Threaded Order Chronological Order
| I'm hopeful about the AirTrain | |
| Posted by: Singapore/Fling 02:22 pm EDT 04/09/21 | |
| In reply to: re: I didn’t know about the AirTran to lga - Chatty2007 11:45 am EDT 04/09/21 | |
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| I had my doubts at first, but I've come around to this plan. The AirTrain commute will really come down to whether the MTA increases train frequency on the Port Washington LIRR line, which generally are every half hour (right now they are hourly, but that's partly because they have closed one track to upgrade the rails, likely in advance of the AirTrain). If they can get them to every 15 minutes, then you should be able to get from LGA to Penn Station in about half an hour, which I have never been able to do via other forms of transit. Even if the travel time doesn't improve considerably, I think the convenience will be a huge factor. I rarely go to LGA because bus connections can be slow and street traffic around the airport can be excruciating. Much depends on time of day, but I tend to travel during the times of day when traffic is bad. The other important factor will be cost of the LIRR trip. On the weekends, LIRR travel within New York City is only a few dollars more than the subway. If they made that price standard for the full week (which they should do anyway) or created a special price from Mets-Willets Point, then this could become a very effective way to get people to and from the airport while making more space on the subway and bus for everyone else. |
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| One reason I hate busses is exact cash only | |
| Posted by: dramedy 03:14 pm EDT 04/09/21 | |
| In reply to: I'm hopeful about the AirTrain - Singapore/Fling 02:22 pm EDT 04/09/21 | |
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| JFK air train is nice since I can use a credit card to pay for it and then get a metro card using credit card. I’m sure that is Hugely advantageous to foreigners that haven’t gotten US dollars. Most busses have to use cash or metro card that you must purchase somewhere else. San Fran Bay Area finally went to clipper card for all transit. So I can use the clipper card in east bay busses without worrying about exact change like I can for subway and sf busses and cable cars. |
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| re: One reason I hate busses is exact cash only | |
| Last Edit: ryhog 03:35 pm EDT 04/09/21 | |
| Posted by: ryhog 03:34 pm EDT 04/09/21 | |
| In reply to: One reason I hate busses is exact cash only - dramedy 03:14 pm EDT 04/09/21 | |
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| you can pay for everything with a credit card or phone now. bus, subway, train. You've been away :-) you could also buy an unlimited card at the airport if you were so inclined. | |
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| re: One reason I hate busses is exact cash only | |
| Posted by: Singapore/Fling 03:42 pm EDT 04/09/21 | |
| In reply to: re: One reason I hate busses is exact cash only - ryhog 03:34 pm EDT 04/09/21 | |
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| You can pay for the subway by phone, but you can't transfer to busses just yet (or vice versa, or do any out-of-system subway transfers). Though I expect we'll have a Metrocard app within the next few years that does allow for that. | |
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| re: One reason I hate busses is exact cash only | |
| Posted by: ryhog 04:20 pm EDT 04/09/21 | |
| In reply to: re: One reason I hate busses is exact cash only - Singapore/Fling 03:42 pm EDT 04/09/21 | |
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| You can get the free transfer with a card, just not with applepay, googlepay, etc. (I think this is because those systems randomize the card number. Obviously, if you want the free transfer, you have to use the same credit or debit card.) The app to engage OMNY ( the subway's system) directly is forthcoming supposedly in 2021, as is the ability to use unlimited cards through the app. Right now many of us still have to use a metrocard as a result. | |
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| re: I'm hopeful about the AirTrain | |
| Posted by: ryhog 03:00 pm EDT 04/09/21 | |
| In reply to: I'm hopeful about the AirTrain - Singapore/Fling 02:22 pm EDT 04/09/21 | |
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| The airport bus recommended above from Jackson Heights/Roosevelt is quick and cheap. I think it will be next to impossible for the new train setup to compete on any level. TBH the main benefit of the airtrain is that it will keep people from LI, and parts of Queens and Brooklyn from driving to the airport (which is what they do now). Even with more LIRR trains (highly unlikely as noted) this will be longer and more expensive. And of course the timing to Penn Stn does not account for getting from there to your destination. Give it a try or another one. | |
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| re: I'm hopeful about the AirTrain | |
| Posted by: Chatty2007 02:42 pm EDT 04/09/21 | |
| In reply to: I'm hopeful about the AirTrain - Singapore/Fling 02:22 pm EDT 04/09/21 | |
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| Yeah, don't get your hopes up. Do you really think the Port Washington service will increase to every 15 minutes...especially with the financial problems the MTA is facing? Does any other LIRR route operate that frequently? Besides depending on that highly unlikely occurrence, your half hour estimate bw LGA and Penn Station would depend on having NO wait for the AirTrain or for the connecting train into Manhattan. If you have no wait for the Q70 bus and no wait for the E train at 74th St., you'll be at Penn Station in half an hour. Believe me, this AirTrain is not going to save any time -- except, maybe, if you compare a best-case scenario like above to a worst-case (traffic, delays) on the bus/subway combo. AND it's going to be more expensive for passengers. AirTrains are great for hard-to-reach airports, like most others in U.S. (and NYC area). LGA is not hard to reach...geez, you can walk to it from like 5 different neighborhoods in Queens! |
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