Second Avenue Subway Could Revive the W Line, Officials Say

Pictured above: People snapped photographs after the W train made its last stop, in 2010.

The W subway line from Queens to Lower Manhattan could be making a comeback.

Eliminated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in 2010, the subway line may get a second chance when the first portion of the Second Avenue subway opens later this year, officials said on Friday.

When the Q train is diverted to serve the Second Avenue line on the Upper East Side, the W line would offer a new service option between Midtown Manhattan and Astoria, Queens.

Officials at the authority proposed holding a public hearing this spring to discuss reviving the W line, which would run from Astoria to the Whitehall Street station in Lower Manhattan starting in the fall. The W line was created in 2001 and was discontinued in 2010 amid major budget cuts.

The transportation authority is working hard to open the Second Avenue subway line by the end of the year. An idea that has been discussed for decades, the line will start as an extension of the Q line with three new stations, at 72nd, 86th and 96th Streets.

Thomas F. Prendergast, the authority’s chairman, said in a statement that the agency was getting closer each day to “fulfilling a promise first made to New Yorkers in 1929.”

“Opening the Second Avenue subway will provide new options for our customers and relieve congestion on Lexington Avenue 4, 5, 6 trains,” Mr. Prendergast said.

The authority plans to extend the Second Avenue subway line north, to 125th Street, in the next phase of the project. Elected leaders in East Harlem were angered last year when the authority cut funding for the plans and said construction on the second phase of the project could not start until at least 2020.

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Energy improvements cut costs, reduce emissions at Metro-North rail yard

New York Power Authority has completed a $2.1 million energy-efficiency project at MTA Metro-North Railroad’s North White Plains train yard, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced recently.

Completed under the BuildSmart NY program, the project was designed to cut energy costs by more than $328,000 and remove 1,280 tons of greenhouse gases annually, according to a press release issued by Cuomo’s office.

The project, which began in fall 2014, involved improvements at four major buildings in the yard. The work included the replacement of several air-handling systems and installation of a new boiler, electric smart meters and a building energy monitoring and management system. The system will enable the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to better track and curtail energy use, as well as cut operation and maintenance costs.

The power authority, which oversaw the project from an initial energy audit through its completion, provided upfront funding. The energy savings resulting from the project will offset the MTA’s payments back to the authority.

The authority is partnering with MTA to improve energy efficiency across multiple facilities. When completed, the projects will save more than 50,000 megawatt hours of electricity and nearly 103,000 gallons of fuel a year, as well as eliminate nearly 31,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually, officials said.

Launched in 2012, BuildSmart NY calls for an increase in energy efficiency in state government buildings by 20 percent by 2020.

Could Amtrak Extend Services in Saratoga and Schenectady in the Future?

and Schenectady in the Future?

Being only a short train ride away from New York City is one of the many reasons why living around the Capital Region is great. The only downside is you may have noticed that it’s a rarity for Amtrak to have more than a few trains scheduled from Saratoga or Schenectady on a given day.  However, there could be potential plans for this to change in the future.

A second track between Albany and Schenectady would help break up the congestion that commonly happens. The service will be financed by New York State, which will have to decide whether it’s worth the expense of extending train service beyond Rensselaer.

The trains that do stop in Schenectady and Saratoga are often at inconvenient times for those who wish to commute to New York City. Oftentimes, passengers will have to drive to Rensselaer and catch an early departure from there.

Both the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and the Empire State Passengers Association have expressed interest in additional service in Saratoga Springs. The Times Union reported that Todd Shimkus, President of the Saratoga County Chamber said, “Rail service for us is a huge opportunity.“

For now, we’ll keep our fingers crossed and hope that additional services are extended to Saratoga!

What do you think about Amtrak services extending more trains to Saratoga County?

By Emily Riccio on January 21, 2016

Comets 2 vs. Devils 3 (OT)

The Utica Comets jumped out to a quick start Saturday night, leading 2-0 after the first period, but couldn’t keep up the tempo, and ultimately fell 3-2 to the Albany Devils in overtime at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

Ronalds Kenins (0-2-2) recorded his fourth multi point game in the team’s last five games with two assists. Brendan Gaunce (1-0-1) and Andrey Pedan (1-0-1) each scored for the Comets while Joe Cannata made 31 saves for the Comets.

The Comets potted the first goal of the game 6:51 into the first period. Kenins ripped a shot on net, and Yann Danis knocked it away, but Pedan came up with the rebound, brought the puck to the front of the net and backhanded it into the net.

Utica extended their lead to 2-0 with 2:38 remaining in the first. Hunter Shinkaruk passed it to Gaunce standing in the crease. Gaunce spun around and flicked the puck past Danis for his 15th goal of the season.

The Devils cut into the Comets lead and got on the board for the first 3:08 into the second. Jim O’Brien fired a shot from just inside the blue line, and Dan Kelly got a piece of it to redirect it past Cannata to make it 2-1.

Albany would tie it five minutes later when Mike Sislo jammed a rebound past Cannata for his league-leading 24th goal of the season.

With no goals from either side in the third, the game went to overtime. Matt Lorito ended it with 1:54 left in overtime. Lorito broke away with the puck and put a wrist shot past Cannata to give the Devils a 3-2 win.

Utica finished with 23 shot on goal, while Albany had 34 shots on the night. Danis made 21 saves for the Devils.

With the loss, the Comets drop to 25-18-5-3. The Devils improve to 30-13-7-0 with the win.

The Comets will stay at home for their next game, as they will take on the St. Johns IceCaps at the Utica Memorial Auditorium, Friday night. The two teams have split the first four games against each other this season, each winning two games. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.