Copyright 2008 The New York Sun Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:39:19 -0400 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Joshua Rosenthal :: Stories from The New York Sun http://www.nysun.com/authors/Joshua+Rosenthal istoll@nysun.com (Ira Stoll) webmaster@nysun.com en-us JOSHUA ROSENTHAL http://www.nysun.com/new-york/transit-authority-2005-04-22/12670/ Fri, 22 Apr 2005 00:00:00 EST Q: What is the difference, if any, between highways designated as parkways and ones called expressways? Is it just an arbitrary choice of names, or is there something more to it? A: There is a historical distinction between parkways and expressways that generally has to do with when a road was built and who planned its construction. The latter term simply denotes that there is some type of barrier between traffic in lanes headed in opposite directions on the highway. The term parkway signifies... JOSHUA ROSENTHAL http://www.nysun.com/new-york/transit-authority-2005-04-15/12284/ Fri, 15 Apr 2005 00:00:00 EST Q: Why doesn't the Long Island Rail Road call itself a "railroad"? A: The Long Island Rail Road has used several monikers since it was first chartered on April 24, 1834, as "The Long-Island Rail-Road Company." According to an LIRR historian, Robert Andersen, the company has used both "Rail Road" and "Railroad" on official documents and as the company name over the course of its history. He says Rail Road is the name currently, and almost certainly will continue to be used, because the company... JOSHUA ROSENTHAL http://www.nysun.com/new-york/transit-authority-2005-04-08/11898/ Fri, 8 Apr 2005 00:00:00 EST Q: It seems like almost every time I enter or leave Manhattan, my car runs over a small wire that is taped to the ground. What are these wires for? A: Yes, the wires you've described are indeed used to collect information about vehicles using bridges and tunnels to enter Manhattan. The city has collected such information since 1948, seeking to tally every single trip made over a bridge or tunnel in the five boroughs. Since 1978, the city's Department of Transportation has conducted the surveys... JOSHUA ROSENTHAL http://www.nysun.com/new-york/transit-authority-2005-04-01/11498/ Fri, 1 Apr 2005 00:00:00 EST Q: What is happening at the Steinway Street overpass along the Grand Central? Is the new bridge there permanent or part of a project? A: What created the need for construction of a new overpass was a ghastly accident last July 23. A 60-ton block of concrete fell from the Steinway Street overpass in Astoria, Queens, injuring a driver and destroying his van. The 67-year-old overpass was closed and a forensic-engineering firm, Weidlinger Associates, was hired by the city's Department of... JOSHUA ROSENTHAL http://www.nysun.com/new-york/transit-authority-2005-03-25/11135/ Fri, 25 Mar 2005 00:00:00 EST Q: Are taxi drivers ever allowed to refuse a trip? If so, under what conditions, and who sets those rules? A: Yes, drivers are allowed to refuse trips in specific instances. The city's Taxi and Limousine Commission is responsible for creating such rules, making sure that drivers are aware of them, and enforcing them. The rules for refusing a fare are as follows: if the destination is outside of the five boroughs or Westchester and Nassau counties and is not Newark Liberty Airport; if the... JOSHUA ROSENTHAL http://www.nysun.com/new-york/transit-authority-2005-03-18/10765/ Fri, 18 Mar 2005 00:00:00 EST Q: With the new fares that went into effect at the end of February and all the complaints about the costs of traveling on New York subways and buses, I would be interested in seeing how rates here compare with those in other American cities. A: The new fare prices put into place February 27 affect only unlimited-ride MetroCards and express bus rides. The price of a seven-day card jumped to $24 from $21 and a 30-day card now costs $76, up from $70. Express bus fares are $5 instead of $4, and... JOSHUA ROSENTHAL http://www.nysun.com/new-york/transit-authority-2005-03-11/10418/ Fri, 11 Mar 2005 00:00:00 EST Q: What are those E-ZPass lanes I've heard about where you don't even need to slow down at the tollbooth? Are they used, or going to be used, in the tri-state area? A: What you have described is called a highway-speed E-ZPass lane. It allows drivers to pay a toll simply by driving past, without reducing their speed. The E-ZPass lanes most commonly used in the metropolitan area force vehicles to slow down to 5 mph for the machine to read the tag - although more than a few cars go through at... JOSHUA ROSENTHAL http://www.nysun.com/new-york/transit-authority-2005-03-04/10064/ Fri, 4 Mar 2005 00:00:00 EST Q: Why were pylons installed at some of the turns along Fulton Street in Brooklyn? They've made it much more difficult to turn off the street. A: The pylons were put at those intersections for the very reason you mentioned, to make turning off Fulton Street a little tougher. The idea was not to ruin to your day but to slow your car. The turns in question are where Fulton Street intersects with Putnam Avenue, Hanson Place, and Gates Avenue. The intersections each jut off Fulton at an acute... JOSHUA ROSENTHAL http://www.nysun.com/new-york/transit-authority-2005-02-25/9742/ Fri, 25 Feb 2005 00:00:00 EST Q: Has the MTA studied the accuracy of its subway schedules? I know that the Straphangers Campaign charts line performance, but has the MTA gathered similar numbers for itself? A: The MTA has indeed conducted studies of the transit system, though they are less detailed and less specific than the ones you've seen from the Straphangers Campaign. In 2003 and 2004, the MTA charted the percentage of subway trains that were within "an acceptable limit" of their scheduled time. The acceptable limit... JOSHUA ROSENTHAL http://www.nysun.com/new-york/transit-authority-2005-02-18/9439/ Fri, 18 Feb 2005 00:00:00 EST Q: What kind of construction is being done on the Queensboro Bridge? It feels as though that bridge is always having something done to it. Also, what are the tarpaulins covering the bridge used for? A: The Queensboro Bridge is currently in the sixth phase of a series of rehabilitation projects that date back to September 1989, so it's not far wrong to say the bridge is always under construction. The work being done in this phase includes installation of new signs on the Manhattan side... JOSHUA ROSENTHAL http://www.nysun.com/new-york/transit-authority-2005-02-11/9093/ Fri, 11 Feb 2005 00:00:00 EST Q: Why is there no direct train connection between Times Square and the Port Authority Bus Terminal? Both the No. 7 train and the Shuttle end at Times Square, and riders bound for the bus terminal must walk a block underground through a tunnel that resembles a medieval dungeon. Moreover, at least in the case of the Shuttle, it looks as though unused tracks continue on after Times Square in the direction of the Port Authority terminal. A: Both train lines, the No. 7 and the Shuttle, were built... JOSHUA ROSENTHAL http://www.nysun.com/new-york/transit-authority-2005-02-04/8729/ Fri, 4 Feb 2005 00:00:00 EST Q: My taxi driver wasn't able to drive through Central Park a few days ago. Are there new hours or restrictions? A: There are new restrictions on the hours when you, or your taxi driver, can drive through the park. Since January 3, vehicles can use the East and West drives only between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. and between 3 and 7 p.m. on weekdays. The restrictions went into place as part of a quality-of-life initiative by three city departments: Police, Transportation, and Parks and Recreation... JOSHUA ROSENTHAL http://www.nysun.com/new-york/transit-authority-2005-01-28/8378/ Fri, 28 Jan 2005 00:00:00 EST Q: After the recent heavy snow, the footing in subway stations seemed especially treacherous. Am I wrong in thinking the surface of and near the steps is difficult to keep dry and safe? Who's responsible for clearing it? A: Snow is always difficult to clean from any outdoor stairway, but the crews that clean the subway face another obstacle: hot air. All the stairs that lead to underground stations are heated by warm air rising out of the station and tunnels. Snow on those stairs is exposed to... Joshua Rosenthal http://www.nysun.com/new-york/transit-authority-2005-01-21/8025/ Fri, 21 Jan 2005 00:00:00 EST Q: Sometimes I see subway lines referred to as IRT, BMT, or IND. What are the origins of those abbreviations and which lines do they correspond to? A: The abbreviations you mention are references to the lines' original names and owners. The subway system started out as a private enterprise that expanded to include several private companies, which were bought and consolidated by the city in 1940 under the Board of Transportation, which was succeeded in 1953 by the New York City Transit Authority... Joshua Rosenthal http://www.nysun.com/new-york/transit-authority-2005-01-14/7688/ Fri, 14 Jan 2005 00:00:00 EST Q: What happened to the Third Avenue Bridge? It seems a touch strange that a whole bridge would be removed. Was it replaced entirely? A: The Third Avenue Bridge between Manhattan and the Bronx was indeed swapped out, after more than 100 years of service. Over the summer, you may have noticed a new bridge, almost fully constructed, sitting in the Harlem River next to the original, 2,800-foot Third Avenue Bridge, which was broken down into two pieces and removed by barge on July 2. The new... Joshua Rosenthal http://www.nysun.com/new-york/transit-authority-2005-01-07/7342/ Fri, 7 Jan 2005 00:00:00 EST Q: Several times while trying to drive over the Queensboro Bridge, I've been caught on this roadway that seems to hang off the side of the bridge. What is it, and was it a part of the bridge's original design? A: The outer roadway on the southern side of the lower level of the Queensboro Bridge (also known, as in the Simon and Garfunkel song "Feeling Groovy," as the 59th Street Bridge) may well be one of the city's scariest places to drive. The motorist must navigate an eerily straight yet... Joshua Rosenthal http://www.nysun.com/new-york/transit-authority-2004-12-31/7009/ Fri, 31 Dec 2004 00:00:00 EST Q: I've noticed that gas prices in New Jersey are usually much lower than those in New York City. Why is that, and is it worth the trip to New Jersey to fill up? A: I planned a hypothetical trip across the river to New Jersey that would allow a Manhattan motorist to save enough money on gas to make it worth the price of using a bridge or tunnel. Using the lowest price I could find near any crossing on the New Jersey side, $1.73 per gallon in North Bergen, and the lowest price in Manhattan, $2... Joshua Rosenthal http://www.nysun.com/new-york/transit-authority-2004-12-24/6772/ Fri, 24 Dec 2004 00:00:00 EST Q: On my way back to the city from vacation, I noticed that Metro North has begun to operate some new trains on the Harlem line. What are they, and are they going to be used on all commuter lines? A: The trains you are referring to are actually the new M7 cars, which were and are continuing to be purchased by the state for use on the Long Island Rail Road and Metro North's two main New York lines, the Harlem and Hudson lines, according to Marjorie Anders, a spokeswoman for Metro North. So far...