A plan is going to be submitted to the MTA's board for approval this week to spend $1.3 million to install a computerized monitoring system for the subway systems 300+ elevators and escalators. The purpose is to speed the response when elevators and escalators are out of service. Currently, the MTA operates a web page that is updated three times a day to inform riders when escalators and elevators are out of service, but it is reliant on NYC Transit employees or riders themselves to report malfunctions.
Only 61 of the subway system's 468 stations are fully accessible to the handicapped, and the breaking down of elevators and escalators are one of the most frequent reported complaints of riders (read about one wheelchair-bound New Yorkers' underground trials, here). In November, the MTA instituted an email and text messaging system to notify riders of delays and service disruptions. In a bow to reality that the subway system is more than a century old, new MTA chief Lee Sander seems to be concentrating on minimizing rider inconvenience through information technology. If things are going to break down, it seems like the MTA would at least like to let riders know where and when things are going wrong, so they can plan their commutes around disruptions.
(Out of Service Escalator Sign: 8 July 2006, by Triborough at flickr)
