By Sam Schwartz
Dear Transit Sam,
A few weeks ago, I boarded a 6 local train at Bleecker St. heading to City Hall. There was then a train announcement saying that my particular 6 train will run express to City Hall, skipping Spring and Canal Sts. The announcements then went on to say, “For local stops at Spring St. and Canal St., there is another 6 train right behind this one.” Why does N.Y.C. Transit skip those two stops and go straight to City Hall? The 6 train ran express passed these two stops on the local track.
Jack, Canal St.
Dear Jack,
The M.T.A. may skip stops if trains are running behind schedule. By skipping Spring and Canal Sts. (and before Bleecker St., they most likely skipped Astor Place), the train can arrive at its terminus (Brooklyn Bridge) a little sooner and then start its uptown run closer to schedule. Saving just two or three minutes by skipping these stops can avoid bigger delays that tend to mushroom if a train is just a couple of minutes behind schedule at the start of a run. The M.T.A. also tells me they sometimes do this because they need more uptown trains sooner because of an incident or unusual demand.
Transit Sam
Dear Transit Sam,
I was driving on West St. near the World Trade Center site and went to change lanes. After I signaled to move over, a limo sped up, and we brushed sides. It didn’t seem like a big deal. We pulled off on one of the side streets just past the site and saw minor damage to both cars. More importantly, nobody was injured. We then exchanged license, registration and insurance information. I then started to drive off when the limo driver said he was calling the police, and I had to wait around till they arrived. I drove off anyway, figuring we can each file accident reports later. Why tie up the police? Can I get into trouble for driving off?
Richard, Chambers St.
Dear Richard,
If former N.Y.P.D. Commissioner Howard Safir can drive off without stopping after backing into a screaming pregnant woman who had to be removed by ambulance, then I can’t imagine you getting into trouble for a minor fender bender and driving away after exchanging information. The New York State Vehicle and Traffic Laws require you to stop and exchange information with the involved driver, so you did great and followed proper protocol after the accident.
My sources in N.Y.P.D. and D.M.V. also tell me you have ten days after an accident (or in your case a minor fender bender) to file an accident report. Therefore, it wasn’t necessary for you or the limo driver to stick around, especially since no one was injured or killed. And since the damage appears to be under $1,001 based on what you tell me, an accident report doesn’t seem necessary. One is only required if the damage was more than $1,000.
Transit Sam
Dear Downtown Express Readers,
One year down and many more to go! Send me your comments, questions or concerns to TransitSam@downtownexpress.com. We’ll get to the bottom of all your Downtown transit related needs.
Transit Sam
Sam Schwartz, a former first deputy commissioner of city transportation, is president and C.E.O. of Sam Schwartz Engineering, a traffic engineering consulting firm to private and public entities including the Port Authority at the World Trade Center site.
