NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — In an effort to increase subway safety by preventing track intrusion, the MTA finished installing platform barriers on Saturday in the first of four subway stations that will be part of a safety pilot program.
The platforms were put up in Manhattan’s 191st Street station, on the 1 line. The MTA provided video of how the barriers look from the platform, and from the conductor cabin.
Three other platforms will receive platform barriers as part of the pilot: the West 8th Street-NY Aquarium station on the F and Q line in Brooklyn; the Clark Street station on the 2 and 3 lines in Brooklyn; and a fourth location that has yet to be determined.
“This is about finding creative ways to improve safety,” MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said. “It’s still in an experimental phase, and we will be watching carefully to determine if the barriers are effective at deterring track intrusions without interfering with passenger circulation.”
According to the MTA, the barriers are placed on the platform edge, adjacent to the tactile warning strips. The barriers are in locations that won’t block car doors.
New York City Transit will track the program to determine if the concept could be scaled up, officials said.
“Safety in the subway system is something that customers consistently cite as a core driver of their satisfaction and is a top priority for us at New York City Transit,” NYC Transit President Richard Davey said. “This pilot program will help us determine the most effective ways to keep subway customers safe and focused on getting to their destination.”
The pilot program echoes an effort by NYC Transit last year that installed safety barriers in the center platforms of three stations. Officials are continuing to monitor their effectiveness.