MTA's elimination of the M9 bus affected Battery Park City residents
The elimination of the M9 bus this summer has caused transportation headaches for our area.
Losing the M9 bus line this summer has caused transportation headaches for many residents in our area. Many of our own readers have voiced their concerns over the loss of the M9 line which was a main artery of transportation for the daily life of many residents.
The effects have caught the attention of City Councilmember Margaret Chin and the Community Board to draft a proposal which was recently presented to the MTA.
In that proposal, Battery Park City Committee have offered a resolution which calls for the extension of the M15 bus line into Battery Park City as well as extending the M22 line from Vesey Street into the southernmost tip of our neighborhood at Battery Place and Little West Street.
According to an article in this week’s Downtown Expresss, “The letter states, “due to the elimination of the M9, people traveling between Battery Park City and other areas of New York City are required to make more transfers, and, seniors, the mobility-impaired, and students particularly rely on buses.”
Compounded by the loss of the W line and consistent service closings due to the construction of the Fulton Street Transportation Hub, Lower Manhattan has been adversely affected. A response from the MTA is pending.
Pregnant women stress during 9/11 did not affect births
Women in our area who were pregnant during the September 11th attacks were not found to have at risk births according to a recently published study.
Extensive studies have been held to determine the long and short term effects of the 9/11 attacks on mental and physical healths, but this study is one of the first to demonstrate a little to no effects on unborn babies during that time. Â This is in contrast to a previous study that had found that children exposed to the 9/11 attacks in our area were found to be developmentally vulnerable.
Researchers examined the birth outcomes of 446 women who had worked or lived in our area and were pregnant at that time.
Because the income levels of the women were higher than most New Yorkers, they were compared against women in a similar income bracket who did not live in the area, excluding women who were on Medicaid.
Of those mothers who claimed to be suffering from post traumatic stress symptoms, some were found to have given birth to more low-weight and premature babies than those without.
Downtowners with “Fashion’s Night Out” withdrawal have another chance to live it up during “Luxury’s Night Out.”
On the heels of fashion’s successful shopping event, Financial District’s most well heeled retailers are spinning off their own event dubbed “Fidi’s Luxury’s Night Out.”
FiDi is home to some impressively luxurious boutiques, and our high end neighborhood retailers and restaurants in conjunction with the Downton Alliance, are offering one time deals and events for the downtown community and beyond.
The event will be held this Thursday, September 24th between 5pm-8pm. By mentioning “Luxury Night Out” visitors will be able to take advantage of each individual’s special promotion.
Andaz Wall Street
75 Wall Street
Enjoy complimentary cheese and charcuterie with drinks purchased at Bar Seven Five. Indulge in a complimentary dessert at the Wall & Water Restaurant with purchase of an entree. The Spa at Andaz Wall Street will offer complimentary “15 Minute†(“Share”) treatments from noon to 2 PM and 4 to 6 PM. The Andaz will hold a raffle as well for anyone who leaves a business card.
BMW
67 Wall Street
Join BMW of Manhattan for a wine and cheese reception, preview the new 5 Series, and welcome the MINI brand to the Wall Street store.
Bobby Van’s Steakhouse
25 Broad Street
Enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drink specials surrounded by antique bank vaults from 1902 at Bobby Van’s Steakhouse at 25 Broad Street across from the New York Stock Exchange. Dropping off a business card gives guests a chance to win a dinner for four.
Canalici
25 Broad Street
Enjoy a wine and cheese reception while viewing Canali’s Fall Collection. A complimentary tie will be given with the purchase of a suit or sports coat and trouser. A raffle will be held so drop off a business card.
Cipriani
(Served at Tiffany’s, 37 Wall Street)
Cipriani will be serving hors d’oeurves and its classic Bellinis at Tiffany’s.
KiptonART
75 Wall street
Enjoy the new KiptonART exhibition, “Kismet,” and enter a raffle to win lunch with founder Kipton Cronkite, who will provide a free curatorial review and insider scoop on today’s art market.
La Maison du Chocolat
63 Wall Street
Visit La Maison du Chocolat to taste freshly prepared ganache and the signature hot and cold chocolate beverages.
The Setai Club & Spa
40 Broad Street
Rest weary soles at The Setai Spa, where there will be complimentary mini-reflexology sessions and champagne toasts from 8 to 10 PM (Remember to RSVP to [email protected]).
Thomas Pink
63 Wall Street
Enjoy a night of shopping with complimentary wine and a special gift with purchase and delectable hors d’oeuvres by The Capital Grille.
Tiffany & Co.
37 Wall Street
Tiffany & Co. will showcase its newest collection of dazzling yellow diamond jewelry (and serve the Cipriani delicacies as noted above).
Tourbillon Boutique
45 Wall Street
Tourbillon Boutique and The Greene Grape Company will hold a special “Watches and Wine Tasting” and offer complimentary gifts with purchase.
Battery Park Synagogue has become locally famous for their children’s candlelight and flashlight procession for Neilah, the conclusion of Yom Kippur services Saturday night, September 18 at around 7:30 pm.
Battery Park Synagogue Neilah Shofar
As in past years, services are held in the 2nd floor ballrooms of the NY Marriott Downtown Hotel, 85 West Street. They will be held in a dimly lit sanctuary, during the closing service that ends with multiple individuals blowing shofars, as well as many dozens kids, standing on the podium at the front of the room, singing and swaying to usher in the end of Yom Kippur.
Obviously, the MTA doesn’t want us to leave Battery Park City, we are losing our 1 train over the next two weekends.
On top of losing the 9 and W trains as well as M9 service, we are really living up to our “Lower Manhattan’s Siberia” reputation.
The shut down of the 1 train will accomodate for end-to-end maintenance on the line, which includes completing work at the World Trade Center site.
The decision to shut the 1 train down over two weekends was the lesser of two transportation evils and provided more efficient repairs versus stretching them out over months.
For the next two weekends, free shuttle buses will connect riders to points on the A line that will run locally along the 2/3 lines within Manhattan.
According to the MTA.info website:
The 2,3,A trains, free shuttle buses, and the M3 bus provide alternate service
Weekend, 11:30 PM Fri to 5 AM Mon, Sep 17 – 20 | Sep 24 – 27
2 and 3 trains run local and replace the 1 between 96 and Chambers Sts.
(Downtown 2 and 3 trains skip 86 and 79 Sts)
Shuttle buses run in four sections making station stops on the 1 line:
1. On Broadway between 242 and 215 Sts, then connecting to the 207 St A station.
2. On St Nicholas Av between 191 and 168 Sts.
3. On Broadway between 168 and 96 Sts (express and local service).
4. In Lower Manhattan between Chambers St and South Ferry.
Battery Park City Esplanade (Credit: saitowitz/Flickr)
Finding a place to smoke is becoming a real drag. After banning smoking in bars and restaurants, Mayor Bloomberg has announced plans to introduce legislation making it illegal to smoke in public areas.
The legislation will be introduced in City Council today, and if approved will go into effect in approximately 3 months after being signed into law.
Violators of this proposed law will be fined $50 by either a Police or Parks Department official.
The pedestrian plaza at Times Square, Central Park and other major public  parks and areas, conceivably even the Battery Park City esplanade could be part of the smoking ban.
Tribute in Light is a danger for migrating birds (Credit: NYC Audubon)
Tonight, Jeremy asked,
“I know it might sound strange, but tonight when I was a couple of blocks away it looked like thousands of birds flying in them. Did they add sparkles or something like that?”
As much as we love them, as beautiful and revered as the Tribute in Light are as part of our nation’s 9/11 commemoration rituals… Jeremy brings up an excellent point.
Those are not sparkles, but thousands of migrating birds — lost within the beams of light, blinding their direction off course.
The migration patterns of birds during this time has caused their advocates to call for major skyscrapers to turn off their lights in order to alleviate bird collision deaths during migration. The most famous example is the Chrysler and Empire State Building, have recently agreed to shut off their lights at night until the end of the migration season on November 1st. Yet, it hasn’t stopped the Tribute in Light from being cast every September 11th.
The NYC Audubon society has conducted studies in which their findings indicated that birds fly at lower altitudes at night, causing them to collide into well-lit or glass fronted high buildings.
The Tribute in Light causes another concern as the lights have been found to blind the birds. According to the group, “September is a peak month for many of the 200 or so species that head south over New York City. The majority of these fly during the night, and under certain conditions they can be placed at extreme risk. Birds can be strongly attracted to artificial lights, perhaps because some species use natural light-the stars, the moon-to navigate. When natural light is absent-during cloudy conditions, for example, or when the moon is new-artificial lights can have an amplified and sometimes deadly effect.”
If anything, it’s a good thing for our fine feathered friends that the tribute is only a night long event.
Lower Manhattan Vehicle and Pedestrian Restrictions
Tuesday, September 7, 2010 to Sunday, September 12, 2010
The City of New York has implemented the following street closures, parking rule changes and restrictions for vehicular and pedestrian traffic in preparation for the September 11 commemoration at Zuccotti Park (south of One Liberty Plaza at Liberty Street between Broadway and Church Street/Trinity Place).
The City’s advisory is as follows:
The commemoration for family members will take place on Saturday, September 11 from 6:30 AM to until late afternoon. Following a moment of silence at 8:46 AM, the names of the victims will be read with music as a backdrop throughout the program. There will be additional moments of silence at 9:03 AM, 9:59 AM and 10:28 AM. During the ceremony, families will be allowed to visit the WTC site.
The Tribute in Light, originating at the Battery Garage, will begin at sundown.
Given the limited vehicle and pedestrian access in the immediate area of Zuccotti Park and Lower Manhattan vicinity, we ask that you encourage your fellow residents, tenants, employees and outside guests to do the following in preparation:
Avoid scheduling deliveries on September 11 until after 5 PM.
Use public transportation whenever possible to stations outside the event area.
Minimize car-service pickups on September 11 until after 5 PM. Traffic along Broadway and West Street is expected to be heavy.
Below is the City’s outline for vehicle and pedestrian access information:
Zuccotti Park will be closed in part starting at 7 PM Tuesday, September 7. It will be completely closed on Saturday, September 11 and will reopen on Sunday, September 12. The Greenmarket in Zuccotti Park will be open on Tuesday, September 7 as scheduled. Vendors will not be allowed to operate in the park on Saturday, September 11.
The R train station at Cortlandt and Church streets will be closed the evening of Friday, September 10 and on Saturday, September 11.
Liberty Street between Broadway and Church Street/Trinity Place will be closed to vehicles, parking and traffic from 7 PM Tuesday, September 7 to 11:59 PM Saturday, September 11. Pedestrian access will be very limited. There will be no pedestrian access on Saturday, September 11. Liberty Street between Broadway and Nassau Street will be closed to parking from 12:01 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, September 11.
The Liberty Street Pedestrian Bridge will be closed from 12:01 AM to 11:59 PM on Saturday, September 11. To cross West Street, pedestrians will be directed to use the Vesey Street Pedestrian Bridge or go south to cross at street level at Albany and Carlisle streets.
Albany Street between Greenwich and West streets will be closed to vehicles, parking and traffic from 9 PM Friday, September 10 to 11:59 PM Saturday, September 11. Pedestrian access will be very limited.
Carlisle Street between Greenwich and West streets will be closed to vehicles, parking and traffic from 9 PM Friday, September 10 to 11:59 PM Saturday, September 11. The street will be open for pedestrians only.
Thames Street between Broadway and Greenwich Street will be closed to vehicles, parking and traffic from 9 PM Friday, September 10 to 11:59 PM Saturday, September 11. The street will be used for pedestrians only.
Cedar Street between Broadway and Church/Trinity Place will be closed to vehicles, parking and traffic from 12:01 AM Thursday, September 9 to 11:59 PM Saturday, September 11. Pedestrian access will be very limited. Cedar Street between Broadway and Nassau Street will be closed to parking from 12:01 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, September 11.
Church Street/Trinity Place between Battery Place and Dey Street will be closed to vehicles, parking and traffic from 12:01 AM to 5 PM Saturday, September 11. Traffic will be diverted to West Street. Pedestrian access will be very limited. Church Street between Chambers and Warren streets will be closed to parking.
Cortlandt Street between Broadway and Church Street will be closed to parking from 7 PM Tuesday, September 7 to 11:59 PM Saturday, September 11. It will be closed to all vehicles, parking and traffic from 12:01 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, September 11. Pedestrian access will be very limited.
Dey Street between Broadway and Church will be closed to vehicles, parking and traffic from 12:01 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, September 11. Pedestrian access will be open.
Fulton Street between Broadway and Church will be closed to parking from 12:01 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, September 11. Pedestrian and vehicle access will be open.
Barclay Street between Broadway and West Street will be closed to parking from 12:01 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, September 11. Pedestrian and vehicle access will be open.
Murray Street from West to Church streets, Greenwich Street from Chambers to Barclay streets, Â Park Place from West Broadway to Greenwich Street and West Broadway from Warren to Barclay streets will be closed to parking on Saturday, September 11. Pedestrian access will be open.
Warren Street between West Street and Broadway will remain open to vehicles, traffic and pedestrians on Saturday, September 11. However, no parking will be in effect.
No parking will be in effect on all closed street—including official permit parking. All cars parked illegally will be towed.
Note that West Street and Broadway will be the prime uptown and downtown traffic thoroughfares from 12:01 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, September 11. Please allow enough time for travel.
If you have questions, please call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov.
Tribute in Light atop the Battery Garage on Morris Street.
The downtown skyline will soon be illuminated with the somber Tribute in Lights. Two giant beams of light cutting through the realization that we are upon the 9th anniversary of the terror attacks on the World Trade Center.
The Tribute in Light first came on six months after the attacks in 2002, and have been primarily funded by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) who have provided the financial support of the iconic tribute.
Contrary to popular belief, the Tribute in Lights is not beaming at the World Trade Center site but are located six blocks south of Ground Zero, set atop the Battery Garage on Morris Street. During the first two years of the tribute, the lights were located on West Street where the Goldman Sachs building now stands.
The tribute is comprised of 88 4-foot tall searchlights set in 50 x 50 foot identical squares.
Although primarily subsidized by the LMDC, the project is also in conjunction with Con Edison. It is speculated that after the LMDC re-allocated funding earmarked for Con Edison, meant to subsidize Con Edison’s costs at the World Trade Center Site may play a role in compromising the future of the Tribute. As of today, it is if the Tribute will exist beyond the 10th anniversary of the World Trade Center attack in 2011.
This year, as the past few years, the tribute will begin at dusk on September 11th and end on dawn of September 12.
