MTR 303, V-Train Plan Scrutinized

Issue 303

February 5, 2001

V-Train Plan Scrutinized

Last month, the MTA convened its hearing on the subway services changes it proposes now that the connector from the Queens Boulevard lines to the 63^rd Street tunnel is done.

Public criticism of the plan focused on the loss of F-train connection to the Lexington Avenue subway, the need for better express services in Queens and Brooklyn and planned elimination of most Queens G-train service.

Under the proposed service plan, the E and R trains will keep their routes. The F will run express in Queens and use the 63^rd Street tunnel to pass under the East River making its first Manhattan stop at Lexington and 63^rd Street. The G will run from Brooklyn and terminate at Court Square. The V-train will act as a Queens Boulevard local that will use the 53^rd Street tunnel to cross the East River.

For Queens commuters going to Manhattan, these changes may mean a choice between a longer or less crowded commute. More train lines will run to Manhattan under the plan - 4 instead of 3. However, since many passengers use the F to connect to the Lexington Avenue line, they will have to choose between a 12-minute savings on the super-packed E or a less crowded local ride on the V or R-trains. As a result, advocates including the Straphangers Campaign urge adding as much express service to both the E and F as possible and allowing MetroCard passengers to make the transfer for free between that stop and the 68^th Street and 59^th Street Lexington Ave. stations.

For the past month, visitors to www.straphangers.org were asked to vote on the question: "What do you like most about the subways?" In first place was 24-hour service. Fair fares made second and fourth places with compliments about the flat fare and free transfers to buses. Respondents seem to have a John Rocker-like attitude, however, when it comes to fellow straphangers. At the bottom of this list of the best attributes of the system were "the people."

Despite the presidential election crowding the field, Robbett, Rosenthal & Jennings have received a first place "Pollie" for the ad they created for the Straphangers Campaign and Regional Plan Association early in 2000. The awards are for political advertising in both issue and election campaigns. The award went to the poster depicting a jammed subway train, captioned: "With livestock it's called animal cruelty. With people it's called a morning commute." Readers may remember that the MTA tried to ban the ad, but was required by the courts to allow it (MTR #260).

Others criticized the plan for terminating the V-train at Houston and 2^nd Avenue. They want the service to continue to Brooklyn where it could run over the express tracks of the F-train - a service which has not been provided since 1987. The MTA claims that there are not enough train cars to provide such express Brooklyn service.

G-train riders will be getting the shortest end of the stick with curtailment of that service at Court Square, only two stops into Queens and short of the major transfer opportunities at Queens Plaza. Given the 30% increase in ridership on the G from 1996 to 2000, this seems like a step backwards. Several advocacy groups, including Regional Plan Association have requested that service continue to Forest Hills.

The MTA claims that it cannot have three lines running over either the express or local tracks because it will cause service gridlock. It will be providing free transfers between the Court Square/Ely Ave. and Courthouse Square stations - connecting the E and G to the 7 train for the first time.