Friday, February 3, 2012

Subways looking ugly


From AM-NY:

Most subway platforms have peeling paint and busted lights, according to a survey released Thursday.

The Straphangers Campaign released its first "State of the Station Platforms" report on subway conditions Thursday after examining 250 platforms in 120 subway stations last summer.

On the bright side, they only found one overflowing garbage can, though there were some "clearly unacceptable conditions," including peeling paint at more than three quarters of platforms.

Among the "good" conditions were 94% of platforms were free of garbage bags. The "bad" conditions included "substantial floor cracks" at one-in-three platforms and rats on 11% of subway tracks. The report called broken light fixtures and substantial water damage at half of stations "ugly."

19 comments:

MLS said...

But isn't that a part of the charm?

Anonymous said...

Where does all of the MTAs money go?
The system was considered world class back in the 30s nd 40s all on a nickel fare. Our system is a disgrace today and there are no plans to fix it. Look at Japan,, Russia, England, France, Homg Kong,Brazil, and yes Washington D.C, if you want world class subways?
The MTA sucks!

Anonymous said...

In my opinion the subways are far better today especially with all the smart connecting stations and metro-cards providing the same then 25 years ago.

But::: This is the NYC Subway we are talking about and I don't being in them 1 more minute than necessary to take care of the business of using the system. FIX THE WATER SEWER ISSUES - do this and the deterioration, rats garbage and maintenance cost go down a little bit. Stop ideas such as sending the 7 line to NJ?? We can't afford NY riders fares - why add NJ riders to this mix? Get the second Ave subway completed already - ON BUDGET - who is watching all that? Why are we not using light rail instead vs boring underground etc? Electric track buses in Queens would be more reliable and on schedule - let get that done and take care of Queens ridership first!

Anonymous said...

Back in the 30s & 40s the system wasn't owned by NYC.

They were privately run lines...
like the "Inter-borough Rapid Transit" system (IRT), BMT, etc.

The "Independent" (IND) subway system was built by the city.

The city, "Transit Authority", eventually took over all of the formerly privately owned lines sometime in the 1940s.

Then, with the creation of the MTA,
the city f----d up things up even worse.

The only place you'll see a pristine subway station is at the Transit Museum in Brooklyn.

Once, while I was in their gift shop, a rat ran through without making a purchase.

Anonymous said...

All of the countries you've mentioned
have smaller systems.

But corruption certainly eats up a lot of money in our city that could be spent on infrastructure.

Anonymous said...

Where does the MTA money go?? Are you serious? It goes to pay unions, that's where. Also, I love the "back in the 30s and 40s" laments. That's 80 years ago, man. Wake up. The DC metro, which will always be 100% federal funded, hauls the equivalent of one #6 train per day. That's it. Then it shuts down at midnight, they lock the gates, and they clean and fix it-- like Disney Land. Also, unlike NY, they kick out the homeless, and there 's no eating. Period.

Anonymous said...

Where does all of the MTAs money go?
--------------------------------

Unions. You know, the ones who demand raises to cover the "cost of living" while the dollar loses value. The ones that demand an 8hr pay shift for a conductor to make two whole runs (only taking 2 hrs, the other 6 spent in a 'waiting room').

Anonymous said...

The city always owned the subway system. The IRT and BMT leased them from the city. The MTA has taken over the lease.

Anonymous said...

Privatize the transit system. Have Disney run it. They know how to move people and maintain a system. The MTA is a disaster. So many people ride the system and the MTA takes in soooo much money, yet the service is sub-par and the stations are disgusting.

Anonymous said...

80 years, 20 years, it doesn't make a difference. There were just as many riders using the system way back when than there are today--- 1 billion +
Do you realize how much improving and expanding could have been done in 80 years????

Anonymous said...

OK, so lets fix the problem.

Offer folks housed in Rikers Island a deal to work between 11PM and 5AM cleaning up the subway stations.

In return they get their sentences reduced according to the time worked.

Saves the city money in two ways.

Very simple, likely effective.

Never happen because the unions won't let it happen.

Anonymous said...

I stand corrected on my misinformation about city ownership of the lines (right of way, whatever).

BUT....the IRT & BMT (private companies) RAN the rolling stock and (I guess) maintained the stations, etc. didn't they...fella?

Isn't that what made the difference?

Also NYC had a smaller population of slobs to dirty the platforms...and transit workers who had a better work ethic.

What about all that (I was told) federal money that went into the system in the past 2 decades?

Anonymous said...

RE unions:
Mike Quill and his Irish unioneers were always a pain in the ass too...
subway strikes and all!

"Google" the old info.

Anonymous said...

There's nothing impressive or headline grabbing, about fixing the drains. Water brings in in rats and damages steel, concrete, and tiles.

Anonymous said...

The IRT and BMT both ran the trains, yes. And they wen bankrupt.

Cav said...

"The IRT and BMT both ran the trains, yes. And they wen bankrupt."

The city had, since about 1930, wanted to take over all public transportation and drove BMT and IRT out of business by not allowing them to raise the fare from 5 cents to 7 cents.
But after the city took over in 1940, the fare tripled in just 6 years from 5 cents to 15 cents between 1947 and 1953.
And the fare has been going up ever since...

Anonymous said...

The fare went up because there was no additional financial support being provided by the city and state governments (especially the state). Public transit has never been a money making venture and the riders have always paid more of of the cost of a trip in this city than anyplace else.

Cav said...

"The fare went up because there was no additional financial support being provided by the city and state governments (especially the state). Public transit has never been a money making venture and the riders have always paid more of of the cost of a trip in this city than anyplace else."


Are you seriously defending fare hikes in a transit system that takes in about $3 billion a year?
Then you blame the state and federal government for not giving MTA enough money? WTF?

Seriously, dude, seriously....

Anonymous said...

Cav -

Because farebox revenue has NEVER covered the cost of a ride. Seriously, dude, seriously.