A new $450 million AirTrain to LaGuardia Airport from the Mets-Willets Point stop on the jam-packed No. 7 line wouldn't be worth the trip, transit advocates warned Wednesday.
"To put a new group of airport-bound travelers and their luggage on the already-overcrowded 7 line for 20 stops would be a disaster," said Andrew Albert, chairman of the Transit Riders Council and MTA board member. "You think the 7 is crowded now? Just wait."
The Mets-Willets Point stop would be the 20 station on the line if a rider boards at the new extension on 34th Street and 11th Avenue.
The MTA is modernizing the No. 7 train's signal system to run more trains in booming Queens, but the line is at 100% capacity during rush-hour.
12 comments:
The MTA union needs to send Mr Alert a few bone brakeing thugs to see the errors in his thinking.
I always thought they should do it at Jackson Heights /74th, plus you have more subway lines.
The only thing that will ever make sense is a one-seat ride from LaGuardia and JFK to Manhattan.
If you are spending this much money, and won't be spending on LGA again until 2100, you need a one-seat ride from LGA to midtown, or don't bother.
The JFK air-train is regarded by travelers as a sorry excuse for city to airport transport compared to other cities. However, with an LIRR connection, at least there are frequent trains to Penn Station that can get there in 20-25 mins.
On the 7 local, on a good day, starting at Willets, in 20 mins. you are at Rawson or Queensboro and have 15 more minutes to Times Square.
It's the same reason why tourists don't use the LIRR to connect to the JFK train. There's no aisle room and no place to store your luggage!
Anon No. 1:
Mr. Albert is more in danger of not being reappointed by the Governor for opposing his AirTrain plans than for advocating a better rail line plan for the airport, which would be staffed by union members.
they could pony an air train on top of the elevated 7 line if they could get it out of manhattan..having to take any crowded subway to the airport when you have luggage is a bad tourist experience...
The one seat ride to Manhattan would be the ferry, not mentioned here.
Not dinging crapper - just observing the media here - within minutes of Cuomo's presser, transit advocates were blasting the air train idea AGAIN. It seems a lot of media outlets didn't pick up the story for a week.
Some people have been counter arguging that once the 7 line has CBTC (better signals), they can run more trains. But any gains in capacity with CBTC are going to be quickly overwhelmed by the ever increasing ridership from overdevelopment.
Driving isn't even an option for many of these commuters. I've heard parking in jackson heights can take over 2 hours to find a spot, or you leave it at a hydrant and eat the ticket so you can sleep...
Too many people here......
What dim light bulb dreamed up that idea?
The #7 is already packed full with a third of China!
People are forgetting the Shea Stadium stop is 12 minutes from ether Penn Station or Long island on the Port Washington LIRR line (AKA Christian Express).
An air-tram would be great !! Cabs cost over $50 to get to LGA from Great Neck
Post a Comment