The NYC Subway System is on the move!

Free Wi-Fi, L Train Update, Auto-refill MetroCards, Beautiful Artwork, and a New Line

New Q line subway station at 86th Street and 2nd Avenue

 

Free Wi-Fi and Upgrades in NYC Subway Stations

There is now access to free Wi-Fi in 150 of the 279 subway stations, with full coverage scheduled to be in effect by New Year’s Eve. That’s a full year ahead of schedule – wow!

Further improvements are in the works. New trains will have open-ended cars, USB chargers, heightened safety features, digital displays, and a sleeker look. Also coming are renovated stations, which will include new signage with digital, real-time updates at entrances, enhanced lighting, new artwork and more.

The first 3 stations to be renovated and the start dates have just been announced: the R train stations at 53rd St (March 27th), Prospect Ave. (June 5th), and Bay Ridge Ave. (April 29th). Each will be shut down for 6 months in order to complete the work as quickly as possible.

 

L Train Shutdown Timetable Announced, Options Being Considered To Mitigate Commute Disruption

The L train, which travels across 14th St in Manhattan and through Williamsburg and Bushwick in Brooklyn, is scheduled to be shut down for repairs resulting from Hurricane Sandy. The L will still travel through Williamsburg and Bushwick; however, it will not travel into Manhattan or along 14th St. The closure is set to begin in April 2019 and continue for 15 months (down from the originally estimated 18 months).

A number of options are being studied to facilitate transit from this section of Brooklyn into and out of Manhattan. One option is a car-free zone along 14th St. with bicycle, pedestrian, and bus lanes. Car-free zones along sections of Grand Ave. and Bedford Ave. are also being considered. Other options include ramped up G train and ferry service, shuttle busses, and even a gondola!

 

New Subway Fares Go Into Effect March 19

The new fares, which go into effect on March 19, will raise the cost of a monthly card by $4.50, to $121, and a weekly card by $1 to $32. The base fare will remain at $2.75, but the bonus will be only 5%, down from 11%.

 

Auto-Refill NYC MetroCards

We’ve all been there. You’re running to catch the subway. You hear it approaching the station. You swipe your card. Insufficient funds. You’re stopped in your tracks.

Here’s the solution! The EasyPayXpress MetroCard works like EasyPass; you sign up for an account online. You link it to a credit card, and it gets automatically refilled whenever your balance dips below $20. The card can be used on subways, express busses, and local busses. It comes in 2 flavors: Pay-Per Ride, and Unlimited 30 day. You even get the same bonus as at the machines. Check it out and never hit an unmoving turnstile again.

 

New NYC 2nd Avenue Q Subway Line Now Serving Art on the Upper East Side

The new Q subway line, which runs express along Broadway before heading up 2nd Avenue, boasts 3 impressive new stations at 72nd St, 86th St., and 96th St. Besides being super clean and modern, they present a fabulous and inspiring selection of tile artwork at each of the new stations. It’s worth a ride just to check it out. Upper East Side residents are ecstatic – just ask one!

While you’re in the neighborhood, why not visit some open houses? Prices have been on the lower end of the NYC real estate market in the area east of 2nd Avenue as there was no subway nearby. With easier access to the area, that is changing, so now is a great time to jump in and purchase some prime NYC Upper East Side real estate. Shoot us an email or give us a call and we’ll be happy to be your guide.