Welcome back New York. well doomsday is (basically) here. While, it is true that Albany could step in to save the MTA from having to make these drastic cuts, confidence is not high that they will do so. It is infuriating to me to listen to legislators talking about the lack of clarity about MTA budgets and the like when the MTA has been exceedingly clear that this was coming for a year now. My favorite bit of government hypocrisy in this affair is that the main objection for funding the MTA fully was the fact that it would tax the traffic on the Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queensboro, and other bridges. Yet guess who controls other bridges in NYC. That’s right the MTA. So the toll on the Triborough Bridge is now $6.50 instead of $5. Well done stonewalling anti-toll state senators. You’ve effectively kept the toll the same on some bridges while raising it on even more. It’s a sad day for New York in my book because without affordable subway and bus service. This city can’t exist. Here is this week’s map. The major changes are the same as last weekend. Happy Tracks New York.

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SATURDAY UPDATE: I added some late night changes that I missed on the 2 and N lines. Other than that, all is well.

Welcome back straphangers. Well, it is upon us. Time is running out for a bailout plan of the MTA. While politicians in Albany dither about, the threat of a $103 MetroCard seems suddenly very real. There is no way I could hope to go over all the nuances of so I cordially direct you all to Second Avenue Sagas where Ben Kabak has been doing a damn fine job of journalism keeping up with the day-to-day shifts in position of all the major parties involved. Like Ben, I think it unpardonable to not rescue a government agency that serves as the circulatory system of New York. More than 50% of NYC residents do not own cars and more than 75% of Manhattan residents do not. It is this creaky, old, smelly, wonderful system of trains offered at a discount rate that provides the savings on transportation costs that people need to pay the rents of their overpriced apartments. Without this affordable system, New York could not exist and it is playing with fire to underfund it in such an egregious manner. It is especially disconcerting that 6 state senators from Queens, Brooklyn, and The Bronx are standing in the way by objecting to a $2.00 toll. Residents of these districts go to Manhattan via the MTA primarily, not their own cars yet their representatives don’t seem to understand that. Let us hope a deadline deal can be cobbled together that provides some real help because New Yorkers need their subway! On to this weekend, it is very similar to last weekend with changes on the A, L, and 2, 3, 4 lines being most prevalent. Write to your representatives and Happy Tracks New York!

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Hey everyone. There’s a change to the format of the map this weekend. I am now trying to include the late night service changes on the map. This can’t be done to perfection obviously because there is different regular service late nights and it would be to confusing to include that on the map. So what I have done is endeavored to draw the changes whenever they won’t confuse people and otherwise, I will just put a little speech bubble thing. For instance, this week downtown A trains are running express between 125th and 59th late night. That’s easy to indicate with a dashed line. However the 4 train in running local between 42nd and Chambers late night. To draw that would involve changing map to make the 4 local and then adding an express line for regular daytime service. I don’t want to change the map’s daytime service to indicate a night time change. So in the case of the 4, there is a text alert pointing to the 4 track. Let me know if the late night advisories make sense on the map. Thanks in advance for the feedback. Happy Tracks New York!

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FRIDAY NIGHT UPDATE: R trains are extended to 179 St and run local in Queens. Just as a note, in the interest of easing confusion, there are no late night changes on this map. I am reconsidering this but for the moment, late night only changes are not drawn.

Hey everyone, sorry for the late posting this weekend. AM New York was right, there are a lot of changes these days! Brooklyn and the Bronx are particularly hard hit this weekend by changes to the A, L, D, Q, 2, and 4 train. The Bronx sees changes to the 2, 4, and D train. Manhattan is pretty quiet this weekend and Queens residents along the 7 train can rejoice with the end to the interminable 7 train change. Of course Queensboro Plaza has gone from the last stop for the 7 to the last stop for the N Queens isn’t great this weekend either. No matter what, make sure to check the map before you go anywhere. Happy Tracks New York!

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