Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Today's Headlines

Tuesday’s Headlines: Maybe this <i>IS</i> an L of a Plan Edition

Andy Byford in a file photo.
Andy Byford in a file photo.
Andy Byford in a file photo.

New details are starting to slowly emerge about the the Andrew Cuomo-endorsed plan to repair the L train without shutting down its East River tunnel for 15 months. The Daily News reported that MTA engineers had considered — and rejected — a version of the Cuomo plan once before. Meanwhile, the Post played up NYC Transit President Andy Byford admitting that he's on the hook for the success or failure of the Cuomo plan.

And, of course, the Times went with its latest annoying question headlines, "Is the Fix for the L-Train Apocalypse Too Good to Be True?" — and then never revealed the answer (which is "Yes!"). But the paper did quote an engineer who said, “A repair cannot last as long as a total rebuild." The MTA engineer gave the Cuomo patch job a life expectancy of 10-20 years, while Byford promised 40.

Vin Barone at amNY added a detail that 90 percent of the tunnel work that was originally planned will still happen, according to Byford — but the key time-saver is the new plan to merely seal water-damaged walls in the tunnel and hang new cables on the walls rather than embed them. And amNY also focused on the benefit to the Williamsburg rental market (oddly, though, with a photo of DUMBO and the Lower East Side).

And Curbed mostly focused on the real-estate impact, but also advanced Streetsblog's agenda-setting coverage to show that business owners in Williamsburg are already starting to demand their parking back. Emma Whitford and Amy Plitt get a shoutout here for a comprehensive impact story.

And in other news:

    • The Daily News Editorial Board came out strongly for congestion pricing on Monday, calling it "not a tax on drivers but a map to a fairer and more rational transportation system." (NYDN)
    • Queens Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer is ramping up his anti-Amazon rhetoric. (Via Twitter)
    • In case you missed it (our editor did!), Gov. Cuomo finally appointed a commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles — which is kind of a big deal, given that this is the agency that can help keep bad drivers off the road. (NY Post)
    • A subway panhandler allegedly stabbed a straphanger who declined to give him 10 cents. (NY Post)
    • Corey Johnson will be at the 77th Street station in Bay Ridge at 5 p.m. tonight to listen to subway riders' concerns. We wonder if he'll hear any!

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

New Bill Would Block Apps From Deactivating Workers Without Cause

A Brooklyn Council member wants delivery app companies to be more human and less robot.

July 18, 2025

Friday Video: Is Berlin a Great Biking City?

Have recent moves by anti-bike, pro-car legislators ruined the experience in the capital of a unified Germany? Sort of!

July 18, 2025

Eyes on the Street: Meeker Avenue Bike Lane Is a Failure

The Department of Transportation still hasn't finished a critical bike lane under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway that the agency has been stalling for over four years even after identifying the strip's danger and lack of proper signals.

July 18, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Cuomo’s Road Rage Edition

Why does Andrew Cuomo drive so recklessly? Plus other news.

July 18, 2025

Fixing Third Ave. Was Once ‘Top of List’ For Eric Adams — But as Mayor He Backed Off

Mayor Adams has delayed a redesign of Brooklyn's Third Avenue despite once saying safety fixes there should be "at the top of our list."

July 17, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Jerry Nadler Edition

U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler faced off with Sean Duffy on Capitol Hill. Plus more news.

July 17, 2025
See all posts