Escalators Enter Hall Of Shame After Years Of Disrepair

[UPDATE BELOW] Arnold Diaz and his Shame Crew over at Fox5NY are on part five of their Broken Subway Escalator series. Most recently they revisited the Union Square and 53rd and 3rd stations, both of which have had busted escalators for years. To recap, Diaz says the MTA gave sweetheart deals to real estate developers who promised to install and maintain escalators. In both stations they have been boarded up and straphangers are directed to take the stairs instead—and while that may be a healthier alternative for some of us, there are plenty who need the escalators.

Diaz says the MTA could have fixed the problem years ago and billed the developers, but have failed to do so. We've contacted the agency for comment.

UPDATE: NYC Transit's Paul Fleuranges tells us, "For NYC Transit to repair those escalators and then bill developers would have set a dangerous precedent that at the end of the day would have provided the impetus for these developers to walk away from their legal commitments all together, which would then lead NYC Transit to spend scare public dollars on protracted legal maneuvering to recoup our initial and ongoing costs. We feel it best to hold those developers to their agreements.

The escalator on the E & V at 53rd St & 3rd Ave owned by Miller Global Properties has been dismantled and removed and preparations are being made for the installation of the new one. It is our understanding that the escalator for Zeckendorf Towers at Union Sq is being manufactured.

We realize that this has been a long and cumbersome process for our customers, but we are hopeful that finally progress is being made."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on March 5, 2010 2:08 PM

Comments [rss]

glen glenn

Go go privatization!!

ANGRYGOD11

In short, NYC Transit doesn't have the balls to force these wealthy developers to keep their end of a legal contract and help the public.

You set a "dangerous precedent" by fighting for one. Then, you get the respect to do the right thing. It's called progress.

Telephone 280

How I wish I knew the exact extent of the uber-disgusting financial weaselry that IS the MTA. Every goddamn year it's the same thing; screaming poorhouse, raising fares, cutting service, letting stations and escalators go to hell. But going ahead on its vanity projects, like the 2nd Ave subway, which will not be completed in this century. What the hell, can't you just for once do something decent? We don't need expansion when fewer people even have jobs to go to.

Mr Mel

Interesting, but there should have been service contracts in place for these repairs. Investigations will probably find that the contractors haven't been paid or that they were paid and just chose not to do the work. If unions are involved then there are major scandals ready to be aired.

Stephanie

I agree with The Edge; broken escalators are so much a part of this town, they're practically tourist attractions. Say, maybe they could sell tickets; THAT might help pay for the repairs!

ForrestWhitaker

SHAME SHAME SHAME

Shinobi Shaw

Ins't Union Square a major city center and many tourist visit there? Why would they leave this unfixed like it's some second class outer borough station?

theLtrain

Manhattan has some of the nastiest, dingiest, most broken down stations in the system.

They just don't care on a really broad level. There are plenty of stations way far out in outer boroughs that have brand new renovations. Theres really no continuity to it at all.

Shinobi Shaw

Yeah, I have seen much nicer stations in the outer boroughs then many Manhattan ones (the nicest Manhattan stations are in midtown obviously).

nicemarmot

The funniest example of the Manhattan station dichotomy has to be the 53rd st Lex/3rd station. The Lex entrance and the 6 train area are really nice. The 3rd ave entrance and the EV platform are disturbingly gross.

The Edge

That's the whole appeal -- it's broken down, therefore a "Real" New York experience.

nicemarmot

Actually - believe it or not - when I walked by that escalator at the 53rd & Lex stop the other day, it was boarded off with signs saying it was being fixed. I mean, I'll believe the "fixed" part when I see it, but that's more progress than I've seen in the years I've lived here.

longacre

There's an escalator at the 50th/8th station which has been closed by the building owner for about 10 years if I'm not mistaken. MTA hasn't done anything about it.

longacre

I noticed that, too. It appeared as if they had ripped it out entirely. When will it return? Probably never.

Helen Thomas knows the score

real estate developers not keeping their word?! Screwing the public? Is that even possible in a free market? I dont buy it.

ANGRYGOD11

You shouldn't expect anyone to just keep their word. It's the MTA's fault by not making the consequences clear, like what happens to mortals like us if we jump the turnstile.

theboneranger

of course they don't.. whatever city official(s) made money on installing that escalator while promising future maintenence is not going to make any more money by keeping their word. WALK! you dumb lazy shits!