MTA Planning Improvements To Speed Up Service On Several Subway Lines
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is planning changes to address overcrowding and delays on the New York City subway system.
New York City Transit officials said ridership on the subways is approaching 6 million people every weekday, and both the MTA board and riders say at times it's clear that's overwhelming the system.
"We are mostly likely to experience a service interruption due to a crowing incident versus other causes, with each incident causing an average of six trains to be delayed at a terminal," said Joe Leader, senior vice president.
MTA Planning Improvements To Speed Up Service On Several Subway Lines
Straphangers agree trains are increasingly becoming more crowded.
"As long as I've been taking the train, this is the worst," Iris from the Bronx told WCBS 880's Alex Silverman.
"We're packed on like sardines sometimes," another woman said. "Sometimes you can't board the train."
The MTA released a video to explain the trouble with delays.
To mitigate the problem, the MTA's new action plan aims to shorten audio announcements in order to speed door closings, hire 70 new platform controllers to help people move on and off trains, and paint new messages on the ground saying "step aside" to encourage passengers boarding the train to let people off the train first, CBS2's Diane Macedo reported.
Some don't think the plan would work.
"Signs aren't going to do anything," commuter Larry Strickland said.
"I don't think that's going to work, I think people are gonna do whatever they want to do and whatever they need to do to get on the subway," said commuter Jamie Braverman.
Other riders support the move.
"That would be a good idea," Judith Sternbach of Midwood said.
The plan will focus on the No. 6, No. 7 and F trains, where delays are the worst, the MTA officials believe the benefits will be widespread.
"If we can get the improvements on certain lines it will bleed off on the lines that connect with it," said Peter Cafiero, chief of operations planning for MTA.
