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> But other than rush hour or special events how often is that 1000 ppl capacity reached? A single train can carry 1,000 people. It's not a "rush-hour event."

> But other than rush hour or special events how often is that 1000 ppl capacity reached? A single train can carry 1,000 people. It's not a "rush-hour event." > Shouldn't the whole system be more flexible? Does everyone have to leave work at the same time? The work day is still roughly 9-5, nothing the MTA does is going to change employers' opinions on scheduling. Good luck telling your boss you want to come in 2 hours late to avoid subway overcrowding. > How economical is it to run subway trains with few passengers? Train frequency is slowed down significantly during non-peak hours. Don't get me wrong, there are efficiencies to be had -- like not having a live human at every station 24/7 -- but unions fight those measures. > It seems that a whole lot of resources (i.e., money, including ongoing maintenance) is being tossed at outlier situations. I'm not sure what you're proposing. Buses? Again, buses won't work -- see above. They could massively increase fares but that is essentially a tax on poor people. What they need is for both the state and city to cough up more money to address crumbling infrastructure and overcrowding.

chiefalchemist 9y ago
> A single train can carry 1,000 people. It's not a "rush-hour event." > Train frequency is slowed down significantly during non-peak hours. Agreed. So with the exception of the outlier events there is A LOT of idle capacity. Capacity that was VERY expensive to build and maintain. Traditional buses? Or a rethinking of above ground transportation, congestion, flexible work hours, whatever, etc. BTW, I didn't notice anything here about off-hours / peak-hours pricing. http://web.mta.info/metrocard/mcgtreng.htm http://web.mta.info/metrocard/mcgtreng.htm Given the cost to add more (excess) subway capacity, I don't see the warm in a pause and asking "what if"? What they tried once, where the only goal was a twist on the status quo, isn't the type of mindset I'm proposing. p.s. If climate change goes as planned, (lower) Manhattan is going to be prone to more and more flooding, etc. Does it make sense to sink more money into the ground, for unrealized capacity? I understand your example. Unfortunately, it's red ocean. We need a blue ocean approach at this point.
- ordinaryperson 9y ago
  > there is A LOT of idle capacity The MTA's biggest problems right now are overcrowding and old, crumbling infrastructure, not idle capacity. This article just pointed out we're chasing our tails so much on those 2 problems we don't even think about (gasp) adding new subway lines, although it argues because we're more committed to cars as a form a transit. > rethinking of above ground transportation, congestion, flexible work hours, whatever, etc. Since the Bloomberg Era the city transportation dept has added thousands of miles of bike lanes but there's not much more it can do to "rethink" above-ground transportation. Flexible work hours are just a nonstarter for most companies. Starbucks going to let you start your shift late? Goldman Sachs? No. > where the only goal was a twist on the status quo, What constitutes a twist? What specific policy proposals would change the reality of public transit? DeBlasio proposed a Brooklyn trolley line -- the kind of "out of the box" thinking you're proposing -- and it's gotten nowhere. > I didn't notice anything here about off-hours / peak-hours pricing The pricing is always the same it's just that the trains run at different frequencies. During rush hour they can come every 3-4 minutes, in the middle of the night every 30 minutes. There are no magical fixes to NYC's transit problems. It just requires more money (via higher taxes) and better management.

chiefalchemist 9y ago

> A single train can carry 1,000 people. It's not a "rush-hour event." > Train frequency is slowed down significantly during non-peak hours. Agreed. So with the exception of the outlier events there is A LOT of idle capacity. Capacity that was VERY expensive to build and maintain. Traditional buses? Or a rethinking of above ground transportation, congestion, flexible work hours, whatever, etc. BTW, I didn't notice anything here about off-hours / peak-hours pricing. http://web.mta.info/metrocard/mcgtreng.htm http://web.mta.info/metrocard/mcgtreng.htm Given the cost to add more (excess) subway capacity, I don't see the warm in a pause and asking "what if"? What they tried once, where the only goal was a twist on the status quo, isn't the type of mindset I'm proposing. p.s. If climate change goes as planned, (lower) Manhattan is going to be prone to more and more flooding, etc. Does it make sense to sink more money into the ground, for unrealized capacity? I understand your example. Unfortunately, it's red ocean. We need a blue ocean approach at this point.

ordinaryperson 9y ago
> there is A LOT of idle capacity The MTA's biggest problems right now are overcrowding and old, crumbling infrastructure, not idle capacity. This article just pointed out we're chasing our tails so much on those 2 problems we don't even think about (gasp) adding new subway lines, although it argues because we're more committed to cars as a form a transit. > rethinking of above ground transportation, congestion, flexible work hours, whatever, etc. Since the Bloomberg Era the city transportation dept has added thousands of miles of bike lanes but there's not much more it can do to "rethink" above-ground transportation. Flexible work hours are just a nonstarter for most companies. Starbucks going to let you start your shift late? Goldman Sachs? No. > where the only goal was a twist on the status quo, What constitutes a twist? What specific policy proposals would change the reality of public transit? DeBlasio proposed a Brooklyn trolley line -- the kind of "out of the box" thinking you're proposing -- and it's gotten nowhere. > I didn't notice anything here about off-hours / peak-hours pricing The pricing is always the same it's just that the trains run at different frequencies. During rush hour they can come every 3-4 minutes, in the middle of the night every 30 minutes. There are no magical fixes to NYC's transit problems. It just requires more money (via higher taxes) and better management.