All New York Subway Lines to Get General Managers

For the past ten months, the MTA has been experimenting with a new management structure on the L and 7 lines that officials hope will improve subway service. But has anyone noticed? Most passengers stopped by the Times say they've seen little change, though one woman believes the L has been slightly less mobbed when it pulls into Lorimer Street during rush hour. The experiment calls for a general manager to take charge of each subway line and make "quick" decisions over train schedules, maintenance of stations, and riders' complaints. NYC Transit president Howard Roberts Jr. says that as a result more trains have been running on time (though the Times questions this) and will roll out the restructuring citywide. Roberts says the managerial streamlining will result in 70 fewer positions and a savings of $7.3 million/year. Which will put the transit system just $993 million away from closing their $1 billion deficit!

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By John Del Signore in News on September 22, 2008 4:29 PM

Comments [rss]

Rob T Firefly

Go back in time to 1974, reach into a movie screen, and get the tired MTA guy played by Walter Matthau in "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" to manage the system. He's our only hope.

colonelcasey

The 7 feels slightly better too. Stations are cleaning with a fresh coat of paint on most of them. I'm seeing station cleaners more often too. The trains are looking a bit cleaner too with the scratchiti problem in check now.

Of course its still crowded and delays do to equipment malfunctions but there's not much you can do about that.

slyseekr

L has been amazing from my perspective the last few months. No service interruptions, rarely more than a 7 minute wait for a train (even late nights/weekends).

It's still like a sardine can during the rush, however.

nivek

Add another layer of abstraction between us and the top brass who don't know what a subway is or should be.

Think2wice

This isn't even half-assed; it's a quarter-assed attempt at decentralization.

Amanda Harletsch

The C Line heading to Brooklyn is BAD: iffy iffy.

Jen Chung

I wonder if service on the G and L seems unchanged because there are still many people moving to the areas where they go... with more passengers, it takes longer to board, disembark, etc.