Letter to Editor: There Are Better Ways for MTA to Spend $100 million than the Installation of Platform Gates

Parkchester Times Feb 25, 2022 128 0

Dear Editor:

There are better ways for the MTA to spend $100 million dollars than the installation of platform gates at three NYC Transit subway stations. Worse, would be spending billions more to do the same at even more stations.

The MTA estimates it would cost $7 billion to install barriers at all 472 system wide stations although only 28 could physically accommodate them. This would do little to attract all five million plus pre COVID-19 NYC Transit subway riders. Better to spend these funds for more transit police.

They could assist the the MTA in dealing with the far more frequent daily occurance of muggings, robbery, fare evasion, vandalism, urination, defecation, panhandling and the homeless taking over whole subway cars or sleeping on platform benches.

This adversely impacts both commuters and NYC Transit employees. Investing $100 million would go a long way toward paying to assign a transit police officer to ride each train and patrol all 472 stations. Installation of security cameras on trains and more stations would serve as a better deterrent against crime, fare evasion and vandalism.

There is also the need to increase fines and penalties as a deterrent for those who don't pay their fare, commit assaults or vandalism. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and other DA's must follow up and prosecute those who commit these acts.

End revolving door justice when the same criminals are released without bail. Too many return to our transit system within days to commit the same offenses.

Sincerely,

Larry Penner

(Larry Penner -transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously worked for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office. This included the development, review, approval and oversight for billions in capital projects and programs for the MTA, NYC Transit, Long Island and Metro North Rail Roads, MTA Bus, NYC Department of Transportation along with 30 other transit agencies in NY & NJ).