http://www.nypost.com/seven/01282009/news/regionalnews/faulty_doors_have_subways_off_track_152336.htm

People complain about fares, tolls, routes, service, not maintenance. Looks like the MTA brass has heard, and acted accordingly.

“Subway cars traveled about 14,000 less miles in 2008 without failing, which means passengers had to exit the subway and wait for the next train to pick them up, said Charles Seaton, spokesman for New York City Transit. Also, the number of subway delays were up by 35 percent in 2008, MTA statistics show.”

“Russianoff pointed out that NYC Transit president Howard Roberts said at a recent committee meeting that budget crunches and the need to saving money is causing the agency to repair subway cars at a different pace. ‘Roberts acknowledges that they have loosened their standards and do less now than they did before, and that’s the reason for some of the failures,’ Russianoff said.”

Too late to start worrying about the future after it has arrived.

Meanwhile, the good news is the Manhattan Bridge bike path looked clear from the subway window, so I’ll be back on the bike tomorrow. That makes four days I didn’t ride due to cold and winter weather thus far, for those keeping score.

So Larry Summers was Obama’s sop to the Republicans and look what he does first. Sigh.

RE: Arizona Sheriff Wants to Turn Light Rail Line Into Prison Transport

This guy is widely recognized as a dangerous lunatic but Arizona voters keep voting him in over and over again. Unbelievable.