Our Town Downtown: MTA AGREES TO SQUADRON’S PUSH FOR BETTER WEEKEND SERVICE ON THE L
Riders of the L train, the popular, often crowded gray line that ferries New Yorkers to and from Downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn, should expect to have better service by mid-2012, says State Sen. Daniel Squadron. In July, Squadron requested a review of the L line and weekend F and L train service, according to a release distributed by the senator’s office.
The review was similar to a 2009 F train analysis, also undertaken at Squadron’s request, which resulted in more on-time trains and newer, cleaner subways, the release continued.
Following Squadron’s request over the summer, the MTA reportedly concluded that service hasn’t kept up with a “meteoric” rise in ridership. In an astonishing figure, the MTA noted that ridership on the L train on weekends has increased by 141 percent since 1998. This number was coupled with only a 58 percent increase in service for Saturdays and Sundays.
“As ridership and our communities change and grow, our transit system cannot be stuck on the nine-to-five clock,” said Squadron. “Improving weekend L service is a step toward a subway system that keeps up with its riders every day of the week.”
