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Madison - ProgWML6

@progwml6.bsky.social
464 followers 593 following 218 posts

Transit Reports & Analysis @etany.org , Devops and Information Security Manager, Minecraft mod developer, Pronouns: She/Her

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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Effective Transit Alliance @etany.org · 21/09/2026
ETA is here in Berlin and will be all week for InnoTrans to bring the best insights back to New York from the biggest public transit showcase in the world! If you'd like to meet with our team while we are here, we'd love to hear from you, feel free to drop us a message!
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Effective Transit Alliance @etany.org · 03/02/2026
Extending the Second Avenue subway across 125th St is a great concept, but the current project is deeply flawed: * At $7.7B for 1.3mi, it will cost an order of magnitude more than similar lines in other global cities. * Deep stations will waste a lot of time—over 10 min across 125th.
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Streetsblog NYC @nyc.streetsblog.org · 03/02/2026
The western extension of the Second Avenue Subway has a $7.7-billion price tag that calls into question the very logic of building it at all — but advocates and researchers say the train is a good idea that could cost a lot less with some minor alterations.
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Does Hochul's 125th Street Subway Have to Be That Expensive? - Streetsblog New York City
The next phase of New York City's Second Avenue Subway carries a huge price tag, but advocates say the train could cost less with some minor changes.
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Nolan Hicks @ndhapple.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
"ALBANY — Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected to veto a controversial bill that would have required two operators aboard every subway train with more than two cars, sources told Streetsblog." W/Streetsblog's Man in Albany, Austin Jefferson -- nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/12/19/h...
nyc.streetsblog.org
Hochul Will Veto Controversial Bill Mandating Two Operators on Most Subway Trains - Streetsblog New York City
Gov. Kathy Hochul's veto of the OPTO bill prevents the MTA from backsliding on cost savings and efficiency.
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Effective Transit Alliance @etany.org · 19/12/2025
Great news: Gov Hochul has reportedly decided to veto a bill requiring two-person train operation. This poorly-considered bill would've mmediately impacted services that are currently run with one person, and would've make it impossible to fully automate new lines like the IBX.
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Liam Jeffries @sorathecyclist.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
The bill on Hochul's desk mandating 2PTO on the MTA, Assembly Bill A4873, still hasn't been vetoed. If it's not by the end of the day it will automatically be law and worsen service on small shuttle trains and off-peak services as a result Call her office at (518) 474-8390 and demand she veto this
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Shabazz Stuart @shabazzstuart.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Really absurd. The largest cost in running a subway trains is labor. One-person-train-operation (OPTO) would lead to drastic service improvements by cutting in half the $$$ needed to run a train. BTW almost every other system in the world already uses OPTO. www.crainsnewyork.com/transportati...
crainsnewyork.com
MTA union quietly turned to Albany in push for 2 staffers on every train
State lawmakers quietly passed a bill in June that would block the MTA from running trains with just drivers.
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Effective Transit Alliance @etany.org · 02/07/2025
A bill passed by the NYS Legislature banning One-Person Train Operation goes against best practices both across the country and world, and would leave New York’s transit system far behind its peers. ETA asks Gov Hochul to not allow this regressive bill to become law. www.etany.org/statements/i...
etany.org
Impeding Progress, Costing Riders — Effective Transit Alliance New York
Bill Banning One Person Trains Would Lock NY Transit in the Past
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Nolan Hicks @ndhapple.bsky.social · 22/06/2025
The FTA's decision to send this back in 2023 remains absolutely perplexing and still, to this day, almost entirely unexplained.
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Nolan Hicks @ndhapple.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
A good idea =>
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Nolan Hicks @ndhapple.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
A really clever idea from @vanshnookenraggen.com -- www.vanshnookenraggen.com/_index/2025/...
vanshnookenraggen.com
IBX North: A Bridge to Harlem and LGA – vanshnookenraggen
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Effective Transit Alliance @etany.org · 30/05/2025
Andy Byford has been selected to take over the reconstruction of Penn Station. An expert of the first tier, he is well versed with through-running has spoken of its importance for Penn before. Still, the project faces many challenges. Read our statement: www.etany.org/statements/c...
etany.org
Can Andy Byford Bring Through-Running to Penn Station? — Effective Transit Alliance New York
Andy Byford has been selected to take over the reconstruction of Penn Station. An expert of the first tier, he is well versed with through-running has spoken of its importance for Penn before. Still, ...
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Effective Transit Alliance @etany.org · 12/05/2025
#BuildtheQueensLink!!!
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Nolan Hicks @ndhapple.bsky.social · 26/04/2025
"Thanks to some excellent data work by the engineering team that dug all the way down to analyzing the frequency of pings from a train’s onboard beacons as it enters the station, all screens in the system now show the same arrival times" -- www.adamfishercox.com/portfolio/mt...
adamfishercox.com
Cutting information overload on the MTA’s platform information screens
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Madison - ProgWML6 @progwml6.bsky.social · 26/04/2025
@wafisher.bsky.social and the team at @nyctransit.bsky.social have been doing a great job improving all the digital signs across the system. Having explanations here, and readable of why things are delayed is a great for straphangers.
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Second Ave. Sagas @2avesag.as · 24/04/2025
This is why I’m currently not too worried about the OMB challenge either. bsky.app/profile/reic...
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Second Ave. Sagas @2avesag.as · 24/04/2025
It appears so.
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Madison - ProgWML6 @progwml6.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
Another day, another unfortunate blunder from @mta.info, this time, ordering battery electric locomotives for use on electrified railroad territory
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Madison - ProgWML6 @progwml6.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
This move from @mta.info to procure expensive battery electric locomotives that can’t run in catenary mode to Penn station or NJ instead of using better EMU’s and wiring additional territory is deeply disappointing.
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Effective Transit Alliance @etany.org · 19/02/2025
The US is still a nation of laws, and congestion pricing is the law of NY state. The federal government cannot legally start and stop programs on a whim. ETA stands behind the MTA in its lawsuit to ensure that this successful program continues to improve NY.
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Madison - ProgWML6 @progwml6.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
After months of research, we have released our new report on Penn station expansion. This project is not necessary to unlock the capacity gateway will deliver.
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Effective Transit Alliance @etany.org · 16/12/2024
The MTA has near-sighted plans to buy slow & expensive diesel equipment for our commuter system. But the future of urban rail is electric, & they should be laying the groundwork now for a better system in the long run. Read Part 2 of our Capital Plan analysis now: www.etany.org/not-so-capit...
etany.org
A Not So Capital Plan Pt 2: The Future is Electric — Effective Transit Alliance New York
The future of urban rail is electric. Unfortunately, NYC has near-sighted plans for its commuter system that could hinder electrification for decades. It’s time to move past the status quo & lay groun...
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Madison - ProgWML6 @progwml6.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
Building on what @ndhapple.bsky.social coincidentally released earlier- www.curbed.com/article/subw.... Our new report discusses some key points for subway rolling stock procurement.
curbed.com
Can We Design Our Way Out of the Subway-Surfing Crisis?
New trains make it much harder to climb out and up, and that’s yet another reason to upgrade.
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Eric Goldwyn @egoldwyn.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
We just posted a rolling stock data set. We wanted to understand how rolling stock costs vary, and this seemed like a good way to do it! It’s early days. Please check out. Please let us know how to do better: transitcosts.com/rolling-stoc...
transitcosts.com
Rolling Stock Data
Rolling Stock Costs Database View & Download the Data This is the first version of our rolling stock costs database, to complement our primary urban rail construction costs database, excluding rolli...
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Adam Reich @reichnow.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
Equipment reliability continues to bedevil #NJTransit Rail Operations with fleet mean distance between failures (MDBF) falling to 48,959 miles in October 2024. The Multilevel IIIs won’t begin entering service until at least mid-2025, so it’s imperative for the agency to find a way to fix this ASAP.
Screenshot of mean distance between failures (MDBF) for NJ Transit rail equipment from January 2017-October 2024 showing MDBF hit another new low of 48,959 miles in October 2024. 

Source: https://www.njtransit.com/improve/on-time-performance/rail
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Madison - ProgWML6 @progwml6.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
A tiered approach that does not reflect that certain building types will not pencil out or even be possible with parking mandates would be a major disappointment that removes a significant number of potential units city wide.
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Hayden Clarkin @thetransitguy.com · 19/11/2024
With decongestion pricing set to start in 2025, New York’s leadership must become extremely serious about reforming how the state builds stuff. Remember, France is constructing 120 miles of new subway lines and 68 stations for just 70% of the cost of MTA's 5-year capital plan.
Grand Paris Express map
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Californians for Electric Rail @calelectricrail.org · 18/11/2024
California's gamble on green hydrogen as a path to decarbonizing transport not looking good right now. We can continue down the current path and suffer chronic fuel shortages and/or reliance on CO2-intensive fossil hydrogen, or we can invest in proven overhead catenary rail instead.
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Sara Freimer @sara.freimer.dev · 15/11/2024
Made a starter pack to help Minecraft modders find other modders, artists, community members on bluesky. go.bsky.app/JvLfdiD
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Madison - ProgWML6 @progwml6.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
Apparently, the New Brunswick to Newark catenary funding is just for design work. This is quite unfortunate, this is a good chunk of what this project should cost total and its just for design work. railroads.dot.gov/sites/fra.do...
railroads.dot.gov
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
The LIRR Today @thelirrtoday.com · 15/11/2024
Not only increasing, but significantly cutting service! Weekend Newark service has been cut 50% most of the year Weekend JSQ service is being cut 50% for the foreseeable future Hoboken is being closed around the clock for nearly a month, and Newport is next...
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Second Ave. Sagas @2avesag.as · 15/11/2024
$3.5 billion for this is wild. The original EWR AirTrain cost under $400 million to build in the mid-1990s.
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Madison - ProgWML6 @progwml6.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
For 3.5 billion of entirely above ground gadgetbahn, we could have just extended the path to the terminals and Elizabeth and done a much smaller/cheaper airside people mover significantly enhancing access to EWR, multiple neighborhoods while significantly reducing traffic to the airport.
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Eric Allen Conner @eaconner.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
My friend and fellow regular Philly train commuter wrote an op-ed on what PANYNJ needs to do to expand PATH service to meet its sustainability goals. www.nj.com/opinion/2024...
nj.com
The Port Authority already has a PATH to sustainability; improve it! | Opinion
"PATH is one of the PA’s biggest weapons in their toolbox of climate change-fighting tools," the author writes.
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Madison - ProgWML6 @progwml6.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
The sparks effect in action. LIRR/NJT/MN/NYCT/PATH should note, more service(and for the commuter RR's) more electrification would increase ridership, especially off peak and on weekends!
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Madison - ProgWML6 @progwml6.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
This is a mostly above ground modern ALM system that is grade separated. At these costs, building similarly would be transformative for many dense cities in North America. Imagine at this cost connecting Staten Island & Fort Lee for less than 3 billion dollars via JFK/Bergenline & the Bayonne Bridge
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Madison - ProgWML6 @progwml6.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
Reasonable cost countries: let’s build a km of subway for this price USA: let’s build a single station entrance 🤦‍♀️
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Effective Transit Alliance @etany.org · 14/11/2024
ETA has been arguing for the need for improved power systems for months. The key now is to ensure that these changes can be implemented in a systemic, ongoing fashion in the future, so we aren't left here again. www.etany.org/repairing-no...
etany.org
If It Can’t Stand the Heat, You Need to Upgrade the Kitchen: Repairing the NEC’s Electrical Systems — Effective Transit Alliance New York
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Effective Transit Alliance @etany.org · 14/11/2024
Good news: $80 million is coming repair the ancient catenary and aging signals on the Northeast Corridor that caused so many unacceptable delays and cancellations this past summer. While there is a lot left to be done, this is a good first step. www.nj.com/news/2024/11...
nj.com
$80M coming to fix rail woes blamed for NJ Transit, Amtrak ‘summer of hell’
The problematic overhead wires and signal on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor line will be replaced under a $32 million federal grant announced by Congressman Frank Pallone Thursday.
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Marco Chitti @chittimarco.bsky.social · 06/11/2024
North American Transit agencies: we need a 3 meter clearance on each side of the entry pavillon access door + 5 meters on each side of the faregates. Rennes: I'll put my faregates right ON the platform access (which is also the station access), 3.3 m away from the platform screen doors.
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Blair Lorenzo / The Fox and the City @thefoxandthecity.com · 10/11/2024
At @etany.bsky.social we had a crayon (something we like to avoid) just to demonstrate how much more sense it would make to extend PATH to the terminals. But sadly, thanks to the way the PA is run, it's not on the table—even though it's the same agency.
Map showing an extension of the PATH train to Newark Airport
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Madison - ProgWML6 @progwml6.bsky.social · 01/11/2024
A hydrogen safety lesson from 1937 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindenb...
en.wikipedia.org
Hindenburg disaster - Wikipedia
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Reposted by Madison - ProgWML6
Blair Lorenzo / The Fox and the City @thefoxandthecity.com · 01/11/2024
One of the biggest issues in our regional transportation network, a lack of coordination, and PATH just tweeted it out...
That said, as PATH is separate from NJ TRANSIT, know that our schedules are not necessarily designed to align with theirs. We'd like to remind you to consult our timetables and theirs so that you can plan your trains and wait times in advance of your trip.
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Madison - ProgWML6 @progwml6.bsky.social · 29/10/2024
Big thanks to everyone at @etany.bsky.social who helped out with our report on this www.etany.org/ibx-all-fait...
etany.org
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Nolan Hicks @ndhapple.bsky.social · 29/10/2024
amNY's Ben Brachfeld has been all over this
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Nolan Hicks @ndhapple.bsky.social · 29/10/2024
Because we're going to do this again, here are the tunnel clearance diagrams for the M9, the R142/PA5 and a standard light-rail train.
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Effective Transit Alliance @etany.org · 29/10/2024
The importance of having the IBX be entirely grade-separated cannot be overstated. ETA has long stressed the importance of building this important piece of infrastructure the right way, and we're ecstatic that the MTA made the right choice. www.etany.org/ibx-all-fait...
etany.org
IBX: 515 Feet from Greatness — Effective Transit Alliance New York
Only a short tunnel prevents the IBX from achieving full grade separation, frequent service, and permanent integration with the subway system. Now is the time to ensure the IBX is done right.
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Effective Transit Alliance @etany.org · 29/10/2024
AMAZING NEWS!!! As we have long argued, this tunnel will have a HUGE impact on the speed and reliability of the IBX. Well done, MTA!!
.@amNewYork
 gets action! MTA officials say they plan to dig a tunnel under a cemetery in Queens for the IBX project instead of having the light rail run on the street in Middle Village. Story TK
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Nolan Hicks @ndhapple.bsky.social · 15/10/2024
NEW COLUMN: The much-needed and unfunded Portal South Bridge provides a stark example of Amtrak's insanely warped planning priorities. We need a cost-effective plan to double the railroad service in NJ. The railroad's Penn South obsession is getting in the way -- www.curbed.com/article/sout...
curbed.com
The Unbuilt Bridge That’s Throttling Penn Station
We need a second span out in Jersey, and nobody’s funded it yet.
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Eric Goldwyn @egoldwyn.bsky.social · 23/09/2024
Reading "The Pennsylvania Railroad Electrification" by Duer, and I am struck by the cascading effects of standard pole spacing. It allows standard poles and catenary hanger lengths. Standards beget greater certainty in challenging circumstances:
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