Survey Finds NYC Subway Platforms See Some Improvement

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Some conditions on New York City subway platforms are getting better, according to a new survey released Thursday.

In its second annual "State of the Station Platforms" survey, the Straphangers Campaign said it spotted fewer broken lights, exposed wires, cracked floors and overflowing garbage bags last year than in 2011.

"We applaud transit managers and workers for improving conditions at many stations," said the group's Jason Chin-Fatt. "But there's still room for further progress."

The group encountered rodents on 10 percent of platforms and peeling paint on 77 percent of platforms, nearly the same as a year earlier.

"According to our report, subway riders have about a 1 in 10 chance of seeing a rat or having a rat-sighting while on their commute," Chin-Fatt told 1010 WINS.

The survey found a seven percent increase in vandalism at 27 percent of platforms.

"Graffiti in stations substantially increased," Chin-Fatt said.

Water damage was also found at 78 percent of locations, up 25 percent from 2011.

The survey, the group's first of subway platforms, was conducted before Superstorm Sandy. It was based on observations of all 250 stations platforms at 120 randomly-selected subway stations. That's 28 percent of the 909 station platforms systemwide.

What do you think of the conditions on subway platforms? Let us know below...

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)