The uptown platform at the subway station on 72nd and Broadway. Photo by Gryffindor via Wikimedia Commons
Safety concerns at two Upper West Side Subway stations have prompted Community Board 7’s Transportation Committee and its Public Safety Task Force to craft a joint resolution urging the MTA to take immediate action.
The two groups met on September 13 to discuss the feasibility of installing safety rails or other protective measures on the 1/2/3 lines at the 72nd Street and 96th Street Broadway stations. William Ortiz, co-chair of the Public Safety Task Force, gave a brief presentation and included three potential solutions to prevent people from either falling or being pushed off the platform.
One of the potential solutions Ortiz suggested was a waist level guard rail that could be installed at strategic spots along the platforms. His other examples were a chest level guard rail used currently in Japan and much taller wall-like structures which can be found in India.
“Chennai Underground metrostation with India’s first Platform Screen Doors.” Photo by KARTY JazZ via Wikimedia Commons.
CB7’s Transportation Committee co-chair Andrew Albert quickly shot down all three ideas, noting that the challenge for them and any long-term solution is that the City’s trains have different car types and ADA clearance issues. However, he was also quick to point out that the MTA is going to be testing out some options at three different stations.
The 7 line at 42nd Street, Third Avenue on the L line, and the E along the Sutphin Boulevard–Archer Avenue station will be the City’s test subjects.
Albert did assure those in attendance that the MTA is also looking at “a host of ideas,” though he declined to elaborate and deferred to the MTA presenting at a future committee meeting.
In the end, a joint resolution “to call upon the MTA to take immediate steps to explore all options to increase safety measures at 72nd and 96th Broadway train stations” passed 14 to 0.
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E.L. Danvers is a bibliophile, Yankees fanatic, aspiring legal eagle, fierce defender of virtually all things New York, and a 16-year Upper West Side loyalist. Her biggest love is her furry best friend and virtual court companion, E. Dracula, a black and white Rat Terrier who enjoys exploring the UWS as much as E.L. does. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter. E.L. is also a regular contributor for EastSideFeed.com. Her articles for this publication can be viewed here.
Orrrr, we can deal with the crime and the mental health crisis that is gripping our city. Just a thought.
yeah but that would be cheaper, and safer for the 99% of people/time we aren’t directly on the 72nd/96th st platforms.
Irrational fear is not an excuse to spend money on “solutions” looking for problems. How many people have been killed in 2022 on platforms? About 5 — that’s out of 3.1 MILLION trips per weekday.
How many people have been killed in crosswalks in 2022? Over 150.
There are more dangerous places than the subway platforms needing MTA spending. More ADA efforts would be a better place to spend money.
Total waste of money.. Absolutely pathetic.
What’s the solution for crosswalks that you’d like them to spend money on?
CB7 mentality: Don’t just sit there. Do something. But this is just another CB7 over-reaction and lousy attempt to solve a problem. Hey, CB7, Don’t just do something, Sit there. Please.
I use the elevator when exiting the 72nd St station. To get to it you have to pass a stairway where there is not much room between the stairway and the edge of the platform – it’s a bit scary. Most of the time there is someone leaning against the stairway, on their iPhone, leaving even less room and it’s dangerous. I wait for them to move and let me pass.
I would be happy to see a railing there.
According to the MTA the issue appears to be that train sizes differ. So the openings in the railings would not always line up with the door openings. So railings wouldn’t be a reasonable solution.
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