Or at least, that’s what New York City Transit would have you believe. According to NYCT statistics, 97.3 percent of all subway cars are adequately air-conditioned, which means that those cars were at 78 degrees or cooler. That’s a questionable definition of “adequate.” Meanwhile, the E train was the system’s grand loser with just 83 percent of the cars checking in at under 78 degrees and about six percent featuring temperatures higher than 88.
According to Daily News writer Pete Donohue, NYCT is focusing more on air conditioning this year. As he writes, “Maintenance superintendents with the highest percentage of cool cars get trophies. Those with the worst numbers get oversized thermometers that they must keep on their desks.” How kitschy.
4 comments
Depending on who you worked with, such displays for performance were not always the most motivating… in the Army. What hope is there for the guys working the subway?
I find 78 to be an excellent temperature, if a mite bit to low. On the other hand, I don’t seem to come across to many trains that actually have cool temperatures. Do they not test them with crowds inside?
I agree with the findings. When I encounter a car with broken a/c it’s almost always the E. At the same time, it’s strange, when the a/c on the R32s is actually working it seems like it’s the coldest of all.
Anyone notice that the day after this report came out R46s started appearing on the E? I see them all the time now.
[…] last week’s news that the subways are mostly adequately air conditioned, New York City Transit released the bus air conditioning figures over the weekend. The buses, […]