Now Advancing: New York’s Second Avenue Subway Phase 2
Phase 2 of MTA New York City Transit’s Second Avenue Subway project is moving ahead, the agency reported on Jan. 6.
NYCT
Swan Song for NYCT ‘Brightliners’
The year was 1964. Lyndon Johnson was campaigning for re-election as President, hoping his “Great Society” and “War on Poverty” programs would help the country, although the nation’s involvement in the Vietnam War was escalating and would later trigger his downfall. “Beatlemania” swept the country, as the “Fab Four” from Liverpool dominated the charts, with only the emerging Motown Sound from Detroit giving them any competition. The nation’s passenger train network was still gigantic compared to what we have on Amtrak today, but it was shrinking fast. Rail transit in the cities that still had it was shrinking, too. In New York, though, the second World’s Fair in 25 years was taking place in Flushing, Queens, and the “Brightliner” subway cars made their first appearance.
NYCT: Farewell, ‘Brightliners’
MTA New York City Transit’s Budd-built R-32s—dubbed the Brightliners for their gleaming stainless steel bodies—will retire after 58 years of service.
Brookville ‘Pumping Up’ Retired Subway Cars
Four MTA New York City Transit R110A New Technology Train subway cars, originally built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in 1992 and retired in 1998, are finding new life as two-car pump trains to be used for flooding mitigation in NYCT’s subway system, through a contract awarded to Brookville Equipment Corporation.
WOMEN IN RAIL 2021
RAILWAY AGE, NOVEMBER 2021 ISSUE: Railway Age’s Women in Rail awards recognize leaders for driving their businesses forward while making a difference in the industry and in their communities.
Transit Briefs: NYMTA; St. Louis Metro Transit
At New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, subway ridership is steadily climbing post-pandemic and two former Gov. Andrew Cuomo appointees are being forced out. In addition, behavioral health providers will ride St. Louis (Mo.) Metro Transit vehicles as part of a one-year pilot project.
Ko Named NYCT VP, CMO-Subway Car Equipment
Siu Ling Ko, a 34-year veteran of MTA New York City Transit’s Subway Car Equipment division, has been named Vice President and Chief Mechanical Officer of the division, which is responsible for maintaining and overhauling the agency’s massive rapid transit car fleet and track maintenance vehicles. She is the first woman in this position.
Transit Briefs: CATS, Denver RTD, Metrolinx, NYCT
Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) in North Carolina is adding a new LYNX Blue Line station. In addition, Denver (Colo.) Regional Transportation District (RTD) is seeking consultant support for a system-wide fare study and equity analysis; Toronto-area regional transit agency Metrolinx has reported that its pedestrian bridge set a world record, and released a “first look” at construction of Eglinton Crosstown stations; and MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) has completed a security camera installation project.
Cipriano, Crichlow Take Over Top Leadership Spots at NYCT
Longtime New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) executives Craig Cipriano and Demetrius Crichlow have been promoted to Interim President of New York City Transit (NYCT) and Senior Vice President of NYCT’s Department of Subways, respectively.
First Look: NYCT Unveils R211s
MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) has taken delivery of the first five of 535 Kawasaki R211 rapid transit cars; they will begin qualification testing in the coming weeks.