To prevent subway accidents, the MTA is planning to launch new measures that include platform barriers, lighting, sensors and cameras

NYC Subway accidents are on the rise and recently more subways have been delayed because of  people  standing on the tracks. As a result the MTA recently announced that its recently created “Trespasser Task Force” is working on several pilot projects to prevent people from getting on the tracks or being pushed on them.

The main project and the most expensive one is the pilot installation of  platform barriers at 3 stations:

1.  On the 7 line platform  in Time Square
2. At the Third Avenue station of the L line
3. At the Sutphin Boulevard/JFK Station on the E line.

The cost of installing such barriers is estimated at more than $100 million. According to MTA Chairperson and CEO Janno Lieber, the installation of these barriers should be completed by 2024.

It is not the first time that the MTA has announced such projects. We recently mentioned in a previous blog that in 2017, the MTA was already planning to install such protection at the Third Avenue station on the L line but the pilot was then postponed indefinitely.

The  MTA is also planning pilots using thermal technology and laser technology to detect when intruders are on the tracks. They will also test front camera on subways.

In the short term, for 2022, the MTA is planning on deploying a CCTV Video analytics pilot and a CCTV train camera pilot as well as deploying NYPD and mental health workers on platforms and trains and have a messaging campaign on platforms and subways.

Reported track intrusions in  the New York City subway system increased by 20% since 2019. Track intrusion not only includes people being shoved on the tracks, but also people getting on the tracks to recover their cellphone or other objects they dropped as well as homeless and mentally ill people who sometimes live in the subway or in the subway tunnels.

Incidents of track intrusions were reported all over the city but their frequency was the highest around the midtown area and downtown Manhattan.

Read the entire MTA document here

In the picture: NYC subway accident lawyer Christopher Donadio investigating the scene of an accident