By SAMANTHA KIM
On Feb. 23, MTA chief Janno Lieber announced in a press release that the MTA will install safety gates on three subway platforms. The gates would align with train car doors and open when the train stops. This pilot program would keep riders off the tracks at Times Square-42nd St. platform on the No. 7 line, the Third Ave. station on the L line and the Sutphin Blvd.-Archer Ave. platform on the E line.
Go deeper
On Feb. 23, MTA chief Janno Lieber announced in a press release that the MTA will install safety gates on three subway platforms. The gates would align with train car doors and open when the train stops. This pilot program would be to keep riders off the tracks at Times Square-42nd St. platform on the No. 7 line, the Third Ave. station on the L line and the Sutphin Blvd.-Archer Ave. platform on the E line.
Installing subway platform doors where possible is a common-sense step we can take towards making the subways safer. We applaud the @MTA for testing this idea. https://t.co/MQuKQwvFrM
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) March 2, 2022
Why it matters: Calls by advocates and transit experts for more safety measures on New York’s subway platforms come as a result of the murder of Michelle Go who was shoved into an oncoming train at Times Square station in January.
- Between 2019 and 2021, track intrusions have increased by 20% throughout the transit system which resulted in 68 fatalities last year.
- “I’m from Indiana and moved here last year, and I think the subway gates will improve the city and make it feel safer, especially since I travel alone a lot, so I think it’d be good,” said New York City resident, Corban Bell, 23.
Problems with progress: This concept that successfully works in other countries, is not ideal for all of New York’s subway system.
- According to a 2019 MTA report, platform gates would be viable in only 128 of the 472 subway stations
- Due to challenges related to aligning train doors and the platform gates, the barriers could only be installed at 41 stations as of now.
- Subway lines use different types of trains with varying door alignments, an STV report pointed out.
Looking at other countries: Countries such as South Korea and Australia have already implemented platform screen doors (PSDs) which are protective vertical glass walls that separate the platforms from the tracks to protect waiting passengers.
- PSDs only open when the train has stopped and close before it leaves the station.
- “I’m from the Netherlands, and we kind of have a subway, it’s more like a light rail, and that feels very safe, but the subway here definitely isn’t that inviting to use compared to it,” said Netherlands native, Paul, 61, whose last name did not want to be disclosed.
What are your thoughts on PSDs in New York’s subways?: Long Island City resident, Showroop Pokhrel, 24, shares his thoughts on the new implementation of New York’s subway gates after Go’s death.
Related Links:
Subway gates set for Jamaica E train
Why Doesn’t the N.Y.C. Subway Have Barriers?
MTA Backtracks on Platform Doors, $100M Plans Set for Three Stations by 2024
The subhead “why it matters” caught my attention. After looking at the inline link of the murder of Michelle Go and then seeing the number of deaths in the transit station it is really informative as to why subway stations in NYC need subway gates.