14 times • OCTOBER 29, 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.timesnewsweekly.com More trains coming to Queens subway lines next June: MTA BY ROBERT POZARYCKI [email protected] @robbpoz Commuters who rely upon the subway to get around Queens will have more trains to ride next year. The MTA announced on Thursday it would expand weekday service in June 2016 on 12 subway routes, meeting an increase in both current and FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com OCTOBER 29, 2015 • THE COURIER SUN 3 More trains coming to Queens subway lines next June: MTA BY ROBERT POZARYCKI rpozarycki@queenscourier. com/@robbpoz Commuters who rely upon the subway to get around Queens will have more trains to ride next year. The MTA announced on Thursday it would expand weekday service in June 2016 on 12 subway routes, meeting an increase in both current and projected future ridership projected future ridership throughout the system. “New York City is in the middle of a development renaissance, and the MTA is part of the driving force behind huge changes in parts of the city that residents now see as desirable to live in and businesses to build out,” James L. Ferrara, interim MTA New York City Transit president, said in a statement. “Making these service changes wherever we can lets us make the best use of existing resources as we expand to keep up with private sector development.” One particular change affects the morning rush hour for riders of the M line, which operates as a virtual loop between Forest Hills and Middle Village by way of midtown Manhattan. The MTA will add an extra “northbound” train out of Metropolitan Avenue-Middle Village between 8:30 and 9 a.m., increasing the number of trains from three to four. This, however, comes at a cost to those riding the M line “southbound” out of 71st-Continental Avenue in Forest Hills between 8 and 8:30 a.m., as one less train will operate in that direction (five trains to four trains). During both periods, riders can anticipate M trains departing every 7.5 minutes. The MTA will also add an extra train on the N line — which runs from Astoria and Long Island City through to Manhattan and Queens — on weekday mornings from 9 to 9:30 a.m., from three to four trips. The change will reduce wait times from 10 to 7.5 minutes. Additionally, the MTA plans on adding three additional trips on the J line—which operates through Jamaica, Woodhaven and Richmond Hill — during evening hours from 7 to 10 p.m., from 16 to 19 trips. This will reduce wait time from an average of 11.3 minutes to 9.5 minutes. Two extra round-trip trains will come to the E line — which operates as an express through much of Queens between Long Island City and Forest Hills — on weeknights from 8 to 9 p.m., from 10 to 12 trips. This will reduce estimated wait times from six to five minutes. Finally, an extra round-trip train will be added to the A line — which runs from Ozone Park and Far Rockaway to Manhattan — on weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to noon, from three to four trips, reducing wait times from 10 minutes to 7.5 minutes. In all, the system-wide service enhancements will cost the MTA $5.8 million annually, and it has already been included in the authority’s 2016 operating budget. One transit advocacy group was particularly thrilled to hear the news. “This is good news for transit riders,” said John Raskin, executive director of the Riders Alliance. “More trains mean less waiting on lonely platforms, especially at night and on the weekends.” 104th Precinct cracks down on illegal guns and prostitution BY KELLY MARIE MANCUSO commanding officer of the precinct, [email protected] the gun was discovered after the suspect @KellyMMancuso was pulled over for making an The success of the NYPD’s Vision illegal U-turn near the intersection Zero initiative was celebrated at the of Woodhaven Boulevard and Union Oct. 20 104th Precinct Community Turnpike on Oct. 17. Police presence Council meeting after it was revealed in the area was already stepped that a handgun was recovered during up due to a motorcycle fatality at a routine traffic stop in Glendale. the intersection earlier that day. Sgt. According to Capt. Mark Wachter, Martha Lequerica and Police Officer Ock arrested the out-of-state driver and recovered the weapon, as well as a large amount of cash in the vehicle. “This is an example of how a very minor offense leads to taking a gun off the street,” Wachter explained. “It shows that sometimes the little things that we focus on can lead to much bigger offenses. If we didn’t take that gun that night, where would it wind up?” During an open forum, the captain addressed the ongoing battle against illegal massage parlors throughout the command. A resident identified as Kerry A. voiced concerns about prostitution and human sex trafficking in the neighborhood as a result of the so-called “day spas,” citing 69-29 Myrtle Ave. in Glendale as a particularly problematic location. “This has been an ongoing issue over many years,” she said. “They do not belong in the landscape of Glendale. A lot of these places are open 24 hours. You have people coming into the neighborhood at 4 o’clock in the morning looking for sexual services.” According to Wachter, the vice enforcement division has been conducting several ongoing investigations into numerous parlors, resulting in 31 arrests and the closing of seven businesses in the past year alone. Arrests were made on the grounds of offering unlicensed massages, offers to perform sex acts or a combination of both. In addition to enforcement, Wachter explained that suspects arrested in these cases are debriefed in a one-onone interview with an officer and a translator, if needed, to see whether they are victims of human sex trafficking, as well as identify a potential funnel of money back to a larger operation in another country. According to the captain, nearly 80 officers in the precinct were also given special training by an expert to help identify signs of human trafficking. “I am trying to solve it,” Wachter added. “If I can get 69-29 closed, that would be a start.” throughout the system. “New York City is in the middle of a development renaissance, and the MTA is part of the driving force behind huge changes in parts of the city that residents now see as desirable to live in and businesses to build out,” James L. Ferrara, interim MTA New York City Transit president, said in a statement. “Making these service changes wherever we can lets us make the best use of existing resources as we expand to keep up with private sector development.” One particular change affects the morning rush hour for riders of the M line, which operates as a virtual loop between Forest Hills and Middle Village by way of midtown Manhattan. The MTA will add an extra “northbound” train out of Metropolitan Avenue-Middle Village between 8:30 and 9 a.m., increasing the number of trains from three to four. This, however, comes at a cost to those riding the M line “southbound” out of 71st-Continental Avenue in Forest Hills between 8 and 8:30 a.m., as one less train will operate in that direction (five trains to four trains). During both periods, riders can anticipate M trains departing every 7.5 minutes. The MTA will also add an extra train on the N line — which runs from Astoria and Long Island City through to Manhattan and Queens — on weekday mornings from 9 to 9:30 a.m., from three to four trips. The change will reduce wait times from 10 to 7.5 minutes. Additionally, the MTA plans on adding three additional trips on the J line— which operates through Jamaica, Woodhaven and Richmond Hill — during evening hours from 7 to 10 p.m., from 16 to 19 trips. This will reduce wait time from an average of 11.3 minutes to 9.5 minutes. Two extra round-trip trains will come to the E line — which operates as an express through much of Queens between Long Island City and Forest Hills — on weeknights from 8 to 9 p.m., from 10 to 12 trips. This will reduce estimated wait times from six to five minutes. Finally, an extra round-trip train will be added to the A line — which runs from Ozone Park and Far Rockaway to Manhattan — on weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to noon, from three to four trips, reducing wait times from 10 minutes to 7.5 minutes. In all, the system-wide service enhancements will cost the MTA $5.8 million annually, and it has already been included in the authority’s 2016 operating budget. One transit advocacy group was particularly thrilled to hear the news. “This is good news for transit riders,” said John Raskin, executive director of the Riders Alliance. “More trains mean less waiting on lonely platforms, especially at night and on the weekends.” The MTA plans on expanding service on 12 subway and elevated train lines, including the N line that operates in Astoria and Long Island City, next June. Councilmen Miller and Lancman introduce reforms for commuter vans BY KIRSTEN E. PAULSON [email protected]/@QueensCourier Two local lawmakers are pushing for passage of legislation aimed at cracking down on illegal commuter van activity across the city. Three bills focused on commuter van operations that Councilmen I. Daneek Miller and Rory Lancman co-sponsored were considered during the Oct. 22 meeting of the City Council’s Transportation Committee. Introduction 570 would repeal the current Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) requirement that commuter vans operate on a prearrangement basis and maintain a passenger manifest, as well as the requirement information necessary to maintain proper transportation standards throughout the city. The study would have to be submitted to the City Council and posted online by March 1, 2016. Finally, Introduction 861 would raise the civil penalty for violating any law or rule related to commuter vans. Currently, the fine is $1,000 for a first offense and $2,500 for second and subsequent offenses within two years. The current fine for illegally operating a commuter van is $500 to $1,000 for a first offense and $1,000 to $2,500 for second and subsequent offenses within two years. Introduction 861 would raise the fine for any violation or illegal van operation to $3,000 for a first offense and $4,000 for second and array of stakeholders in moving towards a meaningful legislative package.” “Rogue commuter van operators endanger riders and pedestrians every day,” Lancman added. “By gathering more data on the industry and increasing fines for violations, we will create a climate where van operators stop running through regulations and start following the rules.” “In Southeast Queens, residents rely heavily on commuter vans due to a lack of reliable transportation options, but there needs to be stronger enforcement by the TLC,” said Councilman Donovan Richards. “There is no coordination in our districts, so there needs to be designated stops to bring more order to the commuter van industry. RIDGEWOOD TIMES/Photos by Kelly Marie Mancuso Captain Mark Wachter with the board members of the 104th Precinct Community Council at their monthly meeting at the Shops at Atlas Park in Glendale on Oct. 20.
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