Shouldn't I at least get my $200 from passing GO!?

I Know it's a stretch, but I'm pretty sure the MTA here in NYC has a monopoly over public transportation.  They cover the buses and the subways.  Sure there are taxis or good ole fashioned walkin', but who does that.  Most NYer's main form of transportation is on the rail.  And for the love of god the MTA sucks!

It is a monopoly, right? almost?

So Monday night I'm on my way home from seeing the ever talented Sarah Jacobs and Regina Gibson performing at the Kraine Theater.  It's cold, I'm a little tired, but happy to have seen some amazing theater.  So I have a little high.  That being said, I decide to brave the 8th street subway stop.  I know full well that SINGLE turnstile is temper-mental, but I go for it anyway.  Of course I miss the R train that's headed uptown, but I'm ok.  I'll catch an N.  I swipe right through and I'm on the platform.

Now, at this stop, dear readers, the Q, which I could take, is express.  So it skips this stop.  No worries.  The N is a local and will stop here.  I can take this train as well.  The R...useless to me, but stops here too.  So I just missed an R.  No worries.

Also bear in mind its 10:14...not late.  No construction going on till late that night.  And no alerts about this stop.  It's a normal Monday night.

I wait a few minutes, here comes an N...on the express track?!!  Oh eff me.  What is going on.  No announcements, nothing.  Just zooms by on the express.

More minutes tick by

I see a light at the end of the tunnel..literally, cause the headlights are on.  Here comes.....a Q.  what?  On the local track?  Well...ok, it'll stop.  clearly.  Cause it's on the local.  No it doesn't stop it just zooms right by blaring it's horn.  WHAT THE HELL!?!??!  Again, no announcement.  So now i've missed 2 trains with no explanation at all.

Another R comes, remember..useless..

And Another R.  I take it to the next stop where both the express and local trains stop.  Hopefully one will come by now.  More waiting.  Finally an N, on the right track comes.

So I'm pretty annoyed.  We don't have road rage here we have MTA rage here.  They know that the general public thinks they're a bunch of morons, but nothing get fixed.  Stations close, rates go up, entire train lines are taken away.  Nothing gets better.  Every year we pay more and more to travel in this city and the quality of service goes down.  Why does no one fix this?

Well..i guess we kinda can at least share our thoughts.   That night i found this amazing site:

Lodge a complaint with the MTA.

And did just that.  I lodged a complaint.  I told them exactly what happened.  And here is the response b.s....


Response (Pamela Elsey) - 12/22/2010 11:41 AM
We sincerely regret any inconvenience you experienced while using our subway system.


Please be aware that we generally schedule construction and track repair projects during off-hours and weekends so that they will not pose a problem for the majority of our passengers.  While we understand that some people are inconvenienced, rehabilitation work is necessary to ensure the safety of all our customers and to improve service in our system for all of our passengers. In addition , despite our best efforts to maintain scheduled service, delays in service can sometimes occur for a variety of reasons, including track rehabilitation work, mechanical malfunctions, equipment failure, and police or emergency service activity, among other causes.


Therefore, in response to your concerns, please be assured that we will take corrective measures to ensure that adequate and timely service on the N, Q and R lines, along with all our lines, is provided and that customers are properly informed in the event of a service delay.


In addition, please note that planned service advisories are available on or website at - http://travel.mtanyct.info/serviceadvisory/


As you know, we do have a Subway Service Advisory E-mail Notification Program that gives information about planned service disruptions. In addition, up-to-date Service Alerts are posted on an emergency/as-needed basis.  You may sign up for the Subway Service Advisory E-mail Notification Program by visiting:


http://advisory.mtanyct.info/signuppage.htm


Otherwise, please note that bus and subway service information along with travel itineraries within New York City may also be obtained by calling us at (718) 330-1234, from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., 7 days a week, where customer service representatives are available.  Please have a pen and paper ready, provide each starting point, destination and the approximate time you will be traveling.


We take the concerns of our customers very seriously and thank you for taking the time to contact us.


Pamela Elsey
N Line, R Line General Manager


I'm not an idiot.  This doesn't address my concern.  There were no alerts.  There was no construction.  I want to call her and yell at her.  But that will get me no where.  All I can do is continue to complain and send in suggestions.  And I urge you all to do exactly the same thing!!

Merry freakin Christmas MTA