The MTA needs to make many repairs on the L train.

[conuly]

(And all the other lines, but the L train is more urgent than most.)

A few years ago they floated that they had two options. They could close the L entirely, work non-stop for several months, and then be done... or they could close the L for late nights, and take forever, and by the way, service on the L at all times would be delayed until the work was completed.

Both plans were an inconvenience to anybody using the L, but one is a major inconvenience for a short time and the other is a slightly-less-major inconvenience for years and years.

There was no plan that would make everybody happy, but I strongly feel that they made a huge mistake by going with the second option. Of course, I never have any need to take the L, but all the same.

Which brings us back to the topic. Whether or not Americans want to re-open the economy, whether or not a national stay-at-home order is feasible in the long run, it's going to be a lot less painful if we suck it up now. Certain parties ought to realize that.

Comments

[jesuswasbatman]

The London Underground seems to have moved to the first option recently in certain cases, but there are still some routes that still seem to be shut almost every weekend.

[shadowkat]

Eh, I misread the original post.

Edited - the reason they did it the way they did it - was the push-back from the community. There's no way into Manhattan from those areas but the L. People had to move or were spending money on various car services and ride shares - increases the amount of traffic into the city. Also the MTA was going to spend lots of money on shuttles.

So they (controversially) decided to do the work off times and run the L on a limited schedule, saving lots of money on shuttles, etc, but costing money in redesign and scheduling. But the public was happy with it for the most part. They also increased the G service to help cover some of the lag.

I am on the fence as to whether it was a good plan. But I can see the pluses and minuses of it.

In direct contrast to the Stay-at-Home or Open the Economy? I think you are correct that it's better to stay in now and work to make the environment safe before going out again, as opposed to risking it - and ending up with more deaths.

[conuly]

I understand their reasoning as well, and I get that it was a tough call. I just feel, in the end, they made the wrong one. But as I said, I don't take the L, so I can afford to say that!

[shadowkat]

I remember listening to it all play out on NY1, and discussing it at work. (I luckily don't work for Transit, which is even nuttier than Railroad.) They spent a boat load of money re-configuring the schedule and design, just to accommodate all the L riders. Because they'd already spent a lot on the first design, then they went out and asked the firm to redesign it. That's a huge change order - right there. But I can see why they chose that method - the L riders were about to revolt. Although, I can't say a lot of people were happy that they did it, either. The one's who had decided to move or relocate, and had already done so, were kind of pissed off. As were all the ones who had made expensive ride-share arrangements. But the vast majority of their ridership was relieved - if more than a tad annoyed with the overcrowding and rescheduling.

I remember thinking at the time that I was very glad that I did not have to take the L train and wasn't living in Williamsburg or Greenpoint. Not that the F and G trains didn't have their own issues. The MTA, at the same time the L Train construction was going on, had to replace its entire signal system. I think they finally managed to do it, after two-three years of delays due to signal mishaps.

[cynthia1960]

This is true for so many things right now.

[gwydion]

I agree on both counts. Alas, it requires leaders who can pass the marshmallow test.

[ayebydan]

yepyep. electrifying scotland's railway took a while but was far faster because the railway said 'we're working every night and weekends and will put on buses. no they are not as fast. but seriously, deal with it' If they had only worked nights we'd still be waiting.

[silveradept]

One has to have people to have an economy. To have the people, we have to do things like the first option, and not the second.

[conuly]

You'd think that was obvious.

[silveradept]

You would think, but there are a lot of people who have been raised in ideologies that fundamentally devalue people, except where they are directly useful to the person doing the devaluation.