Gothamist: MTA Takes Pride in Subpar Grades

dogbraincatscan

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:06:10 -0500

Regardless of capacity, the L line is still the best for frequency of service and adequate announcements. Those complaining have probably rarely taken another line like the F or the N which comes every 10 minutes to the deep Brooklyn inhabitants who are too jaded to care about their valuable time "wasted."

cmdrogogov

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:39:06 -0500

While orders of magnitude better than LIRR, the subway system is still pretty second-rate compared to other world commerce centers. NY needs to get it's act together if it wants to attract new businesses.

henricus

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:29:05 -0500

Try waiting 30 minutes in the afternoon for a C train while 4-5 E's come zooming by...

Tracer Bullet

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:23:45 -0500

#14: I waited 30 minutes at Times Square for a 7 train at 1AM last Saturday. And this was during the track replacement work around 57th/7th, so all the Astoria-bound riders (like me) were taking it.

rdc

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:02:20 -0500

Having just lived on the A above 168th St. for a year and a half and now living on the 7, I have to say that the 7 is WORLDS better. I would have given it almost straight As. Even in the middle of the night I've never waited for more than 10 minutes for a train to come. Yeah, it's a little crowded, but I can deal.

edward_g_robincat

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:59:12 -0500

I'm pretty sure I've seen them get the front sign wrong too. Not really sure. But sometimes (e.g. if you catch the train as it's arriving) you may not see the front of the train... This should really be elementary stuff for the MTA. Ahh, I wish they'd re-hire Walter Matthau. He knew how to get things done. He stopped that heist on the 1:23pm 6 train from Pelham Bay back in the 70s...

Kevin Walsh

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:50:52 -0500

Knowing 7 expresses from 7 locals is pretty straightforward -- in front, a diamond marks the express and a bullet the local, unless, of course, the motorman has instructions to run the train otherwise. The back symbol on the train pretty much shows what the train ISN'T: if you see a bullet speeding away, you just missed the express. On some #7's, a neon diamond or circle above the side window, surrounding the purple bullet, marks express or local. If there's no neon, though, you're right, it's guesswork. I get on and if it's not the one I want, I get out next stop and wait for the next one. www.forgotten-ny.com

Toby von Meistersinger

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:24:03 -0500

@ edward_g_robincat: Remember the Redbirds? They had color coded Local and Express indicators on the front.

KiljoyWasHere

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:13:33 -0500

Robincat makes an excellent point. The MTA only asks you to rate things that they already know are problems and are ignoring. I'd like to see something more like a Zagat's guide for subways.

r1b2

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:07:26 -0500

If you don't set the bar too high, it's easy to avoid disappointment. How sad that Howard Roberts Jr. is pleased to be adequate. The joys of being mediocre.

Tracer Bullet

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:03:20 -0500

#7: I agree that that is a continuing problem. What I don't understand is why the MTA doesn't do what they do with every other local/express line and call the local the 7 train and the express the 8 train (or whatever).

edward_g_robincat

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:49:03 -0500

I would like them to ask for a review of "knowing which train you are on" on the 7. On any given train run you will see both the circle-7 (local) or the diamond-7 (express). People getting on in Manhattan must routinely ask which train it is. At some point they added little LED signs saying "LCL" or "EXP", which should be unnecessary, and those are often mixed up on the same train too. This is not a casual comment; I have been living in Queens and riding the 7 for many years. When they do those "report card" things they leave out any space for public comment (not that they'd read it anyway) and the questions are carefully gerrymandered to avoid making any serious changes based on the results. (Like, wouldn't it make sense to have the 7 Express make a stop at 74th St., which is basically the Times Square of Queens subway stations, where you can get a bus to LGA and where the 7 local and E/F/G/R/V all converge?) There might be a reason for not having an express stop there, but failing to update the train signs is really just barbaric. Consequently I am convinced that the MTA only hires imbeciles.

gossipgirl

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:47:44 -0500

The L is too crowded during rush hour, but otherwise I have no complaints about the line.

edEx

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:27:02 -0500

Wait until next year... if the MTA decides to cut service, they'll be taking pride in an F

slyseekr

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:09:32 -0500

The L is pretty awesome once you realize you'll never sit down in that train.

thenebula

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:04:33 -0500

These grades are way too subjective to be taken seriously. New Yorkers will always have a bad opinion about the subways and will slam all the grades just because their train didn't move for a few minutes. The 7 train is much cleaner now. Most trains and station platforms are litter free (some areas are now even gum free). Ugly scratchiti is gone and litter bins aren't overflowing anymore. I say it's been a great change in terms of cleanliness. You can't get rid of all the dirty junk in the subway but the level of cleanliness is more than acceptable now.

blackwhole

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:04:08 -0500

Because there's nothing more inspiring than having a packed-to-hell but spotless L train pass you by when you're late for work.

Kojak

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:01:48 -0500

The MTA: Where mediocrity is the standard.