See today’s NY1:
http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content.....;aid=76706

They should be BANNED from ever bidding on a NY contract again.

If MTA fails to provide “regular on-time subway service” what are you supposed to do? Demand your $1.67 back?

paulb, would you prefer they said nothing? Your idea for the flat panel displays is a good one. What my ideal would be is for automated signalling and train control . . . like in Singapore, or on the Airtrain. Go one line at a time if necessary, so that excess personnel can be lost to attrition and/or transitioned to new roles (improved station presence) gradually.

urban ghost – As for passengers holding open doors, that’s one of the things that makes bringing back corporal punishment a la Singapore tempting. But short of that, those people should be pulled off the trains and ticketed. The MTA could stand to put out a PR campaign (on their own trains) on subway etiquette as well.

Lastly, this isn’t on the list, but video cameras in the subway cars and to a lesser extent in stations would be a good deterrent to crime, and seriously cut back on graffiti (speaking of corporal punishment . . .)

1) Fares that are affordable and attract riders to use mass transit.
While many can not offord 4 dollars a day, you still have o admit, its not stupid high. Unlimited Ride cards make it better because the more you ride, the less you pay per ride.

What I find amazing about this is that the same people complaining about fares are complaining about congestion pricing that is SUPPOSED to help keep subway fair down. Poor people do not drive their cars to manhatten every day…

2) Regular, on-time subway service.

I was on the train today and do you know what/who was holding up service? The passengers. Passengers literally holding the doors and standing their for a good minute. Now what is one minute? Depending on how long the train line is and how many more people end up waiting on the platform downstream that would have gotten on the train or waited for the next one… well lets just say that a minute can turn into a train being 5 minutes late by the time it reaches downtown (especially if the train ends up so late that they cross another one in front of you).

3.5 minute headways??? Holding the doors is the number one delay problem behind sick passengers (and door problems aka train problems)

3) Immediate and real-time notification of service changes and advisories available to passengers on platforms, in train cars, and via internet and text message with accurate information.

The people WHO WORK in the system do not get the right info so how can the passengers get it? The D line not running is not relayed to the conductor/train operator on the A train. The 1 train is flodded but the station cleck tells the customer to take the 1. The conductor tells the passengers at 34 street that the 123 is available.

They are working on this now testing it on the L line.

4) Accurate and user-friendly assistance for riders to find alternative means of transportation in situations where service is interrupted.

Station agents are not told much if anything at all.

5) Trains and platforms that are kept clean.

Passengers biggest offence is throwing trash on the floor.

6) A working and understandable public address system on all platforms and in all trains, with in-car announcements alerting passengers to upcoming train stops and platform notifications informing riders of the arrival of the next train.

Being tested on the L line

7) Well-trained, helpful station and train personnel to provide information and directions, as well as establish a human presence in the subways.

Most employee maral is low. They feel transit doesn’t care about them so why care about transit. They are not provided the material to be helpful (nor are many transit workers encouraged) and anything that they should be doing on their own isn’t done do to the work less – pay me more additude.

For the most part transit does not train, does not have a internal POSITIVE influencing mechanizm for employees to have better interactions with customers, and materials are not provided to the station agents to help the customers (bus maps, train maps, line schedules, line bus maps).

8)Working payphones in all stations and access to cellular phone service while on platforms.
No cell phones on stations… working pay phones is a must.

9) An MTA website that is user-friendly and can support heavy traffic such as that which may be experienced during an emergency.

The MTA website should be a major destination for travelers and everyday city dwellers alike. Why does their have to be a google mash-up from some other web author and not be on the MTA website? Resturant listings, shops, musuems, event listings, planners, emergency updates, schedule changes, text alerts, art work submissions, employee interanet, and so on!!! The site could be a money maker instead of a drain.

10) An environment as safe and secure as possible from crime and terrorism, with such features as an increased presence of uniformed police officers and bright lighting.

Better lighting is a must. Police are omnipresent on the L, J and A (only from BWJ to Queens) lines but other lines seem to lack any force. Transit security guards would be a good idea on most trains…. just to be eyes and ears.

Taxi’s are private.

Concerning much of what’s in the proposed bill of rights…. every item comes with additional costs. Those costs are are paid for by the public through fares and public subsidies. So, that bill is really asking for higher fares… which conflicts with the first listed right, “affordable fares.”

btw, who determines what’s affodable?

You conclude correctly that ultimately more funds are needed to run operations. This list should move forward as part of some effort to secure those funds. Lobbying state lawmakers, city hall, or seeking a ballot measure. If it does not move forward… well, I think MTA can only respond with “Thank you for your interest. We genuinely appreciate it, but…”