A J train travels above Broadway. — Photo by Diego Cupolo
In effort to reach out to Bushwick commuters, JMZ Line General Manager John Wehrman held a public "Meet & Greet" at the Marcy Ave. stop off the J last week.
Wehrman is one of the eighteen appointed managers as set out by the MTA Line General Manager Program first introduced in December 2007 on the 7 and L lines. The program marks a fundamental change in MTA operations according to officials, as its goal is to “decentralize decision making” that affects the city’s 23 lines and allow for a more direct approach to the handling of subway issues and customer complaints.
"With these most recent appointments we are completing a change in managerial philosophy that shifts the responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the city’s subway system from the office to the field," said MTA President Howard H. Roberts, Jr. "These employees have shown the type of leadership qualities that will do nothing but benefit the city’s subway customers."
Wehrman adds that his intention with the public meeting is to lend an active ear to the frustrations and concerns of local JMZ line riders.
“I am hoping to gather ideas and solutions for improvement from the riders themselves,” said Wehrman.
When asked about the recent disruption in service between the Myrtle-Broadway and Broadway Junction stops for consecutive weekends, he explained that there had been an electrical signal issue at the Kosciuszko stop that required interruption of service for repair.
According to Wehrman, as of now, there are no planned JMZ line service changes in the near future. Even the Z train, which the MTA threatened to derail last year due to strained finances, will keep operating normally as MTA officials have given no indication of eliminating service this year. Calls to the MTA on the Z issue were met only with replies of "I don’t know."
Wehrman stated that he plans on holding another "Meet & Greet" at a different station once again to give local riders the chance to meet their new Line Manager and exchange ideas for improvement of service.
However, Bushwick residents need not wait to learn information or to express their concerns regarding JMZ Line service. The MTA website is updated frequently with service advisories, schedules, maps, and other information regarding the 100-year-old subway system. Riders can also e-mail their respective Line Managers directly with general inquiries and suggestions.
Wehrman appears very optimistic about the program, citing improved lighting and public bike racks as examples of ideas he’s inclined to endorse. Riders also appear optimistic for some positive change.
"Hopefully the program will make the line more efficient and create greater accountability," says local straphanger Raymond Sinsay.
MTA officials maintain that the City Line Manager Program has proven to be successful to date. If what they say is true, hopefully JMZ line riders can look forward to a little more bang for their $2.25.
chillinoncentral October 8th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
When it comes to public transportation,I believe that we Bushwickers are the luckiest transients in the world. =]
Mario October 9th, 2009 at 9:13 am
I recently took the J to Bushwick from Manhattan to visit a certain person. I got so confused about which direction to go in — it was SO disorienting. Better guidance on this line for us “foreigners” would be appreciated.
FormerRidgewoodite October 12th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Someone should mention to them that they should reopen the long closed access from the Williamsburg Bridge lines that allows trains to go from Essex St to Broadway-Lafayette station on the 6th Ave line, and then routing up 6th Ave line. Many people have NO idea that this connection and route is even possible. It has not been used since 1976, which was the old “K Train” route. It was eliminated during the fiscal crisis the city had in the 70′s, and never reinstated. People along the Broadway El, Myrtle, and Jamaica lines have NO idea that they “are not stuck” with having trains that only go Downtown, a Midtown route is still possible using EXISTING infrastructure, and would eliminate the need for so many people to have to transfer at Essex/Delancey for 6th Ave service. Tell your line managers to bring back this service!
Here’s an old subway map showing the old K service running from Broadway Junction to 57th St. It also ran from Jamaica at one time, but that is not on this particular map:
http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/caption.pl?/img/maps/system_1972.jpg
Janitza October 13th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Wow, that’s amazing! I didnt know the K line went into midtown. That would be soooo convenient!
Jeremy Sapienza October 13th, 2009 at 9:59 am
A revived K line would be awesome, it would cut 10-15 mins off a trip uptown for hundreds of people an hour.
chillinoncentral October 13th, 2009 at 10:43 am
WOW, that K train would be sooo useful to sooo many people. Any MTA officials reading this, please be the hero and bring it back. I remember a different “K” line that ran as a local train and started at the WTC and run up to 168th St (I think, parallel to the C train) – that was in the early 1980’s, but its not there anymore either.
FormerRidgewoodite October 13th, 2009 at 10:51 am
The K Train you are thinking of was a different K train, which used to run on the 8th Ave line, from World Trade Center to 168th St. It used to run during the day because the C Train used to be a rush hour only service (The A used to run local in Brooklyn), and when the K wasn’t running they needed another local along the 8th Ave line. Once they ran the C train all day, the need for the K train on 8th Ave was unnecessary.
But you are so right, the other K train running along the Broadway El and Williamsburg Bridge to the 6th Ave line would be such a great service to have back again. Back in the 70′s they were cutting service all over the system, and they cited “low ridership” of the K train as a reason for it’s demise. But of course, that’s when Williamsburg and Bushwick were in severe decline, and burning to the ground.
But today, it’s a totally different neighborhood than it was in the mid 70′s when the K train was discontinued. And again, it’s not like they have to build anything, it’s all EXISTING infastructure, the tunnel and track between Essex St and Broadway-Lafayette on the 6th Ave line is there.