Transit Troubles
by Sudeep Sureshbabu
Fastrack has been re-initiated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and has already been restored along several subway lines and stations. A prevalence of smartphones and apps that are more intelligent than humans has provided a plethora of applications and software to make transportation in New York easier, yet millions of commuters still have immense difficulty getting from one place to another.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority launched a new program, titled “Fastrack” last year. Fastrack is a subway maintenance and repair program that allows crew members to work efficiently and productively. In order to allow work on the tracks, subway lines
are shut down so that repairs can be made to switches, traffic lights, track rails and water removal. According to the MTA, the program has reduced the number of train related accidents, including the lost-time accident rate by over 1% per 100 employees. According to MTA, Fastrack has also reduced delays by as much as 4.4% in order to provide for people who rely on the subway system every day.
The Fastrack program was only focused in Manhattan; this year, the MTA plans to expand the program to the other boroughs in New York State. However, the downside
to the expansion of the program is that delays are caused so frequently that the program seems to have no benefit whatsoever. "I am outraged by the nonsense of Fastrack. It’s ironic how it’s meant to decrease delays, yet it only increases delays and nothing is the same after the repairs are made,” said a frequent commuter and sophomore Mathews Thankachan.
However, students like Mathews have a lot less to worry about compared to people who rely on the subway every single day. Shanjida Chowdhury, a New Hyde Park graduate who now studies at New York University, uses public transportation every day to get to campus. “College was illustrated as four years full of surprises—in my case, the biggest surprises are the sudden delays I encounter during my commute. The MTA is my only way of getting
to school, but the aggravation of constantly being delayed causes my loss of precious time and notes in class,” said Chowdhury.
The Subway system is not the only problem that exists in the MTA’s many services. The bus system is just as messy and confusing. Even though schedules exist, they are inaccurate virtually all the time and rather than filling in the holes between areas where the subway does not run, the buses arrive sporadically, if at all—several people wait
for buses only to have the driver bypass them without stopping. After New York City Bus drivers went on strike in late January, children were forced to use the bus and subway
systems to get to their schools, and were thus subjected to delays.
Transit troubles are not too foreign to those who may not commute. Seniors who applied to colleges in the City University of New York may be receiving acceptance letters with victorious emotions, but the terror of relying on public transportation looms not too far
away.
“I didn't apply to any schools in the city. I've used the subway trains and the buses to get to work for the past three years, and while I may not speak for all future city students, I definitely know that public transportation is the last thing I’d want to rely on for four years of my life," said senior Jamie Lopez.
Fastrack has been re-initiated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and has already been restored along several subway lines and stations. A prevalence of smartphones and apps that are more intelligent than humans has provided a plethora of applications and software to make transportation in New York easier, yet millions of commuters still have immense difficulty getting from one place to another.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority launched a new program, titled “Fastrack” last year. Fastrack is a subway maintenance and repair program that allows crew members to work efficiently and productively. In order to allow work on the tracks, subway lines
are shut down so that repairs can be made to switches, traffic lights, track rails and water removal. According to the MTA, the program has reduced the number of train related accidents, including the lost-time accident rate by over 1% per 100 employees. According to MTA, Fastrack has also reduced delays by as much as 4.4% in order to provide for people who rely on the subway system every day.
The Fastrack program was only focused in Manhattan; this year, the MTA plans to expand the program to the other boroughs in New York State. However, the downside
to the expansion of the program is that delays are caused so frequently that the program seems to have no benefit whatsoever. "I am outraged by the nonsense of Fastrack. It’s ironic how it’s meant to decrease delays, yet it only increases delays and nothing is the same after the repairs are made,” said a frequent commuter and sophomore Mathews Thankachan.
However, students like Mathews have a lot less to worry about compared to people who rely on the subway every single day. Shanjida Chowdhury, a New Hyde Park graduate who now studies at New York University, uses public transportation every day to get to campus. “College was illustrated as four years full of surprises—in my case, the biggest surprises are the sudden delays I encounter during my commute. The MTA is my only way of getting
to school, but the aggravation of constantly being delayed causes my loss of precious time and notes in class,” said Chowdhury.
The Subway system is not the only problem that exists in the MTA’s many services. The bus system is just as messy and confusing. Even though schedules exist, they are inaccurate virtually all the time and rather than filling in the holes between areas where the subway does not run, the buses arrive sporadically, if at all—several people wait
for buses only to have the driver bypass them without stopping. After New York City Bus drivers went on strike in late January, children were forced to use the bus and subway
systems to get to their schools, and were thus subjected to delays.
Transit troubles are not too foreign to those who may not commute. Seniors who applied to colleges in the City University of New York may be receiving acceptance letters with victorious emotions, but the terror of relying on public transportation looms not too far
away.
“I didn't apply to any schools in the city. I've used the subway trains and the buses to get to work for the past three years, and while I may not speak for all future city students, I definitely know that public transportation is the last thing I’d want to rely on for four years of my life," said senior Jamie Lopez.