MTA Promises Faster R Train, Forgets To Mention Track Repair: BK Pol

BROOKLYN, NY — This Brooklyn pol is shocked, shocked to discover R trains are still running rarely in the wake of a major MTA announcement that service would increase.

State Sen. Andrew Gounardes took to the social media site formerly known as Twitter Thursday to share that promised R train service increases (announced last month with much fanfare) had been "bungled" by track repair work the MTA forgot to mention.

"I'm shocked and frustrated the MTA would misrepresent these service upgrades to the riding public," the Brooklyn pol said. "People need to trust that subways will be reliable and dependable, especially as the MTA is asking for more tax dollars and fare increases to pay for service."

Gounardes decided to investigate after a slew of Brooklynites complained of 14-minute waits weekdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the MTA promised R trains would run every 8, said the state Senator.

Gounardes eventually found the MTA had simultaneously scheduled track replacement and that R line increases would actually begin at 11:30 a.m. until the work was done.

Adding insult to injury, Gounardes was among the Brooklyn pols to celebrate increased service as a win for the borough earlier this month.

"The joke for a long time has been that the R and the N stand for rarely and never," Gounardes said at the time, "but those days are over."

But the caveat was seemingly added later, and not included in the initial announcement about improvements.

"It’s exciting to have added additional service on eight subway lines in eight weeks, including the R line — where average wait time for many riders between 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. is down to 8.5 minutes from 10 minutes. And we will reduce wait times even further in the coming months after completion of necessary track work," MTA President Richard Davey said in a statement to Patch.

It was not clear how long the track replacement would last, but increased service would begin at 10 a.m. after the project was finished, according to the MTA.

"I urge the MTA to deliver on these upgrades as quickly as possible, and as a daily R train commuter myself," Gounardes said. "I promise riders I will hold them accountable until they do."