NEW YORK, NY [WNBC] — A subway riders advocacy group, the Straphangers Campaign, has released its annual report on the city's 22 subway lines, saying the timeliness and quality of service on most lines has deteriorated from the previous year.
The 2007 “State of the Subways” report card analyzes service in key areas including wait time, regular arrival, a chance for a seat, clean cars, and understandable announcements.
Straphangers Release ‘Subway Shmutz’ Report
NEW YORK, NY [WNBC] — A subway riders advocacy group, the Straphangers Campaign, has released its annual report on the city’s 22 subway lines, saying the timeliness and quality of service on most lines has deteriorated from the previous year.
The 2007 “State of the Subways” report card analyzes service in key areas including wait time, regular arrival, a chance for a seat, clean cars, and understandable announcements.
According to the so-called shmutz report, the best subway line in the city is the L because of its regular service and announcements and clean cars. However, the line still experiences significant crowding at rush hour, the report said.
The 7 line is also one of the city’s best trains. Both the 7 and the L are part of a pilot “Line General Managers” program, which puts specific managers in charge of the route.
The W was ranked the worst subway line because of its low level of scheduled service. It also performs below average on four other measures: regularity of service, car breakdowns, car cleanliness and announcements.
In last year’s survey, the W tied for the worst line with the C.
Last year’s top line, the 1, came in fourth this year.
The report found that 17 lines worsened from the previous year (1, 4, 6, A, B, C, D, F, G, J/Z, L, M, N, Q, R, V and W), while just five lines improved (2, 3, 5, 7 and E).
Overall, the Straphangers found a weak showing for subway service. Car breakdowns worsened from a mechanical failure every 156,624 miles in 2006 to one every 149,646 miles in 2007.
It calls the breakdown rate a “troubling trend” in the MTA that raises “questions about the condition and maintenance of the aging transit fleet.”
Subway car announcements deteriorated from 90 percent in the second half of 2006 to 85 percent in the second half of 2007, the report said. Regularity of arriving trains and car cleanliness also failed to improve.
This is the 11th Subway report card issued by the Straphangers Campaign since 1996.
The report comes amid the threat of another fare boost by the MTA.
To read the full report, visit the Straphangers Campaign Website.
