Court Square is the only station in the system (as far as I know) that uses a horizontal escalator, or people mover, more commonly seen in airports, along its lengthy transfer corridor that connects the IND Crosstown G line to the 23rd/Ely Avenue station serving the E and M trains. In recent years this has become a key transfer station as the #7 Flushing Line has had a direct connection added via a staircase, elevator and escalator (which is often turned off, despite it being one of the lengthiest inclines in the system). All it needs is a sound and light extravaganza like Michael Hayden’s “The Sky’s The Limit,” which I saw at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport in 2001.
The “horizontal escalator” (actually a set of two) was installed in 2001 when G service was cut back to Court Square and the V train took its place as a local service on the Queens Boulevard IND, one of two local slots on the line (the other local is the R train). In 2010, the V was discontinued and the M was moved to Queens Boulevard local service. The people mover was added because it’s a bit of a hike on the corridor under the Citicorp Tower connecting the G withe the E/M.
In my experience the “people mover” only moves passengers one way, from the G to the E/M; I haven’t seen it switched the opposite way, though I could be wrong.
The lengthiest series of people movers I’ve ever ran into was at the Denver International Airport, where I was catching a flight for a conference in Calgary, AB in 2007. I was asked to be part of a group discussing how to use Calgary’s profusion of public alleys, and I got a trip to Calgary all expenses paid! After I addressed the crowd, failing to put them to sleep, I went back to my hotel room, switched on the box and there I was, on the screen. The meeting had been taped and was on the 11 PM news. I knew I should have worn a sports coat.
“Comment … as you see fit.” kevinjudewalsh@gmail.com
2/23/17