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Yeah but the Bronx doesn't really have any East-West subway service
Except for a few situations like the Times Square to GCT shuttle very few subway lines are E-W by design.
What you *do* have are lines that run *OUT* of Manhattan extending into Queens and Brooklyn, thus by nature go east. Again the purpose of the subway system as to get workers (and anyone else) out of lower and Mid-town Manhattan employment centers to outer boroughs. Except for the lines that go into Brooklyn and Queens nearly the entire subway system runs north to south. There are branches and turns were lines go slightly east or west, but then they continue going straight.
Going "east to west" in the Bronx is no different than in Manhattan; you take the subway to the nearest stop and either walk, take a taxi, bus or whatever to get where you need to go. This is one of the reasons why the MTA *finally* allowed free transfers between subway and buses. It eliminates for most having to pay two fares.
The MTA is a state agency. They could probably run the subway wherever they wanted. But given the cost of new subway construction, running it out of the city isn't likely to happen any time soon.
We have enough places in nyc that don't get train service leaving many ny-ers under served by the mta. We need to worry about that before we worry about Yonkers. I mean who really cares about Yonkers!
Yonkers, NY as with some other points north of NYC are served by Metro-North which took over rail commuter service from the bankrupt and defunct New York Central RR & Hudson River RR(later to merge into Penn-Central). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Central_Railroad
Again there was nor is any need for the NYC subway system to go beyond the city limits. The railroads then (and in some cases even before the subway existed) provided train service beyond and in some cases to the Bronx.
The other piece of this puzzle is that as with many other parts of the NYC subway system much of what was in the Bronx was built and run by private enterprise such as the Third Avenue Elevated rail service. Eventually the City took over and replaced much of those trains with subway service. Where service was eliminated bus routes were provided. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRT_Third_Avenue_Line
There is no law that says NYCT cannot expand beyond city borders. However, it is not politically feasible to expand NYCT service beyond city borders. All counties serviced by the MTA pay an MTA surtax to the state, but on top of that, NYC itself contributes a lot more taxes and individually funds a portion of the budget. That is because the bulk of MTA ridership comes from NYCT. If you start significantly expanding NYCT beyond city borders, you're going to run into funding disputes. Why should city riders subsidize out of towners who pay less in taxes for the same services? At the same time, no suburban politician would ever suggest contributing more towards the MTA's budget even if service were expanded into their area.
As we speak, suburban politicians are trying their hardest to minimize their MTA contributions, despite that fact that commuter rails have seen, and are seeing massive capital improvements. There is no reason for NYCT to expand beyond city borders when suburban communities don't want transit, and will not pay for it.
You're also going to run into logistical problems. The 2 line, as one of the longest lines in the city, already has reliability issues. To expand it even further, not only will NYCT have to run more trains (which they have neither the money nor the rolling stock to do so,) you will also see a decrease in reliability. The IRT White Plains RD is also a long 3 track service with no dedicated express trunk, so commute times would be painfully slow for commuters at the end of the line.
There is no law that says NYCT cannot expand beyond city borders. However, it is not politically feasible to expand NYCT service beyond city borders. All counties serviced by the MTA pay an MTA surtax to the state, but on top of that, NYC itself contributes a lot more taxes and individually funds a portion of the budget. That is because the bulk of MTA ridership comes from NYCT. If you start significantly expanding NYCT beyond city borders, you're going to run into funding disputes. Why should city riders subsidize out of towners who pay less in taxes for the same services? At the same time, no suburban politician would ever suggest contributing more towards the MTA's budget even if service were expanded into their area.
As we speak, suburban politicians are trying their hardest to minimize their MTA contributions, despite that fact that commuter rails have seen, and are seeing massive capital improvements. There is no reason for NYCT to expand beyond city borders when suburban communities don't want transit, and will not pay for it.
You're also going to run into logistical problems. The 2 line, as one of the longest lines in the city, already has reliability issues. To expand it even further, not only will NYCT have to run more trains (which they have neither the money nor the rolling stock to do so,) you will also see a decrease in reliability. The IRT White Plains RD is also a long 3 track service with no dedicated express trunk, so commute times would be painfully slow for commuters at the end of the line.
Suburban politicians wanting to decrease their town or whatever MTA contributions crack me up.
Without Metro North most of those places would see huge drop off in property value as persons would be forced to consider other commuting options. Again indeed if NYS had not stepped in and created MN system it is unlikely these suburban communities would have continued their development post Penn-Central demise.
Before anyone starts; no, private investors/groups then nor now are interested in running extensive commuter/passenger rail service. Without subsidy from local and or federal government the things aren't profitable. Metro North fares would have to greatly increase in price if the system were privatized and even then it likely wouldn't be enough.
People also forget that it was the MTA who sunk hundreds of millions into the "saved" GCT returning it back to glory from a dark, dingy and filthy place that nearly went the way of Penn Station.
I don't think the subway is the best mode for local trips. NY should build light rail along the BX 12 and BX 42 routes.
Yes but the problem is those lines would have to be underground for running along Fordham+Pelham and Tremont and that would be extremely expensive. The Select Bus Service is probably the best option at the moment.
I'm a little surprised the Bx42 hasn't been made an SBS since Tremont Avenue is the longest East/West street in the Bronx.
Except for a few situationimes Square to GCT shuttle very few subway lines are E-W by design.
What you *do* have are lines that run *OUT* of Manhattan extending into Queens and Brooklyn, thus by nature go east. Again the purpose of the subway system as to get workers (and anyone else) out of lower and Mid-town Manhattan employment centers to outer boroughs. Except for the lines that go into Brooklyn and Queens nearly the entire subway system runs north to south. There are branches and turns were lines go slightly east or west, but then they continue going straight.
Going "east to west" in the Bronx is no different than in Manhattan; you take the subway to the nearest stop and either walk, take a taxi, bus or whatever to get where you need to go. This is one of the reasons why the MTA *finally* allowed free transfers between subway and buses. It eliminates for most having to pay two fares.
I'm fully aware of what you're getting at, but I still think that Brooklyn has the Bronx beat in subway service, as it is possible to get around most of the borough without needing to transfer to a bus.
The funny thing is Chicago's CTA trains (equivalent of NY's MTA / subway) actually do stretch into bordering suburbs such as Evanston, Wilmette & Skokie (North suburbs) & Oak Park & Forest Park (West suburbs).
Yes but the problem is those lines would have to be underground for running along Fordham+Pelham and Tremont and that would be extremely expensive. The Select Bus Service is probably the best option at the moment.
I'm a little surprised the Bx42 hasn't been made an SBS since Tremont Avenue is the longest East/West street in the Bronx.
I'm sure some nudging from the communities will "make it happen". Look at the Q44.
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