Planning Ahead:Planning Ahead:The Next The Next 4040 Years Years

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“At last the residents of New York City and the thousands who commute here daily can have faster, more conveniently priced, integrated service”

– Mayor John Lindsay (1967)

1968: MTA is created

• Central focus for policy and planning

• Responsible for all transit services throughout the New YorkMetropolitan area.

• New state funding for transit

• New cross-subsidy -- highway to transit -- through TBTA

The First 40 Years

NY Times (3/9/67)

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1968: “A Program for Action”

• First attempt at a systems-approach to transit

• New subway lines and cars

• Enhancements to existing raillines and rolling stock

• New buses

• Station improvements

The First 40 Years

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1970’s - Early 1980’s

• Bad times interrupted great plans

• Poor financial practices resulted in deferred maintenance and insufficient reinvestment

Reallocation of capital maintenance funds to cover operating expenses

• Expansion programs trimmed to only 63rd St tunnel and Archer Ave extension

The First 40 Years

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1982 – Present: Core system improvements anchor new initiatives

• Success with State of Good Repair effortsNYCT Gained control of system quality of life Fleet completely modernized

- 6,400+ new/rebuilt subway cars- 5,000+ new buses

700 miles of subway track replaced (300+ on railroads) 200 stations reconstructed New signals, pumps, fans, etc. 1,200+ new rail cars and coaches, entire fleet air conditionedRailroads Penn Station, Grand Central Station rehabilitated Fleet replaced Extensive modernization of track, signals, shops

• Allowed integration of information and fares between MTA systems

• Allowed “re-start” of capacity expansion and new routes projects

The First 40 Years

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The First 40 Years

MTA Today

• NYC Population: 8.2 Million…an historicrebound in growth

• MTA ridership reaches 1950’s levels

• Travel patterns more complex Hub bound Reverse commuting Intra-regional Variable work hours

• Widely-recognized linkage betweenMTA investment, system ridership and economic prosperity

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The Next 40 Years

New challenges emerge from today’s trends

• A region-wide consensus for growth NYC population will grow to over 9 million Population will continue to grow in the outer reaches of the MTA service

area, driven by the search for affordable housing and the rise of non-NYC CBD’s (White Plains, Stamford)

• The economy will demand more flexible transit service Non-traditional travel patterns will continue and intensify

Travel to non-Manhattan CBD destinations will grow, including reverse peak travel from NYC to suburbs

Intra-suburban travel will grow More non-peak trips Less Monday to Friday travel – 24 hour economy

• A “Glimpse of Greatness”

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The Next 40 Years

We must finish what we have started and lay the groundwork to accommodate future needs

• Secure State of Good Repair and replacement resources An “enduring discipline” is essential

• Complete the current expansion projects LIRR East Side Access LIRR Main Line Third track Full-length Second Avenue Subway 7 Line West Side Expansion

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To achieve this vision, MTA must

• Invest based on meeting specific needs

• Use the existing system as much as practicable

• Eliminate overcrowding and long travel times

• Eliminate barriers to access to the regional transit network

• Exercise planning and investment discipline that transcends administrations and economic cycles

The Next 40 Years

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Conceptual Examples ofPotential Strategies

The Next 40 Years

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Eliminate Overcrowding and Long Travel Times

Potential Strategy: Relieve Queens Blvd Corridor / Expand service to outer Queens

Examples• Short Term: Implementation of CBTC to increase throughput

• Long Term: Address capacity constraints and subway access limitations using potential “reliever routes” via LIRR ROW’s

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Eliminate Overcrowding and Long Travel Times

Potential Strategy: Relieve 7th Ave-Broadway line on Upper West Side

Examples• Restructure service to maximize throughput (e.g. send all 7th Ave trains to

Flatbush and all Lexington Avenue trains to Utica/New Lots)

• Rebuild Nostrand Junction and Flatbush Terminal to eliminate flat junction switching

• Accelerate implementation of CBTC to provide capacity for more service

R142 car - CBTC control screen

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Potential Strategy: Maximize use of commuter rail capacity within NYC

Examples• Maximize service at commuter rail stations in The Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn

where capacity exists

• Introduce additional stations on rail lines through under-served markets Co-op City / Parkchester / Hunts Point on Hell Gate Line (Penn Access)

• Implement Park+Ride services from stations near city line, such as Belmont Racetrack

Eliminate Overcrowding and Long Travel Times

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Potential Strategy: Create a region-wide “information web” to obtain service information about any mode, any time, anywhere

Examples• Provide real time rail/bus/subway information and status to user cell phones,

PDA’s, etc. “Instant Messaging” delivery of track/train info at commuter rail terminals

• Expand real-time transit information in stations and bus stops

Eliminate Barriers to Access to the Regional Transit Network

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Potential Strategy: Introduce options to enable customers to obtain fare media anywhere, anytime for any transit mode

Examples• Implement a regional smart card

• Expand fare payment methods: fare cards, cell phones, keychain tags

• “Pre-paid” fare collection on BRT routes to maximize boarding flow of customers (allows use of all doors)

• Expand ways to purchase fares: joint placement of credit card TVM’s in supermarkets, drug stores, etc.

Eliminate Barriers to Access to the Regional Transit Network

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Potential Strategy: Implement Long Island regional transit improvements to better match service with demand

Examples• Substitute short consist/high frequency “scoot” DMU train services in branches

and east-end corridors Oyster Bay Branch (Mineola-Oyster Bay) Montauk Branch (Speonk-Montauk) Ronkonkoma Branch (Riverhead-Greenport)

• Extend electrified zone into eastern Suffolk County Ronkonkoma Branch to Riverhead Montauk Branch to Speonk

Eliminate Barriers to Access to the Regional Transit Network

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Potential Strategy: Implement Mid-Hudson regional transit improvements

Example• New “TZB Corridor” branch to Hudson Line

• Link from Port Jervis Line to Stewart Airport

Eliminate Barriers to Access to the Regional Transit Network

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Strategy: Advance Regional Rail Connectivity

Example• Build regional rail network based upon early Meadowlands pilot

• Complete MNR rail links to Penn Station

Eliminate Barriers to Access to the Regional Transit Network

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• Initiatives have worked Core system renewal has progressed MetroCard benefits now abound Customer focus

but…

• Greater demand in sight

• Core systems upgrades unfinished

• Pressure for network expansion

• Tapped-out revenue sources

MTA at a Crossroads

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The Region that Rail Built

Rail lines heavily influenced the New York metropolitan area’s development patterns.

In the coming 40 years, rail could again have such an impact as historically high energy costs and a focus on environmental sustainability become the major formulative forces in the NY region.