it helps.

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There’s been a whole mess of media coverage related to this weekend’s MTA service changes. See what happens when you mess with Park Slope MTA! At any rate here’s the link to the New York Times columnist Clyde Haberman’s article. And here is the link for the coverage on our friend the Gothamist.

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You may have already heard, but folks are filming a big remake of the 70s transit classic The Taking of Pelham 123 in the city right now. The remake will star Denzel Washington in the Walter Matthau transit cop role, John Travolta in the Robert Shaw bad guy role, and James Gandolfini will be playing the Mayor. There was a massive shoot outside the Woodside 7 train station earlier in the week. I spotted a few cameras mounted above the roadway, and a motorcycle with a camera mount on the front. Wait a minute, I thought this was Taking of Pelham 123 not French Connection. It seems the producers have decided that a brilliantly paced and brilliantly restrained thriller should be replaced with something with a little more modern sensibility (i.e. a chase scene).

The other unfortunate thing is that transit junkies love the original film because it is completely geographically accurate. When the train stops between the now defunct 18th St station and the Union Square station, the proper Union Square emergency exit is shown. They even use the correct side of the park for the IRT. The actual stations and roads are used and filmed correctly. There is even a great plot device using the South Ferry loop. Now we already know the new movie won’t follow such a strict diet of realism because the movie isn’t called the Taking of Flushing 123. Filming on the Flushing line means we will have to suspend our disbelief a little more than in the original.

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Well we have a busy weekend for the MTA maintenance crews this weekend. Lots of service changes and some major blackout areas with no service at all. And this week we have one big loser that hurts those who claim it’s only poorer areas that get shafted by the MTA. To the winners and losers!

WINNERS:

1. Broadway Line Riders - There are no service changes at all to the N, Q, or R trains. The service may be infrequent, but at least you know where the trains are going this weekend.

2. Queens Boulevard Riders - Don’t get used to it Queens, but for one weekend G train service is restored on Queens Boulevard. Now that R train won’t be your only bet to travel around Queens.

3. L Train Riders - It’s a clear shot this weekend from Canarsie all the way to 8th Ave. Live it up!

LOSERS:

1. Expensive Brooklyn Neighborhoods (B. Heights, Park Slope, Carrol Gardens, Cobble Hill, Boreum Hill) - With F and G trains suspended from Hoyt-Schemerhorn and 2 trains suspended after Atlantic Ave, getting anywhere is going to be a challenge in Brooklyn’s most expensive neghborhoods. There is no Clark St. service so Brooklyn Heights residents will have to hoof it to High St for the A or to Borough Hall for the R train. Gowanus and Red Hook join Boreum Hill, Cobble Hill, and Carrol Gardens in enjoying no service along the F and G lines. There is bus service either to Hoyt-Schemerhorn for A, F, and G service (G train to Forest Hills this weekend) or the other way to Smith-9 St. Park Slope has a confusing time more than anything. F trains run from Coney Island to the transfer at Smith-9 St, but if you are getting off the D or R at Smith-9 St, you have to catch a bus to 7 Ave. From there it’s a special shuttle train to reach 15 St or Ft Hamilton Pkwy, or the regular F for all points Church Ave and beyond. Confused yet? I hope the map helps.

2. Flatbush, East Flatbush, Lefferts Gardens, and Brooklyn College Students - You have a rather circuitous route to Manhattan this weekend. The 2 terminates at Atlantic, but you can catch the 4 to Bowling Green, from where you can catch the 5 train which is traveling up the express track on 7th Ave along the normal 2 line. The Bowling Green transfer is tricky; to get an uptown 5 stopping at 2 train stations you need to be on the Brooklyn-bound platform. The 5 trains then loop around South Ferry station and the next stop is Rector St. Those of you who are making this transfer shoot me an email because I would like to know whether 5 trains are stopping at South Ferry or just running through the station.

3 . Pelham Bay and Westchester Square - Tough weekend to live in the far East Bronx. After riding the 6 for 20 stops or so, the Pelham bound trains skip all stops between Parkchester and Pelham Bay Park. After all that riding you get the privilege of waiting at the last stop for a Manhattan-bound train home. Get home soon Pelham Bay.

Have a great weekend everybody!

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