LHaus
Apr 9 2008

Singing the Stepchild Blues of the G train – It could have been so good.

More bad news from the MTA. How surprising. Despite rising subway fairs and tolls, there seems to be very little money for the neglected ‘stepchild’ G-train.

Poor bastardized, outcasted G-train. You really could be the lifeline subway connection between two very important and vital boroughs in NYC. BK and QNS have definitely had their fair share of rivalry, but as more people continue to move out of Manhattan and into our more ‘spacious’ boroughs, and development kicks it up hundred of notches… the stronger the bond gets between the Kings and Queens.

Yes there are buses, but we all know it’s not the same as a subway line. And though the G train is a hike from the waterfront people of LIC, the rest of us, especially in Court Sq (we’ve officially made the switch from Courthouse Sq, you diehards) know how nicely the G-train can whisk you into Brooklyn. And LIC business owners by the way, should care about accessibility from Brooklynities, because it’s more potential business, and accessibility always helps to build a neighborhood. Yes everyone has their own agenda, and I’m sure many want LIC to remain a detached oasis, but those times are clearly over.

So another story about NYC gov’t missing the boat on supporting subway transit and fostering one of the greatest assets NYC offers, the ability to live a fully mobile life without requiring a car. Which ironically they are trying to reduce the congestion of by instituting yet another fee. Instead of doing that, or in conjunction, doesn’t it make MORE sense to also continuously improve public transit? Or maybe this is just class blindness. The 2nd Ave subway in Manhattan is clearly a favored child… we can’t all be loved.

Or can we?

Commuting

19 Comments

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I have friends I visit regularly in Brooklyn. I always end up going through Manhattan, because I am tired of dealing with G…

Why oh WHY can’t we all get along?

#1 Ben / 3 years, 10 months ago

OMG! The G train is horrible right now. I agree liqcity, it would be great if it was good.

#2 Anonymous / 3 years, 10 months ago

why would anyone from LIC want to go to brooklyn? as long as the 7 train is running, LIC will be fine

#3 Anonymous / 3 years, 10 months ago

Well, we just lost $350 MM (Congestion Pricing) in fed funds for NYC transit so that should do wonders for our mass transit system. I am sure some people would have been affected by the CP, but the overwhelming majority of the city and region would have benefited. There would have been less traffic, less pollution and more revenue for mass transit and maybe a little $omething for the G.

#4 Anonymous / 3 years, 10 months ago

Oh number 3….’why oh why would anyone want to go to Brooklyn?’ Are you crazy? There is so much cool stuff going on there.

#5 Anonymous / 3 years, 10 months ago

Congestion pricing isn’t the only solution for helping the city’s transit system. Read the Times opinion page today, which has some other good ideas for generating money, like making people who drive monster SUVs pay higher road fees. And the city can do this without that idiot Shelly Silver’s OK.

#6 Anonymous / 3 years, 10 months ago

I am sure there is lot of other good ideas to reduce traffic and pollution but CP was one of the better ones. Charging extra for SUVs would only shif t the ownership of SUV to sedans and a sedans takes up the same space or maybe a little less than an SUV in a traffic jam. I do agree Sheldon Silver is the killer of all major NYC projects.

#7 Anonymous / 3 years, 10 months ago

We used to have a commuter tax in the 80s. I have no idea why they got rid of it.

#8 Anonymous / 3 years, 10 months ago

Am I the only person who doesn’t have any major problems with the G? Always works fine for me unless there’s construction. Seems to come every 20 minutes even at 3 AM. I’m dating a girl in South Brooklyn now and it’s an easy half-hour ride. Piece o’ cake. And 10 minutes to the middle of Williamsburg. I wish they’d've passed the congestion pricing thing for more funding, but it works well-enough for most purposes.

#9 Brandon / 3 years, 10 months ago

I am a woman and refuse to ride the G train at night. It can be CREEPY.

#10 Anonymous / 3 years, 10 months ago

Your point about the G train giving Brooklynites access to LIC businesses is right on-point, though. The largest percentage of most any crowd for events I’ve been involved with at LIC bars always seems to be people coming up from Brooklyn and having the G there makes it seem far more accessible for such folks.

#11 Brandon / 3 years, 10 months ago

Brooklyn people (especially northern) are way more likely to come to LIC than Manhattanites. But Manhattanites tend to have problems crossing rivers.

#12 Anonymous / 3 years, 10 months ago

The B61 bus works to get into Brooklyn too. Though I would take the G train if it didn’t suck so much. Some of the transfers are a wicked pain in the arse.

#13 Anonymous / 3 years, 10 months ago

#3: Well my friends happen to live in Brooklyn. That is why I, LIC resident would go to Brooklyn, plus what #5 said… Also, my friends come to LIC and it would be so easy for them to take only the G and not the Manhattan-train-excursion… could someone fix the G?
It is a great to have G stations in LIC, but it defeats the purpose if the train service is so awful…

#14 Ben / 3 years, 10 months ago

It isn’t that bad! B-61 = way slower than the G pretty much always! Plus you get to wait underground with the train.

I, for one, and convinced that the myth of the G being so horrible has taken on a life of its own. It’s like common knowledge that it’s the Worst Train Ever, Never Comes, whatever. I’ve never found this to be the case… I use the thing several times a week and, yeah, it’s shorter than other trains and yeah, certainly not as frequent as the E or 7, but it totally works fine and comes often enough for usual purposes and is almost always preferable to the bus (unless, say, you need to get right to Bedford and it’s nice weather for outdoor waiting).

#15 Brandon / 3 years, 10 months ago

G Train 4-eva.

#16 Brandon / 3 years, 10 months ago

http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/031408/gentrify-that-too.gif

#17 Anonymous / 3 years, 10 months ago

Lets not forget that the city is spending 300 million that was slated for service extensions to LGA airport on a new Yankee stadium platform…

#18 LIC_Insider / 3 years, 10 months ago

i love gentrification.

#19 Anonymous / 3 years, 10 months ago

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