Dear Transit Sam,
As a follow up to my letter from a few weeks ago, the X10 used to stop at West Street and Murray Street prior to the summer of 2008. Then several months ago, the stop was restored for the X7 and X9, but not the X10.
I know NYC Transit says the X10 never stopped there, but I wish I had taken a picture at the time (back in 2008). Nevertheless, I’d again like to request it as an official stop for the X10. More people get off at that stop now that the Goldman Sachs building is fully occupied. Do you have an update? X10 operators are still stopping at that location from time-to-time.
Rosemarie, World Financial Center
Dear Rosemarie,
NYC Transit is still studying your idea, so it’s not a flat out “no” just yet. They need more time. I can tell you that after double-checking their records, NYC Transit still stands by their original answer — that the X10 never serviced that location. A spokeswoman did tell me that “as a courtesy to customers, some express bus operators may make a “drop-off only” stop along the route at a bus stop which may not be officially assigned to that route.” So, it’s a hit-or-miss on drop-offs at that location with pick-ups for the X10 nearest to West and Murray, being on Warren Street between West and Greenwich Streets. I’ll keep you posted as soon as I hear more.
Transit Sam
Dear Transit Sam,
Having the B train run local in Brooklyn has doubled the number of subways taking Brooklyn-ites into Downtown Manhattan (and vice versa) and beyond at no extra cost. Let’s encourage the MTA and NYC Transit to leave the B train as a local between Prospect Park and Brighton Beach Avenue once construction is finished.
Auxil, Lower Manhattan to Brooklyn straphanger
Dear Auxil,
While running B and Q trains as local trains might be favored by those at local-only stations, not all Brooklyn-ites South of Prospect Park would feel the same way. Running the B as a local adds about 12 minutes to the commute from Brighton Beach to Prospect Park and according to NYC Transit, it would also cost more to operate. For now, it’s a necessary expense given the ongoing rehabilitation of the Brighton Line.
When the B was express, the average wait time for a local Q was three minutes; now with two trains running local, it’s about two minutes. The extra minute you would normally wait allowed those coming from Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay, Kings Highway and so forth to save up to 24 minutes round-trip each day. The Brighton Line is more attractive to customers because it has four tracks and enough riders to fill express trains — a combination enjoyed nowhere else in the country.
Transit Sam
Have a question about a parking ticket, traffic rules, public transportation, ASP or more? Want to know how to get a copy of my 2011 Parking Calendar? If so, send me an e-mail at TransitSam@downtownexpress.com or write to Transit Sam, 611 Broadway, Suite 415, New York, NY 10012.
