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The Daily News has a cool article about innovations that the MTA is looking at for the subway system's future. Granted, many won't happen until, oh, at least two or three decades from now, but some are in allegedly in the concept stage for the MTA, though some of these can be experienced at subway systems in the U.S. and abroad:
- Automated glass doors separating platforms from the tracks.Robert Paaswell (former executive director of the Chicago Transit Authority; currently director of City College's University Transportation Research Center) says, "If you want to know what New York City subways are going to look like in 20 years, go to Hong Kong." We have, and you can see their version of a "smart pass," as well as glass walls and doors between platform and tracks and warning about escalators here (their subways are also like one continuous train car, since they are computer operated - it's like a sinuous tunnel).
- Interactive maps - The tracking devices not only would show you where your train is but also would show where other trains are in the system — allowing you to better time transfers.
- Automated controls (like the OPTO, maybe)
- Seamless wireless coverage for cell phones and two-way pagers. The available technology is widespread in Seoul. Meanwhile, in New York City, the TA is seeking proposals for cell phone service in stations only.
- High-speed escalators to shuttle passengers from stations deep underground
- More natural lighting (like the planned Fulton Street Transit Center)and air conditioning
- Solar energy (like at Stillwell Avenue at Coney Island)
Which of these innovations do you like the most? Gothamist likes interactive maps and glass doors - and the air conditioning would be lovely too. Another interesting point the article makes is that the Smart-Pass technology might not be fully installed until 2025. While that sounds like a long way off, this photograph by Joe Schumacher of a stairwell at the Times Square station shows that even projects that don't involve technology can take forever. We'd really like to develop an MTA Time Calculator, which would translate what the MTA says to real time (for instance, the Fulton Street Transit Center already has delays).
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What happened to December? What happened to July of 2005 as the project originally said?
What happened to winter!
Glass doors? Solar power? There's one thing that the transit authority could do that would ease my transit related stress by 90%: tell me where my damned train is. Is it two stops away? Or twenty? I've spent far too many weekend mornings peering down the mouth of a cold empty tunnel while trains going the opposite direction whiz by with the regularity of a metronome.
I guess this issue is addressed by "interactive maps," but really, I'd settle for just knowing about the train I'm waiting for.
You wouldn't believe how advance the systems are in cities Hong Kong and Singapore, although they are much younger and smaller. They both have the glass doors, smartpass and cellphone access. I'd also loved having the time of arrival of the next train displayed while you wait.
The glass doors would be very important given high incidents of falling on the tracks lately.
Hong Kong definately has the best subway system in the world and it is profitable!
Why doesn't NYC/MTA follow Hong Kong examples in raising money for the necessary expansion/improvements. In Hong Kong, when the MTR builds a new section of system, they are given land surrounding the station to develop into apartment buildings. They pay for the subway from the sale of the apartments. In NYC, why don't they fund the 2nd ave subway by selling air rights to developers that want to build on 2nd ave, near the subway stops?
What?? No Wifi??
;-)
Graffiti-deterrent mylar coatings on the walls and windows.
www.forgotten-ny.com
I'm amused that we are waiting 20 years for something that is in Hong Kong *now*. Where is Hong Kong going to be in 20 years? Even in London, with a transport system just as extensive and old as ours, you can find out how long it will take for your train to get to the station. I'm happy these changes are going to happen - it's about time - but why make it sound like the public is SO lucky for these changes to occur? We're so far behind in the technology and infrastructure, I feel more embarrassed than lucky.
Ha! How about they get what they've already got working to a reasonable level, before installing all sorts of George Jetson shit. Perhaps the trains could run more than once an hour between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.? That would be nice.
"Trains would no longer need a motorman and a conductor and could be operated by one person or without anyone aboard."
Uh huh. The TWU will jump for joy at that proposal, yeah? These are all nice ideas, but I suspect that MTA and TWU bureacracies will push them all to well past 2040.
Glass doors? Talk about claustrophobia on our narrow platforms...
And sure, I bet the glass doors look snaz in the Photoshop mockup. how are they going to look after one month of the spit-n-shit of the NYC subway?
What people seem to forget is that portions of the subway are 100 years old and it is difficult to graft some of this modern stuff onto the current infastrucrture while still having service 24/7.