Gotham Gazette
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Transportation Newsletter
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The Topic
Transportation: All the ways that you can get around -- auto, subway, bus, taxi, airplane, train, car service, limousine, walking and biking.
The Context
With 18.9 million residents in the metropolitan area, NYC has particularly high demands on its public transportation system and its roads.

Researching ...

Subway Car Cleanliness
The tenth annual "Subway Schmutz" survey by the Straphangers Campaign shows that subway cars are cleaner than they were in 2007. According to the survey the cleanest line is the 7. The R line has the dirtiest cars. The report recommends that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority make public its internal surveys about cleanliness as well as other measures. (June 28, 2009)

One in Four Payphones in Subway Stations Does Not Work
A new survey from the Straphangers Campaign shows that one out of four payphones in New York's subway stations does not fully function. The report states that Verizon's current contract with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority "does not require any minimum number of payphones be kept in working order." (June 17, 2009)

Problems at the Platform Edge
A report by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority inspector general charges that New York City Transit does not adequately inspect and repair the rubbing boards designed to close the gap between subway station platforms and trains. The report found that inspectors at 16 out of 23 subway stations surveyed failed to correctly identify and report platform-edge defects. It also concluded the agency was slow to correct problems it did identify. According to the report, New York City Transit has said it will take steps to remedy the situation. (May 27, 2009)

Improving Bus Travel Across the Hudson
A report by the Tri State Transportation Campaign puts forward a number of recommendations to improve bus travel across the Hudson River. The recommendations include completing high occupancy toll lanes in the Lincoln Tunnel, creating a website to provide bus passengers with better information and having New York City formalize bus loading and unloading zones across the city. (May 18, 2009)

Commuter Cycling Indicator
In honor of Bike to Work Day, data released by the Department of Transportation indicates that many more New Yorkers are commuting by bicycle. The department estimates that bicycle commute trips have increased more than 100% in the last decade, and more than six-fold since the 80s when counting began. (May 15, 2009)

New York Transit Museum
Housed in a decommissioned 1936 subway station, the New York Transit Museum offers a complete and interactive history of inter-city travel that includes several antique trolleys, subway cars, and turnstiles.
Transportation Alternatives
A heavenly site for bicyclists and pedestrians and one of the strongest of advocacy group web offerings.

Package holidays to Taba Heights Egypt by Peltours. Holidays to Luxor, Nuweiba and Romania also available.
Straphangers Campaign
This revamped and expanded site offers a ton of information on subway ratings by line and other reports, upcoming service diversions and ways to take action to improve transit service. My favorite: "riders diaries"--often fascinating and even useful exchanges between riders using the same lines you take!
Bridge Tolls Now
Timely primer on a topic that will gain increasing attention as the mayor pursues new money-raising methods.
New York City Department of Transportation
Useful information although not always easy to find. Keep up with current ferry services and alternative side parking calendar.
Auto-Free New York
Auto-Free New York is an organization favoring alternatives to the automobile. Its website offers information and opinions about achieving the "devehicularization" of New York, intended to arm the anti-car activist with ammunition.
Transit Center
How to participate and save using the Transit Check program. Also a good directory of transit providers in the region.
New York City Taxicabs!
Probably more than you'll ever want to know about the yellow cab and livery industries. A site by Gotham Gazette transportation topic contributor Bruce Schaller.
Subway Web News
Scroll down on this site for a regularly updated list of links to news stories about the city's transit system. Also included are photos and information about different subway projects, subway books and movies, and a long list of links.

Sites of Interest from Collegester:
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