Comments on: A tardy slip, courtesy of the MTA http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/12/02/a-tardy-slip-courtesy-of-the-mta/ A New York City Subway Blog Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:02:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Ray http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/12/02/a-tardy-slip-courtesy-of-the-mta/#comment-57489 Ray Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:48:38 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1723#comment-57489 Hate to be a fly in the soup but is this tardy slip service a luxury or a necessity? I can't say for certain, yet I've never been asked for a lateness note in my 25 year work history. Then again, I'm a salary man. As I consider, my gut tells me this is a suburban rail system indulgence - and perhaps an artifact from an earlier time. While I am sure those 80 CSRs have lots to handle, I can't imagine it is 'essential' to fund employees to research late trains and send letters (really!?) and emails to customers up to two weeks later. The fact that we are maintaining this at all (vs. merely reducing the cost of paper and stamps) telegraphs how much potential there may be for change. What % of CSR's work day is spent doing this? If its most often a suburban rail problem - perhaps we put one more arrow in the quiver of our conductors and program their fancy new hand held ticketing devices to print a time stamped lateness voucher for the five or ten commuters per train who truly need it. "Hey this train is gonna be late (more than 30 minutes)? Yep - we're sorry, here ya go Sir." As for subway straphangers I don't see the connection - we have greater train frequency and less expectation of a 'schedule'. Late to work riding the subway says you've cut the commute too close. And as I think about it further, there is NO note service available for commuters using the roads - buses and cars - Toll Roads, Bridges, and Tunnels - require users to frequently sit in traffic jams (caused by construction or other facility closures). Ok... I've convinced myself its a luxury. Cancel service, reduce staff. Hate to be a fly in the soup but is this tardy slip service a luxury or a necessity? I can’t say for certain, yet I’ve never been asked for a lateness note in my 25 year work history. Then again, I’m a salary man.

As I consider, my gut tells me this is a suburban rail system indulgence – and perhaps an artifact from an earlier time. While I am sure those 80 CSRs have lots to handle, I can’t imagine it is ‘essential’ to fund employees to research late trains and send letters (really!?) and emails to customers up to two weeks later. The fact that we are maintaining this at all (vs. merely reducing the cost of paper and stamps) telegraphs how much potential there may be for change. What % of CSR’s work day is spent doing this?

If its most often a suburban rail problem – perhaps we put one more arrow in the quiver of our conductors and program their fancy new hand held ticketing devices to print a time stamped lateness voucher for the five or ten commuters per train who truly need it. “Hey this train is gonna be late (more than 30 minutes)? Yep – we’re sorry, here ya go Sir.”

As for subway straphangers I don’t see the connection – we have greater train frequency and less expectation of a ’schedule’. Late to work riding the subway says you’ve cut the commute too close. And as I think about it further, there is NO note service available for commuters using the roads – buses and cars – Toll Roads, Bridges, and Tunnels – require users to frequently sit in traffic jams (caused by construction or other facility closures).

Ok… I’ve convinced myself its a luxury. Cancel service, reduce staff.

]]> By: R2 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/12/02/a-tardy-slip-courtesy-of-the-mta/#comment-57467 R2 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:41:03 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1723#comment-57467 I remember pleading in middle school for leniency (commuted from Queens to Manhattan), and while the pleading did work, a tardy slip would have strengthened my case. Funny thing is, by high school, that same commute actually shortened. I would like to see on-time performance stats for say, the early 90's and onward. Heck, I'd like to see these stats during Ravitch's time and even further back just to compare. I remember pleading in middle school for leniency (commuted from Queens to Manhattan), and while the pleading did work, a tardy slip would have strengthened my case.
Funny thing is, by high school, that same commute actually shortened. I would like to see on-time performance stats for say, the early 90’s and onward. Heck, I’d like to see these stats during Ravitch’s time and even further back just to compare.

]]> By: Marsha http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/12/02/a-tardy-slip-courtesy-of-the-mta/#comment-57465 Marsha Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:38:52 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/?p=1723#comment-57465 This is a great idea. I don't even take the subway to work and I think it's brilliant. This is a great idea. I don’t even take the subway to work and I think it’s brilliant.

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