Yeah, the issue is the crowding is so bad typically in that corridor at Jamaica that folks just see the ceiling level banners and never get close enough to the readers to see the bank/platform logos before they’ve already committed to the vending machine lines. Way different at subway stations IMO
January 12, 2026 at 11:22 PM
Yeah, the issue is the crowding is so bad typically in that corridor at Jamaica that folks just see the ceiling level banners and never get close enough to the readers to see the bank/platform logos before they’ve already committed to the vending machine lines. Way different at subway stations IMO
They’ve got to more explicitly call out bank cards an Apple/Google Pay at least based on my experience the other day with tourists. The folks I helped clearly didn’t connect “Contactless” with payment methods they had on hand. I think they assumed it was like another MetroCard version.
January 12, 2026 at 11:12 PM
They’ve got to more explicitly call out bank cards an Apple/Google Pay at least based on my experience the other day with tourists. The folks I helped clearly didn’t connect “Contactless” with payment methods they had on hand. I think they assumed it was like another MetroCard version.
Haha, yeah, what a mess. I can muddle through it with contactless and Apple Pay, but I feel so bad for tourists. I had to explain last week at Jamaica to a group from the UK that they didn’t need to wait on the MetroCard line and could just use a bank card. The signage is so confusing.
January 12, 2026 at 10:55 PM
Haha, yeah, what a mess. I can muddle through it with contactless and Apple Pay, but I feel so bad for tourists. I had to explain last week at Jamaica to a group from the UK that they didn’t need to wait on the MetroCard line and could just use a bank card. The signage is so confusing.
Wait, so is PANYNJ just not going to install OMNY vending machines at Jamaica and Howard Beach? This whole thing is wild. Also still hilarious that presumably you won’t be able to use PANYNJ’s own TAPP card on the PANYNJ-operated JFK AirTrain 🙃
January 12, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Wait, so is PANYNJ just not going to install OMNY vending machines at Jamaica and Howard Beach? This whole thing is wild. Also still hilarious that presumably you won’t be able to use PANYNJ’s own TAPP card on the PANYNJ-operated JFK AirTrain 🙃
I’m a little surprised they haven’t tried like a vending machine-style payment/access system for these cabinets.
December 22, 2025 at 6:16 AM
I’m a little surprised they haven’t tried like a vending machine-style payment/access system for these cabinets.
Every LIRR station should be upzoned for housing. It’s crazy you have to go as far out as Patchogue to see some really well done TOD. Should be standard.
December 19, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Every LIRR station should be upzoned for housing. It’s crazy you have to go as far out as Patchogue to see some really well done TOD. Should be standard.
Yeah, that’s exactly what I suspect here. Most systems globally have tap out, so it makes sense to just build it in standard and then turn it off as needed.
December 19, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Yeah, that’s exactly what I suspect here. Most systems globally have tap out, so it makes sense to just build it in standard and then turn it off as needed.
I love the blue lighting turning on when the doors close. Very Star Trek forcefield vibes lol
December 19, 2025 at 3:30 PM
I love the blue lighting turning on when the doors close. Very Star Trek forcefield vibes lol
I guess it’s good there’s support for that concept though. Maybe someday we’ll have OMNY tap readers on commuter rail and you’ll be able to string together a journey across services. One can dream, haha.
December 19, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I guess it’s good there’s support for that concept though. Maybe someday we’ll have OMNY tap readers on commuter rail and you’ll be able to string together a journey across services. One can dream, haha.
Tapping out would probably further cut down on fare evasion but man would that be a big behavioral change for NYers, haha.
December 19, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Tapping out would probably further cut down on fare evasion but man would that be a big behavioral change for NYers, haha.
MTA could also just retile the wayfinding. They’ve done it before on recent(ish) station renewal projects.
December 10, 2025 at 2:21 PM
MTA could also just retile the wayfinding. They’ve done it before on recent(ish) station renewal projects.
This is such a wide ROW. Seems criminal it wasn’t at least an elevated guideway or something. 😬
December 7, 2025 at 2:56 PM
This is such a wide ROW. Seems criminal it wasn’t at least an elevated guideway or something. 😬
Were there a lot of utility relocations packaged into this? How did this get so expensive through what looks like a super wide suburban right of way?
December 7, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Were there a lot of utility relocations packaged into this? How did this get so expensive through what looks like a super wide suburban right of way?
I think you can be mad at those folks and the MTA. It’s theft, plain and simple. Is it violent? No, but it’s still stealing just as it would be if I pocketed some gum or something at the corner store.
December 5, 2025 at 10:14 PM
I think you can be mad at those folks and the MTA. It’s theft, plain and simple. Is it violent? No, but it’s still stealing just as it would be if I pocketed some gum or something at the corner store.
I’d love to see a photo of one of the chute hatches. I’m kind of assuming that they’re all probably taped closed at this point and they’re just running trash up and down with a porter in the service elevator? 😄
December 3, 2025 at 3:15 PM
I’d love to see a photo of one of the chute hatches. I’m kind of assuming that they’re all probably taped closed at this point and they’re just running trash up and down with a porter in the service elevator? 😄
Yeah, good point. Presumably a chute was included in One57 from the same era? Obviously it’s a bit shorter, but not that much shorter. Seems like you’d need at least one kink mid-tower with a generous slope to cut the velocity of trash while preventing obstructions from occurring.
December 3, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Yeah, good point. Presumably a chute was included in One57 from the same era? Obviously it’s a bit shorter, but not that much shorter. Seems like you’d need at least one kink mid-tower with a generous slope to cut the velocity of trash while preventing obstructions from occurring.
Wow, I didn’t appreciate just how close to done this line has looked for awhile. This street view in Apple Maps is like 2.5 years old. 🤯 What was the main holdup? The signaling system?
December 3, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Wow, I didn’t appreciate just how close to done this line has looked for awhile. This street view in Apple Maps is like 2.5 years old. 🤯 What was the main holdup? The signaling system?
Kind of wild that the issues were apparent even during construction. Man what a mess. But a cool tower! The garbage chute thing just seems like such an obvious design flaw that I’m still kind of shocked it’s a real problem and not a rumor.
December 3, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Kind of wild that the issues were apparent even during construction. Man what a mess. But a cool tower! The garbage chute thing just seems like such an obvious design flaw that I’m still kind of shocked it’s a real problem and not a rumor.
Great question. Was just thinking the same if they could turn suboptimal sites into TOD.
December 1, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Great question. Was just thinking the same if they could turn suboptimal sites into TOD.
Why did they pick those locations? Optimizing for parking?
December 1, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Why did they pick those locations? Optimizing for parking?
What cool looking trains!
December 1, 2025 at 12:08 PM
What cool looking trains!
100%. The COVID period presented a really obvious opportunity for MTA to offer comp bumps in exchange for significant labor efficiency improvements and they kind of whiffed it. Presumably because politics entered the equation with Hochul needing TWU support.
November 21, 2025 at 9:02 PM
100%. The COVID period presented a really obvious opportunity for MTA to offer comp bumps in exchange for significant labor efficiency improvements and they kind of whiffed it. Presumably because politics entered the equation with Hochul needing TWU support.
MTA did this to nice effect on legacy subway stops with the Enhanced Stations Initiative several years ago and then kind of gave up on it, sadly. Really makes a big difference visually.
November 17, 2025 at 4:05 AM
MTA did this to nice effect on legacy subway stops with the Enhanced Stations Initiative several years ago and then kind of gave up on it, sadly. Really makes a big difference visually.