Despite the MTA’s pledge to increase daytime service on historically unreliable subway lines, the R train still means “infrequently.”
State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, D-Brooklyn, was present last month alongside MTA leaders when it was announced that R trains would arrive at stations every eight minutes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting Aug. 28. , now claims the plan is a “failed” effort.
“After months of hard work in Albany for the MTA’s relief plan and service improvements on our routes, including the R and N lines, we are shocked that the MTA has misrepresented these service improvements to passengers. I am disappointed and frustrated,” Gounardes wrote. in a statement Thursday. “People need to trust the subway to be reliable, especially as the MTA demands more taxes and fare increases for its services.”
In response to Mr. Gunardes’ complaints, MTA officials said planned track work on Line F would force crews to move work trains to the tracks on Line R, and the MTA announced that the noon temporary service would begin at 10:00 am. He explained that he had no choice but to postpone the event until 11 a.m. Early next year.
“We will further reduce wait times in the coming months once the necessary track work is completed,” New York City Transit President Richard Davey said in a statement. “We appreciate the continued support of our elected officials.”
But as of early Thursday afternoon, passengers at Brooklyn’s Union Street Station were still waiting 14 minutes for an R train, nearly double the time promised by the MTA.
Commuters at the station said they can now expect longer wait times for R trains.
“Honestly, I’m just getting used to it at this point,” said Iris Gartner, who grew up in Park Slope. “But I wish they would come more often. It doesn’t have to be a ‘rare’ train anymore,” she said, referring to the R train’s nickname.
Others at the sweltering podium summed up the service more succinctly.
“It’s terrible,” Brooklyn commuter Margarete Bernstein said.
Bernstein, who has a fairly flexible job making mannequins near 14th Street in Manhattan, said he adjusts his commute to compensate for the unpredictable train schedule.
“When I’m late, things get complicated. I try to ease the time,” she said. “I’ll just leave earlier.”
The state Legislature agreed earlier this year to increase funding for the MTA through one-time cash increases and other current taxes. For the MTA, he agreed to spend $35 million to improve service across multiple lines.
This isn’t the first time this year that the MTA has cut service on a line right after promising improvements.
The MTA announced in May that it would increase weekend service on the M Line starting in July. But a month after improving weekend commuter services, the agency decided to drastically cut weekday services because of construction.
On August 28, the MTA suspended M train service between the 47-50 Street Rockefeller Center station and the Forest Hills 71st Avenue station from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays. The service is not expected to resume until early next year.
“Passengers are well aware that subways need repairs that cause service changes, but at the same time, they know what to expect every time they ride the subway,” said Danny Pearlstein, director of policy and public relations for Riders Alliance. We need the MTA to agree with us on what will happen.” “We all want more frequent services, but we also need to be able to plan our commutes and lives based on what services are actually in operation.”
This article has been updated with comments from MTA officials.