A new study analyzes thousands of MTA 'electronic alerts' to identify trends. One finding in particular jumps out: the number of alerts has increased 35 percent in two years.
Dana Rubenstein provides analysis of a new study by NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign that finds an increasing amount of delays on the MTA subway system. " In 2011, the agency sent out those sorts of alerts for 'controllable' incidents (those not involving circumstances like sick passengers and police investigations) 2,967 times. In 2013, the agency sent out such alerts 3,998 times. That's a 35 percent jump. (2012 was excluded from the analysis because of Hurricane Sandy.)"
For an idea of why and where these delays occur: "Signal and mechanical problems generate more than two-thirds of those alerts, and the F train, by constituting 8 percent of the total, is the worst offender."
"The increase in alerts is a troubling sign that subway service is deteriorating,” said Gene Russianoff, staff attorney for the NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign.
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Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
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