At F Train Town Hall, MTA Promises Improvements

(photo credit: Senator Squadron's office)
From left to right:
Assemblywoman Joan Millman, Councilman-elect Brad Lander
and State Senator Daniel Squadron

Shortly after taking office in early 2009, State Senator Daniel Squadron was flooded with telephone calls from constituents, who complained about the spotty F train service. In response, Squadron asked the MTA to undertake a top-to-bottom review of the F line.

Last week, on Thursday, December 10 at PS 58, Senator Squadron held an "F Train Town Hall."
Andy Inglesby and Glenn Lunden of the M.T.A. were in attendance to explain the recently completed report about the line's performance and to discuss proposals for improving service.
Also on hand were Assemblywoman Joan Millman and Councilman-elect Brad Lander.

In their presentation, Inglesby and Lunden acknowledged that the F significantly lacked behind other lines in the system in on-time performance. Amongst the issues facing the line are:

- the F is the 2nd longest route (27 miles)
-has a complex track sharing between the G, E and V line.
-Has a busy schedule with 15 trains per hour at peak.
-Has a large ridership
-Has an aging car fleet
-And an aging infrastructure (82.5% of the route dates before 1940 or earlier with 16% constructed in 1919-1920)

Currently, some improvements are being implemented. New subway cars have been replacing older ones and some stations are being renovated.

-The Jay Street station rehabilitation will be completed by the end of 2010. A new underground transfer to the M and R lines at Lawrence Street/ Metro Tech will be provided at the J Street station by the first quarter of 2011.

-The Culver Viaduct rehabilitation is underway right now and will be completed by 2013. The work will unfortunately mean some additional interruption in service on some week-ends.
The Viaduct work will include the full renovation of the 9th Street station, which will need to be closed for approximately 9 months.
An express service on the F line will not be possible until this work is completed. The MTA will look at that possibility after 2013.

As for Carroll Gardens' main subway plaza at 2nd Place and Smith Street, which was closed for safety concerns during the construction of the 360 Smith Street building, it will remain closed until October 2010.

Lets hope that some of this work will improve the less-than-average performance of the F.

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