Do you feel safe riding New York’s subways? This question can mean do you worry about becoming a victim of crime, but it can also mean, is the subway system safe? Both are applicable, but the latter even more so, because parts of the system appear to be falling apart.
This issue became front page news at the end of June when an article in the New York Post disclosed that some Queens subway tracks were being held together by zip-ties. No doubt, many riders gulped when they read that - and understandably so.
“While illegal migrants are being treated to stays in four-star hotels in Midtown it appears NYC citizens riding the train at the Rockaway Boulevard train station in Ozone Park are footing the bill,” the Post wrote. “They have been left asking if the tracks of the subway they have been riding are holding on for dear life.”
The article quotes nursing student Kayle Persaud, who asked: “Should I be worried? If I cut one zip tie does (the station) start to fall?”
For its part, the Transit Authority, an affiliate of the state-run Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), explains that dozens of zip-ties were wrapped around one of the tracks at the Rockaway Boulevard station to prevent the railroad ties from splintering and debris from falling. MTA officials explained they mark areas needing future repair and they are not a safety concern. Apparently, not all riders are convinced.
Zero Hedge asked a related question: “Where is the boatload of tax money New York City collects going?”
New Yorkers probably have more complaints about the subway system than any other city service, and their gripes range from frequent delays to overcrowding and noise, among other issues. They say these usually make their trips uncomfortable and often frustrating. Still, the fact that the system is up and running at all is an engineering marvel and borders on a miracle.
Modern Day Miracle
According to Wikipedia, the first underground line of the subway opened on Oct. 27, 1904 – nearly 120 years ago. Over the years, the subways have had to deal with numerous challenges, including a shortage of funds, signal problems, decaying infrastructure, poor and delayed maintenance, flooding from rains and at least one Superstorm and, of course, vandalism.
According to The New York Times “the 9/11 terrorist attacks brought ruin to large swaths of the subway network. The Great Recession depleted infrastructure investment. The coronavirus pandemic halted the daily commute for many and wiped out ridership, which has been slow to recover.”
There have been other problems, too. A subway car weighs 85,200 pounds when empty and 122,000 pounds when full. There are ten cars on every train and, depending on the time of day, trains roll into and out of stations every few minutes. All of this activity puts tremendous pressure on both the tracks and on the tunnels, many of which were built many decades ago; the virtual nonstop vibrations add to those pressures.
Fare Or Unfair?
The fare is another problem. A ride on the subway costs $2.90. Considering the steep rise in the prices of so many products and services this may seem reasonable, but don’t try convincing commuters about that, particularly the lower income people who take the train to and from work every day.
These people have to shell out nearly $30 per week in fare. That’s a nuisance for many people, but for lower income people who are barely hanging on, it’s a real problem. To paraphrase Ralph Kramden in The Honeymooners, “Do you know how many times I have to drive a bus up and down Madison Avenue until I earn $30?” Even if justified, the fare adds to their already strained budgets and frayed nerves.
Happy Days For The MTA
For many years, the MTA was underfunded, leaving it short of funds for projects it needed and bringing it close to financial ruin. The pandemic exacerbated its financial woes because riders stopped using the system, resulting in a sharp decline in revenue.
While the pandemic created very serious problems for the MTA, it also marked a turning point in its fortunes. A report recently released by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said that the combination of federal pandemic aid and a large boost in funding from the state will enable the MTA to balance its budget for the next five years. DiNapoli said the most important goal now is “bringing riders back.”
This may not be as easily done as it sounds. Although ridership has rebounded significantly since the lows of the pandemic, it is still far below the target goal.
According to The Times, “In October 2023 ridership was approximately 70 percent of the level it was before the pandemic.” A survey back then found that while the overall rider satisfaction level had improved, they are now sliding again and have declined to just 59%. The MTA’s goal is to raise that to 70% systemwide by next June.
DiNapoli warned that if additional riders do not come back and find “safe, frequent and reliable” service when they do, “the MTA’s future is at risk.” And that’s a concern for all New Yorkers because the subways are crucial to the future of the city.
The subways have always needed more maintenance and upgrades, and they still do today. Rush-hour crowding, dirty trains, and delays are just some of the additional issues that still need to be resolved. Increasing fare evasion is another challenge to add to the mix. But now, having been given pandemic aid and other government assistance the MTA has a rare opportunity to make real improvements to the system.
Riders fully expect to see results and they want to see them quickly. Unfortunately, reports of tracks being held together by zip-ties and similar stories do not inspire rider confidence and probably leave many people wondering about alternative options to get around the city.
Getting the subways to run on time and keeping them safe and clean are problems many cities are grappling with. But now the MTA has the funds to make things right. Hopefully they won’t blow this opportunity.
Sources: cs.trains.com; mta.info; nypost.com; quora.com; wikipedia.org; zerohedge.com
Gerald Harris is a financial and feature writer. Gerald can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
