Once the subway's pride, R-32 'Brightliner' trains that operate on the C line will soon disappear from service. Mid-century promo videos notwithstanding, the line's rolling stock was in dire need of an update.
Travelers on New York's C line recently have faced long waits, jarring rides, and general wear and tear. While the route's ridership is generally lower than other lines, there has been an upswing and commuters are unhappy. From the article: "Despite its shortcomings, ridership on the C — like the rest of the system — is on the rise. According to MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz, 2014 growth along C train stations in Brooklyn is on par with system-wide growth: 2.7 percent versus 2.4 percent for all subway lines."
Kate Hinds discusses the Metropolitan Transit Authority's long struggle to upgrade the trains. "Finally in 2012, the MTA cobbled together the money and put in an order for replacements. But last year Bombardier, the cars' manufacturer, reported that there were welding problems with the prototype car. Now it looks like the new trains — model number R-179 — will come in in 2017."
The article includes a link to a 1964 promotional video for the subway and its then-new Brightliner cars. Catchy tune.
Read the full story: The Lament of the C Train Rider
NYC to Upgrade 1/3 of its Subway Car Fleet
The MTA is seeking proposals for up to 2,390 new subway cars to upgrade its aging fleet.
Why New York City's Flooding Its Own Subway Entrances
MTA reassured disoriented New Yorkers that it's flooding subway entrances on purpose, to test barriers that it hopes will guard the system against another Sandy.
Gov. Cuomo Promised a Plan to Fix the New York Subway; Critics Say it's MIA
Earlier this summer, the governor of New York promised an ambitious plan to fix the MTA subway system. Now, at the end of the promised timeline for that plan, critics are saying that the city is left with more of the same.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Northwest rail fans eager for Sept. 30 debut of Amtrak’s Airo fleet
Get ready for that new train smell and more seats. But they won’t go faster or run more frequently on the Cascades route in Washington and Oregon.
Alabama scores up to $2.5 billion federal loan for largest infrastructure project in state’s history
The Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project aims to ease congestion at Alabama’s worst bottleneck.
Novel study finds extreme state-by-state disparity in housing construction timelines
The first comprehensive working paper on U.S. construction timelines also found that the permitting process for multi-family projects has slowed nationwide.
California may destroy its beaches trying to save homes from El Niño
Boulders and seawalls can protect homes from waves, but ultimately destroy sandy beaches.
California high-speed rail accomplishes only one legislative goal in 2026
The majority of the agency's failed pitches were never developed into written proposals.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello