It has been seven months since a drowsy engineer drove a speeding Metro-North train off the tracks at Spuyten Duyvil, killing four and injuring 59. Months earlier a derailment and collision near Bridgeport sent 70 to the hospital. Ever since, the railroad has promised that improving safety is its top priority. So does that mean the railroad is now “safe”? Aside from … [Read more...] about “Talking Transportation: Is It Safe To Ride Metro-North?
Talking Transportation: “Traffic Calming”
You’ve seen the bumper stickers: “Slow down in town”. They’re an often futile attempt to encourage speeding motorists to be more respectful of the neighborhoods they are zooming through, especially of the pedestrians. I wouldn’t exactly call it road rage, but why is it that when we’re behind the wheel, our goal is to get on down the road as fast as traffic will allow, the … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: “Traffic Calming”
Talking Transportation: Things Are Getting Better on Metro-North
I know it may be hard to believe, but I think things are getting better on Metro-North. Last week I finally met Joseph Giulietti, the new President of Metro-North. I found him to be very smart, quite candid and equipped with a reasonable plan to bring this railroad back to its once-deserved world-class status. On May 11th a new timetable will become effective, aimed at … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Things Are Getting Better on Metro-North
Eight Little Known Facts About Flying
We may never know what happened to that Malaysia Airlines 777, but there’s plenty more we should know about flying, even domestically. Here are some little-known truths of aviation as shared by pilots and flight attendants: Lavatory Doors Don’t Really Lock: They can be opened from the outside by just sliding the “occupied” sign to one side. This isn’t so attendants can … [Read more...] about Eight Little Known Facts About Flying
Talking Transportation: The Commuter Manifesto
“Quit your moaning!” “You’re not a railroad person, what do you know?” “You don’t like the train, try driving.” These are the reactions I get, especially from railroad employees, when I have been critical of Metro-North in the last few calamitous months. They think I’m a “moaner”, though I try just as hard to be positive about the railroad as to criticize its … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: The Commuter Manifesto
Talking Transportation: The George Washington Bridge
We’ve read a lot about the George Washington Bridge (GWB) in recent weeks. And the scandal over who ordered closure of approach lanes from Fort Lee, N.J., only underscores how crucial this bridge is to the entire region. All of which got me thinking about the GWB and its history. Surprisingly, the GWB was not the first bridge design to cross the Hudson River. As early as … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: The George Washington Bridge
Talking Transportation: Top Ten Things I Like About Metro-North
Despite what you may think, I don’t hate Metro-North. Sure, I am outspoken about its many failings, but always with a goal of making it better. So, to prove I’m really a fan of the railroad, I’m kicking off the year with my “Top Ten Things I like about Metro-North”: 10) New Stations: Reflecting expanded demand for rail commutation, CDOT added new stations (and parking) … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Top Ten Things I Like About Metro-North
Talking Transportation: Progress is Painful
I am nothing if not an optimist. After toiling as a rail advocate for almost two decades, nothing surprises me or dissuades me. A few examples… This week Metro-North announced a new timetable, one so hastily launched that they won’t even have paper copies available ‘til after Labor Day. Why the hurry? Because this summer has been horrendous for on-time service … but with … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Progress is Painful
Talking Transportation: TSA – The Toughest Job in Transportation
Who do you think has the toughest job in transportation? Airline pilots? Long-haul truck drivers? Metro-North conductors? To my thinking, the toughest job is being an airport TSA agent. Forget the recent furor over revised Transportation Security Administration rules soon to allow small knives in carry-on luggage. The plastic knives the flight attendants distribute in … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: TSA – The Toughest Job in Transportation
Talking Transportation: Malloy Seeks To Kill the Commuter Council
Shortly after he came to office, I wrote something critical of newly elected Governor Malloy. Nothing new there. I’d certainly questioned Republican governors in years past, usually to little response. But this time the reaction was different. A Malloy confidante, a senior State Senator from Fairfield County, took me aside and threatened me. Not physically, but … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Malloy Seeks To Kill the Commuter Council
Talking Transportation: The Great Train (Ticket) Robbery
If you had a contract with someone and paid them in advance to do a job, only to find they never provided that service, you should get your money back, right? Otherwise, by keeping the money and not delivering on the bargain, that person would be committing fraud. Well, that’s exactly what Metro-North does to weekly and monthly ticket holders when it sells those tickets, … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: The Great Train (Ticket) Robbery
Talking Transportation: Flight Attendants
Any regular reader of this column knows that I hate to fly. I’ll enjoy an overnight Amtrak sleeper ride to Chicago over a 3-hour flight, anyday (or night). But when I do have to fly, I really like seeing grey hair in the cockpit. The older and more experienced the pilots, the better (despite this crazy FAA rule that pilots must retire at age 65, regardless of their … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: Flight Attendants
Talking Transportation: The Five Biggest Lies About Highway Tolls
Like it or not, get ready to pay tolls on our Interstates and Parkways. Transportation officials in Hartford say there’s just no other way to raise badly needed money for over-due infrastructure repairs. Tolls may not be popular, but neither are collapsing bridges. In the last decade’s debate on highway tolling, here are the five biggest lies that opponents have used to … [Read more...] about Talking Transportation: The Five Biggest Lies About Highway Tolls
Metro North’s Huge Price Increase Stems from Malloy
The Malloy ‘Tax’ On Commuters If a mugger came up to you on the street and said “I’m going to poke your eyes out!”, but then he only kicked you in the groin, would you think better of him? That’s what Metro-North commuters are asking themselves now that CDOT has decided on 15.25% fare hike spread over the next three years instead of the 16.4% hike first proposed. Are we … [Read more...] about Metro North’s Huge Price Increase Stems from Malloy
Saving Money Going to NYC
Whether you’re a daily commuter, an occasional day-tripper or have friends visiting this summer, everyone can save money when you go into NYC by following this time-tested advice: TRANSITCHEK: For commuters, see if your employer subscribes to this fabulous service, which allows workers to buy up to $230 per month in mass transit using pre-tax dollars. If you’re in the … [Read more...] about Saving Money Going to NYC