Updated: Man stabbed in back exiting the L train at 1st Avenue

EVG reader photo

Updated 9/23: Police have made an arrest in the case. Details here. The suspect, an East Village resident, is out on bail.

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According to the NYPD and media accounts, a 29-year-old man was stabbed in the back last night just before 9 by a stranger as he was exiting a Brooklyn-bound L train at the First Avenue stop. 

The Daily News reported the victim first thought he had been punched until he saw the blood. 

Per the News: "Police later described the possible attacker as 'an Asian man with a bag.'" 

In a follow-up story, amNY reported that when leaving the station, the victim "bumped into the suspect, who then engaged in a verbal argument with him." The suspect then stabbed the man and ran off. 

According to surveillance footage released by the NYPD, the suspect was wearing a white baseball cap, a white mask under his chin, a dark blue jacket with white lettering on the sleeves over a light blue shirt, dark pants, and blue-and-white sneakers.

EMTs took the victim to Bellevue, where he is in stable condition, ABC 7 reported.

Anyone with information that could help in the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You may also submit tips online. All calls are strictly confidential.

A moment on the L-train platform this afternoon

 

As seen on the eastbound Third Avenue L platform this afternoon ... thanks to Adrienne Dee-Olsen for the clip!

Looking at the new mosaics inside the 1st Avenue L stop

Back on Thursday, the MTA unveiled a mosaic series by local artist Katherine Bradford throughout the First Avenue (and Avenue A!) L stop. 

Per the MTA: "Reflecting the community of people who use the 1 Av-14 St station, vibrant compositions totaling about 400 sq ft of glass mosaic ... are installed throughout the station."

Here's more via @mtaartsdesign:

The intriguing, ethereal figures seen in the mosaic panels represent the riders of the L train, which transports creative folk pursuing their dreams and the real-life heroes who provide essential services. 

In New York, these riders are dressed most often in black, which the artist believes is "merely a cloak over an inner life that is wildly colorful and unconventional." This group of figures expresses the energy of camaraderie when people are gathered together and inspires viewers to consider the outward expression of one’s own interior vivacity.

Artist Marcel Dzama created a series for the Bedford stop. This post at 6sqft has more photos of the mosaics at the First Avenue and Bedford stations.

Art pics via @mtaartsdesign

MTA unveils new 14th Street L-train elevators; make a pitch to the feds for funding

[Photo by Greg Masters]

MTA officials yesterday officially unveiled the two platform-to-street ADA elevators on either side of 14th Street near Avenue A that are now servicing the L-train stop.

In announcing the completion of this project, MTA officials, along with accessibility advocates, used the moment to call upon the federal government to provide funding to help secure the MTA’s 2020-2024 Capital Plan ... and bring more accessibility across the system.

Per the announcement:

Officials have stressed that the MTA needs $12 billion in federal aid in order to maintain operations through the end of 2021. A coalition of 13 advocacy groups sent a letter to Washington lawmakers today calling on them to make transit funding the "highest priority" in Congress's next Covid-19 relief bill.

"We have fought hard alongside transit advocates to make accessibility a top priority at the MTA and remain committed to doing so," said Janno Lieber, president of MTA Construction & Development, at the announcement. "As historic as the 2020-2024 Capital Plan is, I want to be very clear: it can't happen the way we originally envisioned it, unless Congress steps up and provides us with meaningful aid."

The MTA says they are currently losing $200 million a week in revenue from fares, tolls, subsidies and COVID-19-related expenses. (This Streetsblog post from yesterday explores the MTA's financial options — none of which are too good.)

Meanwhile, here's a look at the elevators now in operation on both sides of 14th Street...







In addition to the elevators, the First Avenue L stop now has four working entrances — two at First Avenue and two at Avenue A.

The work — part of the Sandy-damaged Canarsie tunnel rehabilitation — officially began along this corridor between Avenue B and First Avenue in July 2017. Since that time, both Target and Trader Joe's have opened.

What's next for L-train work along 14th Street

Workers recently removed the partitions from the L train's north entrance on First Avenue at 14th Street... another sign of progress in the ongoing rehab of the stations and tunnels here.

In late April, Gov. Cuomo announced that the Sandy-damaged Canarsie tunnel rehabilitation phase was completed — reportedly several months ahead of schedule and less than $100 million as originally expected.

The MTA's L Project Monthly e-newsletter provided an update this past weekend about what to expect with the renovations along 14th Street this month as the city beings to reopen from the COVID-19 pandemic:

• First Avenue North: To be opened with temporary finishes. All other entrances will remain open for the time being. In the future, we will alternate closing them down to do final finishes

• New Avenue A entrances: Tile and mosaic work on columns will be underway

• Two street-to-platform elevators at Avenue A on the north and south sides of 14th Street: Glass installation is scheduled for both platform and street-level, followed by testing

• Street restoration along 14th Street: Lane striping and NYC DOT signage will be completed between First Avenue and Avenue B; new cobblestone will be installed in the median between Avenue A and Avenue B; part of the worksite will be consolidated in the median between Avenue A and Avenue B; traffic signal and street lights will be installed along 14th Street.

• Avenue B-area substation: Water and sewer taps will be installed, and the roadway there will be repaired

• New escalator at 14th Street-Union Square: Estimated completion is now scheduled for summer 2020 following contractor delays due to COVID-19.

Now that the L-train tunnel work is complete, here's what to expect along 14th Street

ICYMI: On April 26, Gov. Cuomo announced that the Sandy-damaged Canarsie tunnel rehabilitation phase was completed — reportedly several months ahead of schedule and less than $100 million as originally expected.

L trains are now running more frequently on weekends than during the L Project tunnel rehabilitation phase, but service reductions remain.

Now the MTA is focusing on non-tunnel elements, such as the new entrance on 14th Street at Avenue A and the rehabbed station at First Avenue.

The L Project e-newsletter from this past weekend provided an overview of interest to residents and commuters in this neighborhood. Here's a recap of what they had to say (completion dates subject to changes):

• The First Avenue north entrance is expected to open this month with final granite work at the street level scheduled for the fall.

• The First Avenue south entrance opened ahead of schedule last Monday. (The MTA said that the pushed to get it done early given the entrance's proximity to Mount Sinai Beth Israel.) Final work at the street level is scheduled for summer and fall.


[1st Avenue south entrance]

• The new Avenue A north entrance is currently open, with final finishes scheduled for after the completion of the First Avenue north side.

• The Avenue A south entrance is also open. The MTA still needs to complete the granite work. However, officials say that they're keeping this entrance open for the time being given its proximity to the hospital.

• Two street-to-platform elevators at Avenue A on the north and south sides of 14th Street: Estimated completion scheduled for the summer.





• Street restoration along 14th: Paving expected to begin on May 11, pending weather conditions, and the work is estimated to last one week.

• Tree planting along 14th Street: Planned to begin on Thursday, pending weather conditions.

• Avenue B-area substation: High-tension power connection expected to occur in May or June.

• Avenue D fan plant: Final work scheduled to be completed in June.

• New escalator at 14th Street-Union Square: Estimated completion is now scheduled for the summer following COVID-19-related contractor delays.

Previously on EV Grieve:
1 weekend down: L-train slowdown recap

Renderings reveal the MTA's plans for the Avenue A L station; why does everyone look so happy?

Nightmare scenario for residents who learn that 14th Street and Avenue A will be the main staging area for the L-train reconstruction

What the L: Cuomo calls off full L-train shutdown

For now, both entrances to the 1st Avenue L-train station are located at Avenue A

The L train's new Avenue A north entrance — for Eighth Avenue-bound commuters — opened this past Monday.

For the next few months, you'll need to use the Avenue A entrances for all L-train action. (The Brooklyn-bound side arrived this past Nov. 4 at Avenue A.)

This morning, workers boarded up the north entrance at First Avenue.



This side is expected to be closed for repairs until May.



The south side entrance at First Avenue is expected to reopen in April...



Once the MTA complete the First Avenue entrances, the ones at Avenue A will close again so workers can add the finishing touches. No word just yet from the MTA about when all four entrances — two at First Avenue and two at Avenue A — will all be accessible at the same time.

When all the construction is wrapped up, the revamped 14th Street First Avenue station will have four entrances — including the two on either side of 14th Street at Avenue A as well as two new platform-to-street ADA elevators that will be ready for use this summer. (Find more details on this MTA advisory.)

REMINDER: North side L-train entrance opens on Avenue A today

[Photo from Saturday]

As we first reported last week, the L train's new Avenue A north entrance — for Eighth Avenue-bound commuters — debuts today (Feb. 10).

Here's a look around the outside of the two entrance on the Stuy Town side of 14th Street...







MTA officials have said that the entrance is opening with "temporary finishes."

With this debut, the MTA will now close the north-side entrance on First Avenue on Feb. 17 for renovations.

Here's the full schedule of what to expect from The L Project e-newsletter:

• Starting this Friday night (around 10), you'll use the Avenue A north entrance to access trains in both directions on weekends and weeknights.

• On Monday, Feb. 17, the First Avenue north entrance will close for reconstruction. Like the other side, this will take about three months, so we're estimating a May 2020 completion. While this work is happening, both entrances to the First Avenue Station will be located at Avenue A.

• Once we complete the First Avenue entrances, the ones at Avenue A will close again for a bit so we can do the final finishes.

When all the construction is wrapped up, the revamped 14th Street First Avenue station will have four entrances — including the two on either side of 14th Street at Avenue A as well as two new platform-to-street ADA elevators that will be ready for use this summer. (Find more details on this MTA advisory.)

The Brooklyn-bound side arrived this past Nov. 4 at Avenue A.

No word just yet from the MTA about when all four entrances — two at First Avenue and two at Avenue A — will all be accessible at the same time. Also, the work on the new substation at 14th Street and Avenue B is expected to wrap up this spring.

North side L-train entrance opens at Avenue A on Monday

The L train's new Avenue A north entrance — for Eighth Avenue-bound commuters — will debut on Monday (Feb. 10). The Brooklyn-bound side arrived this past Nov. 4.



MTA officials note that the entrance is opening with "temporary finishes" ...



With this debut, the MTA will close the north-side entrance on First Avenue on Feb. 17 for renovations.

Here's the full schedule of what to expect from The L Project e-newsletter:

• Starting on Friday night (around 10), Feb. 15, you'll use the Avenue A north entrance to access trains in both directions on weekends and weeknights.

• On Monday, Feb. 17, the First Avenue north entrance will close for reconstruction. Like the other side, this will take about three months, so we're estimating a May 2020 completion. While this work is happening, both entrances to the First Avenue Station will be located at Avenue A.

• Once we complete the First Avenue entrances, the ones at Avenue A will close again for a bit so we can do the final finishes.

When all the construction is wrapped up, the revamped 14th Street First Avenue station will have four entrances — including the two on either side of 14th Street at Avenue A as well as two new platform-to-street ADA elevators that will be ready for use this summer. (Find more details on this MTA advisory.)

L-train construction fence finally comes down on 14th Street — 3 weeks after the Associated closed

[Obscured view of the former Associated from Dec. 14]

The Associated Supermarket on 14th Street in Stuy Town closed in mid-December.

Joseph Falzon, the store’s owner, previously told Crain's that a confluence of factors had cut business nearly in half. For starters, construction on 14th Street for the L-train upgrades obscured the single-level storefront with a 12-foot fence these past two-plus years.

Now, roughly three weeks after the store closed, workers removed that fence from the north side of 14th Street ... offering unobstructed views of the now-shuttered supermarket...







The corner of 14th Street and Avenue A has served as the main staging area for the L-train reconstruction dating back to July 2017.

Previously on EV Grieve:
• Trees coming down for L train expansion on 14th Street

The MTA closes the 2 Brooklyn-bound L-train entrances for upgrades on 14th Street at 1st Avenue

[Photo via the MTA]

The two new L-train entrances on 14th Street at Avenue A — for Brooklyn-bound commuters — debuted last Monday. (First reported here.)

Starting today (Nov. 11), the MTA is closing the two Brooklyn-bound entrances on 14th Street at First Avenue. The MTA is replacing all of the structural beams and redoing the walls and tile — with a scheduled April 2020 completion date.



Workers have board up the entrances on the south side of 14th Street (h/t Pinch!)...



So here's what that means, via the L Project Newsletter:

• On weekdays between 5 a.m. and 9:45 p.m., use the new Avenue A south entrance for Brooklyn-bound service.
• On nights/weekends, use the First Avenue north for service in both directions.

Here are more details from the newsletter:

1) Other parts of the First Avenue Station improvements are also ahead of schedule, including the elevators.
The two new elevators, one on either side of 14th Street near Avenue A, were originally supposed to open in November 2020. Now, we're estimating a June 2020 completion.

2) The new Avenue A north (Manhattan-bound) entrance will open later, sometime in 2020. The First Avenue north side will close then, just like the south side entrances. We're phasing the entrance work so we can always have two entrances open at all times, one on either side of the tracks.

3) Street restoration is ahead of schedule, too. Originally, the street restoration wasn't supposed to be completed until May 2020. Now, most of it will be done by January. We'll be pouring new sidewalks and getting rid of or shrinking our worksites. Reduced barricaded areas will stay around the two elevators and on the north side of 14th Street by the Avenue B substation. All work will be underground except for the elevators and reconstructed entrances.

Preliminary work on the Avenue A entrances in July 2017.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Nightmare scenario for residents who learn that 14th Street and Avenue A will be the main staging area for the L-train reconstruction

Behold your new Avenue A L-train entrances!

Behold your new Avenue A L-train entrances!

As we were first to report back on Sunday evening, the L train's new Avenue A entrances — the Brooklyn-bound side — opened to the public yesterday morning at 9.

But first! There were speeches and what not...





EVG regular Greg Masters, who provided the initial tip about the opening, shared these photos (the MTA noted that the station opened with temporary finishes)...





This work has been two-plus years in the making. According to MTA officials yesterday, the majority of work on the 14th Street sidewalk restoration is expected to be completed more than six months ahead of schedule.

When all the construction is wrapped up, the revamped 14th Street First Avenue station will have four new street entrances — two on either side of 14th Street at Avenue A as well as two new platform-to-street ADA elevators that will be ready next summer. (Find more details on this MTA advisory.)

Still no word on when the the north side (Eighth Avenue bound) entrances will open at Avenue A. Meanwhile, the luxury of having entrances at Avenue A and First Avenue will be short-lived.

According to the L Project Newsletter:

Now that the Avenue A side will be open, the 1st Avenue side will close on Nov. 11 for a few months for structural repairs. We have to make sure it looks as good (and has the structural strength too!) to match the new one. The same thing will also happen for the north side entrances. We'll always have two open at the station.

Now here are additional photos courtesy of East Village Tours...





Bedford & Bowery has a few video clips of the new entrances here.

Meanwhile, the L-train slowdown, which began on April 26, is now expected to be finished within a year — reportedly several months ahead of schedule.

Will the new Avenue A L-train entrances open soon?

From the Grain of Salt Department over at 14th Street and Avenue A, where the MTA is putting in new L-train entrances with elevators.

An MTA worker told EVG regular Greg Masters that the south side of the Avenue A entrance to the L train (Brooklyn bound) may be open in a "few weeks," and then the north side (Eighth Avenue bound) a few weeks after that.

Backing that up, the entrances look to be in near game-time shape, as these photos from Greg show...





The work on the new entrances — to help relieve congestion at the First Avenue station a block away — started in July 2017.

Meanwhile, the L-train slowdown, which began on April 26, is now expected to be finished within a year — reportedly several months ahead of schedule.

Previously on EV Grieve:
To L and back: Reactions and questions over Gov. Cuomo's surprise subway announcement

Report: MTA commits to a shorter work day for the 14th Street L-train rehab

Nightmare scenario for residents who learn that 14th Street and Avenue A will be the main staging area for the L-train reconstruction

What's new below 14th and B?

Here's a street-level look at 14th and B...



Preliminary work started in the summer of 2017 on building new entrances at Avenue A and a new power station at Avenue B.

The weekly L Project newsletter provided an update on what's happening below the streets here ...


[Photo by Trent Reeves/MTA Capital Construction]

Our new substation on 14th Street and Avenue B has floors, walls and a ceiling. That means it's time to start installing the equipment. Here the industrial grade fans arrive, which will help maintain the right temperature in the substation.

The L-train slowdown began on April 26, and is now expected to be finished within a year.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Nightmare scenario for residents who learn that 14th Street and Avenue A will be the main staging area for the L-train reconstruction