chelsea – Page 3 – Chelsea's Corner

71 (Mt. Auburn St./Watertown Square)

The 71 is the 73’s brother, down to the shared legacy of using trolleybuses until 2022. With that in mind, here’s the 73’s more urban twin.

The route begins by exiting out of the Harvard busway and into Harvard Square, turning down Mt. Auburn Street, where the route follows the 73. However, since riding the 73, the route is detoured due to construction, and some narrow side-streets have to be used. The MBTA attributed the decommissioning of the trolleybus catenary (& the buses themselves by extension) to this construction, which is supposed to be long-term. However, advocates called total bullshit. Well, I’m here to call total bullshit because instead of taking everything down, they could’ve used this for a multi-year rehabilitation project for the infrastructure AND have ordered new buses. Does anyone even still make trolleybuses for the U.S. market, though, or does New Flyer hold a monopoly? Anyways, I digress, one detour later and we’re back on track. Passing a graveyard, a bunch of shops, and entering Watertown, the 73 splits off at Belmont Street, and eventually reaching the Watertown Square bus loop. Now, why the HELL doesn’t this serve the Watertown Yard bus loop instead?! Who knows.

Ukraine and Greenland! (pls don’t invade)

Less wealthy (but presumably still wealthy) suburbs

The good: It’s a direct route between Watertown and Harvard! It’s also rather frequent.

The bad: WHY THE FUCK DID THEY DELETE THE TROLLEYBUS INFRASTRUCTURE, WHAT WAS THE MBTA OF THE CHARLIE BAKER ERA SMOKING?! FURTHERMORE, WHY?! JUST WHY?! ALSO, WHY IS THIS NOT GOING TO THE WATERTOWN YARD?! WHY DOES WATERTOWN NEED TWO BUS LOOPS MERE FEET FROM EACH OTHER?!

Nearby points of interest: Mt. Auburn Hospital, various restaurants in Watertown Square, and apparently there’s even an Armenian museum! Interesting.

Overall, it’s not a bad route, it’s not terribly deviatory (with a rather low EDI), but I do have to ask “why the square and not the yard?”.

Rating: 8/10, but a 1/10 on the MBTA removing the electrical infrastructure for trolleybuses.

Jamaica/JFK Airport (NYCMTA)

Alrighty, this one’s an important station. So, rather than use both names for the station complex (Jamaica for the LIRR, Sutphin Blvd./Archer Ave./JFK Airport for the EJZ), I just shortened it to Jamaica/JFK. With that in mind, here we go.

The subway platform is a two-level setup, with the E on one level and the J(/Z) on the other. This, however, is not the end of the line, though, as there is another stop past here. But, we’ll talk about that later. The mezzanine is rather spacious, to accommodate the loads of people going between the LIRR, the subway, and even the AirTrain (beyond the scope of this blog). I didn’t spend much time here, but it has everything you’d expect (staff, OMNY machines, elevators, etc.).

Going up to street level, you have an old station house – which, interestingly, is also the LIRR’s headquarters. Notably, a good amount of the LIRR’s dispatching is done out here as well, presumably handling everything except the tracks going in/out of Penn Station. The waiting room here is small, but it has a convenience store and a LIRR ticketing agent. In the station itself, it kinda reminds me of Ruggles in a way, but much larger, with the canopy covering the entire station. As for the station itself, you have stairs and escalators down to the numerous platforms, a waiting room on each platform that is sheltered, benches, wastebaskets, access to the AirTrain, ticketing machines (at the time there were MetroCard machines too). Notably, this is the 4th-busiest station on the entire continent (behind Penn Station, Grand Central, and Toronto Union). There’s also bus connections along Archer Avenue outside the station. As for land use, it’s not bad, but it’s not as built-up as LI City, the Atlantic Terminal area, or Midtown. Overall though, it’s very much not an awful station.

And eastbound towards Atlantic/Flatbush, LIC, and Midtown

The good: It’s a major interchange for the subway, the airport link, and the LIRR. There’s also plenty of bus connections!

The bad: This mostly comes down to the land use, but Jamaica isn’t as well built-up as Midtown or LIC is, and thus it feels a bit jarring that one of the busiest stations on the continent is largely among midrise buildings and single-family houses. I don’t really have any complaints though, otherwise.

Nearby points of interest: Not a lot. The immediate intersections are sorta mid-rise? Yet, you can find single-family homes pretty much next door. It’s kinda jarring, honestly.

Transit connections:
LIRR (Oyster Bay, Port Jefferson, Ronkonkoma, Hempstead, West Hempstead, Babylon, Montauk, Long Beach, Far Rockaway, Brooklyn Shuttle)
8th Ave. (E)
Jamaica/Nassau St. (J/Z)
MTA bus (Q1, Q6, Q8, Q9, Q20, Q25, Q30, Q31,Q40, Q41, Q43, Q44-SBS, Q54, Q56, Q60, Q65, Q75)
JFK AirTrain (Red Line)

Overall, it’s a very important station, and a pretty good one at that. The land use feels weird, though.

Rating: 10/10

West Farms Sq./E. Tremont Ave. (Lines #s 2, 5)

West Farms is the closest you can get to the Bronx Zoo on the subway. Is it any good? Let’s see.

West Farms’ station announcement on the New Tech trains is usually followed with “AS YOU EXIT, PLEASE BE CAREFUL OF THE GAP BETWEEN THE PLATFORM AND THE TRAIN!!!” Or, in short terms, “MIND THE GAP.” This is because the station has a considerable curve – albeit not to the same extreme as Union Square’s IRT platforms. The platforms otherwise are pretty standard with your usual amenities, there’s also OMNY machines in the station house – which is a giant imposing metal structure. West Farms Square itself is your standard Bronx neighborhood. Suburbanites will tremor in fear, but in reality it’s just a case of “use your brain and keep to yourself, and nothing will happen”, and that goes for a lot of places typically seen as “bad”. The station itself is also staffed, as is every station. Interestingly, while I was here, trying to return back to Manhattan, someone with a bike asked me to help him bring it in. He had his OMNY card out, tapped, and got the emergency exit opened while I held on to his bike for him, walked it in, and we went on our way. Probably one of the more MTA moments I’ve experienced on this trip. (was I stupid in helping him out of goodwill? Maybe. But, nothing bad happened and I didn’t sniff anything sus, so I had no reason to say no to assisting someone out of goodwill)

This is, indeed, the closest station to the Bronx Zoo’s entrances!

The good: It exists, serves the local neighborhood, and is the closest stop to a pretty big tourist destination in the Bronx!

The bad: It’s inaccessible. 🙁 (& it’s not an express stop, but E. 180th is equally as far from the Zoo) – however, accessibility is planned, from what I know.

Nearby points of interest: The Bronx Zoo is a short 5 minute walk away. There’s also a lot of housing, an art center, a bus depot (for the MTA bus operators), and a school.

Transit connections:
Lexington Ave. (Line #5)
7th Ave. (Line #2)
MTA bus (Bx9, Bx21, Bx36, Q44-SBS)

Overall, while the fact it’s the nearest stop to the Bronx Zoo is important to it, it’s also inaccessible. Yeah, sorry. Fun fact, though: had my parents been brave enough to take the subway growing up, I’d probably have had used this station to visit the Bronx Zoo several times as a child. I actually kinda enjoyed those trips (first time in ’09, in the fallout of a freakin’ tornado, and the second time was in 2017 on a chartered bus with mom only), and admittedly growing up, I did wish we went on family vacations to explore NYC a bit more. However, mom was too busy being fiscally irresponsible and dad was considerably more on edge than he is these days, and was worried about “those people” mugging us. Needless to say, he’s since eased up considerably over the last 5-6 years, and thankfully when I went to NYC, he didn’t have a total aneurysm. In fact, beneath the rating are some photos from my 2017 trip (which I surprisingly still had saved!) – though, sadly, the 2009 trip got lost to time aside from one photo. Even then, I won’t/can’t share that photo as I’m not about to contact mom about using it.

Rating: 6/10

28th St. (Line #1)

Or, I guess as it could be subtitled, “Fashion Institute of Technology”, if you’re set on differentiating it from other 28th St. stations (on the BMT, and on Park Avenue). With that aside, here’s a local Manhattan stop.

The station is your standard IRT local station, with countdown clocks, a station agent, benches, the usual. Also, much like many stations on the MTA subway, it’s not accessible. You also have OMNY machines and all the usual stuff associated with that, along with bus connections at street level. You may also find the odd homeless person sleeping here – just leave them be, never provoke them, they’re human just like most of us and as such deserve a good night’s rest too. As for street level, this is one stop south of Penn Station, and the area does have a rather unique walkshed of its own. Notably, there’s a whole college right next door. Overall, not an awful local stop, but it definitely blends in with the rest with little remarkable.

Not another train in sight for the next 20 minutes…

The good: It exists! It does an ok job at serving the area, while it may not entirely stand out in a system with 400+ stations.

The bad: The biggest issue is accessibility. You’d think being the closest station to a college in Midtown, it’d be accessible. But, it isn’t.

Nearby points of interest: FIT is the big one here! The Penn South housing development is also close by, however 23rd St. on the A might be closer. There’s also some hotels, but rates are probably sky high due to the proximity to Penn Station and Times Square.

Transit connections:
7th Ave. (Line #1, Line #2 overnights)
MTA bus (M7, M20)

Overall, it’s not a bad station. But, it also blends in with a bunch of lookalike stations on the system that resemble this one.

Rating: 6/10

Eltingville (SI Railway)

Alrighty, so to go with the runner-up result in the poll I posted for what to do for this year’s Christmas special, “H E L L” got the runner-up. So, welcome to HELL.

Eltingville is an inaccessible station on the Staten Island Railway. The platform is pretty standard with questionably accurate countdown clocks, benches, trash bins, and even a (locked at the time of visiting) station house! Neat! As it isn’t an accessible station, however, one has to access platforms by stairs and only stairs. Yeah, sorry. It does, however, have a number of bus connections at street level. Sorry, not too much to remark about this station.

Not the worst offender for “locked station house”

Public Works Administration plaque dated to the Depression

The good: It exists, and the area is relatively dense-ish? Even though it’s very suburban, the houses are a bit packed tightly. Also, there’s a decent amount of bus connections.

The bad: IT’S NOT ACCESSIBLE! NOT EVEN A TACTILE STRIP. And, the station house was locked with zero indication of when they’re open.

Nearby points of interest: Not much, given it’s suburban Staten Island. I mean, there is a YMCA and some marshes. But that may be stretching it a bit.

Transit connections:
SI Railway
MTA bus (S59, S79-“SBS”, S89, SIM1, SIM1C, SIM7, SIM10, SIM22)

Overall, this station is hell. But is it as bad as Tottenville? Not quite. But, it’s still not a good station. At least it has more buses?

Rating: 5.5/10

Cynwyd (SEPTA)

It’s pronounced “KINN-widd”. With that aside, happy holidays and let’s look at this station.

Cynwyd is the outer terminus of its namesake line, however it was not always this way. Before the ’80s, the single-tracked line continued on to Ivy Ridge station, shared with the Manayunk/Norristown Line. The station itself is (allegedly) accessible with a mini-high on the inbound end. However, nothing boarded there! Aside from that, there’s a singular side platform, an overpass, some benches, a rail trail where the line used to continue to Ivy Ridge, and a restaurant inside the station house. The stairs going down to the station from Montgomery Avenue was a little sketchy. The rest of the station was actually not awful, though, setting aside service levels. Neat!

Inside the station house! (there is a restroom here)

Where’s the button to indicate you want to cross???

The good: It exists? There’s a station house with a restroom, and can be used to keep warm. There’s also a mini-high, technically making this station accessible.

The bad: TRAINS DON’T BOARD FROM IT?! WHAT THE FUCK! The stairs down to the platform is sketchy. The Key ticketing machines don’t actually spit out a ticket. (although this is more an issue with Key itself than a station issue). Also, nonstandard crossing signage?!

Nearby points of interest: I guess the station house itself is one. Also, the rail trail. There’s also A LOT OF SUBURBIA NEARBY.

Transit connections:
Regional Rail (Cynwyd)
SEPTA bus (44, 52)

Overall, while I’m sure the station might be more useful if more trains ran, it still kinda sucks a little! WHY WOULD YOU BOARD FROM THE LOW LEVEL PLATFORM ONLY?! WHAT DO THEY SMOKE?! I’m sorry, but I can’t give a cute station a good rating with questionable operational practices.

Rating: 5/10

Recommended additional readings: Ranya’s Ramblings

Gregg St. Loop (SEPTA)

Much like the Bells Corner Loop, the Gregg St. Loop is used as a turnback for a bus. In this case, SEPTA’s route 66.

The loop is pretty much copy-pasted, with layover facilities as well as shelter and seating for passengers. Despite the name of the stop, I could not find Gregg Street nearby. However, there is just not a lot to remark about this place, maybe aside from the fact one of its connections goes to FOUR SEASONS TOTAL LANDSCAPING. (iykyk). Otherwise, it’s just a bus loop in suburbia. Where do the aforementioned connections go? Well, the 66 goes to the Frankford TC and to the City Line Loop (check out that post!), and almost into Bensalem Township. Meanwhile, the 70 goes to the Fern Rock TC via Tacony and Cottman Avenue, and the 88 that is so much a mess it’d take a while to figure out.

Every amenity at this loop is pictured here.

I think this might be a substation of some kind

The good: It exists, and buses can short-turn here without blocking traffic.

The bad: Eh? It’s a bus loop, kinda hard to mess it up. No heating would be a pain in the winter, though.

Nearby points of interest: WAWA. And, if you walk an hour, FOUR SEASONS TOTAL LANDSCAPING. There’s also a playground and a bigass golf course. Also, housing. Lots of it.

Transit connections:
SEPTA bus (66, 70, 88)

Overall, eh. Nothing to remark. Ranya also wrote a review of this loop, so I suggest checking that out.

Rating: 6.5/10

Tottenville (SI Railway)

Tottenville is the southern end of the Staten Island Railway and as such is technically the southernmost and westernmost subway station on the system. It’s also a rather wealthy neighborhood on Staten Island.

The station, while technically accessible, is questionably so as it lacks many features of a standard accessible station. I mean, yes, you have step-free access to the platform. However, the platform is rather narrow and there isn’t really any tactile strip. But, given this is hardcore MAGA country, I can’t say I expected anything more. You do have countdown clocks that are dubiously accurate, and there are stairs to street level on both Ellis and Utah/Main Streets, while the southern end of the platform has a ramp to Bentley Street. The ramp, however, does look to be wide enough for a mobility device like a wheelchair. Lastly, while there is parking, I suspect it’s for SI Railway operators only. But, if not, you have a park & ride here! (barely)

This clock turned out to be total dogshite

While this looks narrow, it technically is accessible!

In terms of straight-line distance, this is closer to the NJCL than it is to the next station up the line

The good: It exists, and serves the neighborhood. It’s also technically accessible??? And there’s parking???

The bad: Accessibility is questionable. No tactile strips. Countdown clocks are dubious. The overpass is narrow as hell.

Nearby points of interest: There’s actually a few restaurants and shops on Main St. and Amboy Rd., if you want to walk the half-mile or so. There’s also a rather upscale Italian restaurant at the station itself, but it gives off more the kind of energy one’s grandparents would bring their family to for a night out, and everyone is expected to show up in something formal. Yeah, you know what I’m talking about. Also, a lot of Italian MAGA supporters live around here, so if you happen to be a minority of any kind (socioeconomic or ethnic), do heed a degree of caution.

Transit connections:
SI Railway
MTA bus (S74, S78, both on Arthur Kill Rd.)

Overall, this station is weird. It exists, and it’s cool it serves such a “should not be NYC” part of NYC. But, also, it’s MAGA country. That stuff aside, this station is also dubiously accessible and somehow also manages to be, in straight-line distance, closer to the nearest NJCL stop than to the nearest SI Railway stop.

Rating: 4/10

Beach 105th St. (Rockaway Shuttle)

Or, “Beach 105th St.-Seaside”. This is the least-used station on the entire MTA subway system, so let’s look at it!

Throughout most of the day, this station is served either only by the Rockaway shuttle to either Beach 116th or to Broad Channel. However, at street level, you also have the Q22 to the LIRR and the QM16 to Midtown, and if you come by at the right time, you’ll also find school tripper Q11s (which, for reference, normal Q11s terminate in Hamilton Beach). The station itself has your standard amenities and even has an OMNY machine, however the land use is not the greatest. Yes, you have a beach within a 5 minute walk on one side, but you also have a wastewater treatment plant right next door. There’s also a ferry dock somewhat close by, a school, and some high rises. Neat!

The good: It exists and serves nearby beaches and high-rise developments! There’s also a ferry terminal nearby. Land use surprisingly isn’t as terrible as I expected it to be.

The bad: YUCK. IT REALLY SMELLS HORRID THOUGH. *vomits from wastewater scent*. Also, it’s not accessible.

Nearby points of interest: The beach, high rises, the wastewater treatment plant, and a school mainly.

Transit connections:
Rockaway Shuttle (aka the IND shuttle)
8th Ave. (A, limited service)
MTA bus (Q11 school trippers, Q22, QM16)

Overall, while it’s clear that it’s the least-used subway station, it’s surprisingly not as terrible as I was expecting. And, despite that, it very much does have a use case – even if other adjacent stations fill that use better. It does kinda stink though.

Rating: 6.5/10

Bell’s Corner Loop (SEPTA)

The Bell’s Corner bus loop is at the end of SEPTA’s route 59 bus. It’s nothing too remarkable, with overhead wires for the buses, benches, shelters, and facilities for operators. There are no subway, no trolley, or commuter railroad connections nearby, either. The 58, however, does serve the loop indirectly – with stops on Bustleton Avenue. As for land use, it’s actually not that bad, with a housing complex nearby, along with an elementary school. It’s still suburbia though, complete with strip malls, but it could certainly be much worse. Also, there’s a Wawa nearby. Neat.

The good: It exists, and it’s a smart move to turn a turnback mechanism into a bus stop (this also historically was a trolley loop, presumably). Furthermore, it’s got the amenities one would expect for a bus turnback.

The bad: The 58 doesn’t directly serve it, but that’s not a fault of the loop itself. As for faults with the loop, I don’t really have many issues.

Nearby points of interest: There’s a few green spaces, an elementary school, a Wawa, and a housing complex. Also, suburbia.

Transit connections:
SEPTA bus (59, 58 on Bustleton Avenue)

Overall, it’s serviceable, it’s nothing too crazy, but it’s not a miserable place either.

Rating: 6.5/10