WestFarms36

The MTA is testing a technology, already in place in other transit systems, that’s been shown to deter suicide attempts. BY JOSE MARTINEZ JUN 7, 2023, 5:00AM EDT Three subway stations that are among the most prone to people going onto the tracks are the first in the New York City Transit system to test lights that can have a calming effect and deter suicide attempts, THE CITY has learned. An MTA spokesperson confirmed an internal Department of Subways bulletin obtained by THE CITY that details how the MTA is introducing blue lighting inside stations that have been plagued by a high number of incidents of people going into the path of trains. “In an ongoing effort to provide customer safety for our subway ridership, Subways is promoting suicide prevention and platform safety by introducing the Track Intrusion Blue Lights pilot program,” the bulletin says. “Studies have shown that blue lighting provides a ‘nudge’ technique that is calming and may prevent customers from jumping and/or trespassing on the right of way.” The pilot program, which MTA officials and medical professionals outlined at a March meeting of the transit agency’s board, is being put to the test at two subway stations in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn. (THE CITY is not naming the stations or lines based on guidance from health professionals.) The new-look lights are being installed in the wake of 234 reported incidents of people coming into contact with trains in 2022 — a nearly 25% increase from 2018, according to MTA statistics. It follows the 2019 rollout of similar technology on the Long Island Rail Road, which now has 26 stations equipped with blue platform lights. THE CITY reported in April 2022 that the two Manhattan stations were among the three stations that in 2021 had the highest number of what the MTA calls “track intrusion” incidents. At one Manhattan station, several riders said they have not noticed the colored lighting tubes installed at select spots along the platform, but said they welcome efforts to potentially deter people from going onto the tracks. The Manhattan station had 29 track-trespassing incidents in 2021, MTA data shows, but officials have said the number has been dropping because of “targeted intervention” by the NYPD. “I think the problem is a little bit deeper when you have a mentally disturbed person,” said commuter Steve Thompson, 50, who travels daily through that station. “You see it, you get all kinds here, so this isn’t a bad place to test it.” A Huge Decline The latest MTA Track Trespassing Task Force report cited research from multiple Japanese railway operators that began installing blue lighting on platforms and at railway crossings more than a decade ago, pointing to one study that showed an 84% decrease in the number of suicides over a 10-year period. “Although further research is needed to verify and characterize the effectiveness of blue lighting as a suicide prevention tool, the MTA has deemed this tool to be promising enough to implement on a limited basis,” the report says. Michiko Ueda, a Syracuse University associate professor of public administration, took part in multiple studies that found the installation of blue lights by one Japanese railway company at 71 stations resulted in a 84% decrease in suicide attempts between 2000 and 2010 and a 74% drop between 2000 and 2013. “That’s a huge decline,” Ueda told THE CITY. She said the lights need to stand out in stations to be most effective. “If they are [not visible], I don’t think they are effective at all,” she said. “In order to be effective, they have to be very, very bright and visible.” At a Brooklyn station where the lights have been installed, Will Martin, 23, sat on a bench near one of the blue lights and said he hadn’t detected the change in platform lighting, even after dark. “I never noticed it at night,” Martin said. “It can’t hurt to try this, I guess, but I feel like it might not do much.” Detectors, Doors and Signs Blue platform lights are among several short- and long-term strategies being studied by the MTA as potential deterrents to track intrusion. While Transport Workers Union Local 100 has criticized the MTA for addressing track intrusion “with the speed of a stalled local train,” the largest union for subway workers backs such efforts. “Subway suicides are terribly tragic for the individuals and families involved,” said Richie Davis, president of TWU Local 100, in a statement to THE CITY. “They also are incredibly disturbing and traumatic for Train Operators who find themselves unwilling participants in the horror unfolding before their eyes. “We fully support efforts like these to reduce subway suicides and urge the MTA to move with the greatest urgency.” Others options being looked at include using video analytics technology to send out alerts upon detecting via live security camera footage “dangerous behaviors that could lead to track intrusions,” placing front-facing cameras on trains, and installing track-intrusion detectors that alert train crews and the rail control center when a person or object enters the tracks. The MTA also plans to begin testing next year of platform screen doors that will be installed at three stations, though the transit agency has acknowledged that solution is not feasible at about three-quarters of the 472 stations in the subway system. Construction of the platform doors at the three stations is set to begin in the coming months, the MTA confirmed this week. A 3,920-page feasibility study commissioned by the MTA estimated that installing platform screen doors at the 128 stations where they are feasible would cost more than $7 billion, with yearly maintenance costs of close to $120 million. The studies on the effectiveness of the blue platform lights in Japan noted that they are “easier and less expensive to install” than platform screen doors. The MTA has already placed signs near tunnels where trains enter stations that read “Your pain is real, but so is hope” and urge people to call or text the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline. Transit officials and medical professionals have acknowledged the enormous challenge of trying to reduce the number of attempts to end lives in front of moving trains. “I really like the idea of creating a more calming and more controlled environment in the subway system,” Dr. Charles Marmar, chair of the department of psychiatry at NYU Langone Medical Center, said at the March MTA board meeting. “That’s all very important for safety.” If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also reach those services by visiting 988lifeline.org.

By Kevin Sheehan, Natalie O'Neill and Jack Morphet March 3, 2023 1:17pm Link: https://nypost.com/2023/03/03/mom-of-nyc-teen-killed-subway-surfing-plans-to-sue-mta/ The mother of a 15-year-old Manhattan boy killed “subway surfing” on the Williamsburg Bridge plans to sue the MTA for failing to block off empty parts of the train used for the daredevil stunt, she told The Post. Norma Nazario of Alphabet City said she reviewed footage on her late son Zackery’s phone and that it showed nothing prevented him from climbing onto the roof of the J train, where he eventually hit his head and died Monday. “[The videos] show he has easy access. No alarms, no security, no cameras, no anything!” Nazario said ahead of her son’s wake Thursday evening. “He was able to access anything in the trains, the empty cabins, the train stations, nobody [was] looking. I was so surprised.” The grieving mother said transportation honchos have known for a decade that thrill-seeking teens ride on the outside of trains — but have made no apparent effort to restrict access to those areas. “Don’t get me wrong, my son, he had no business doing what he did. But they knew 10 years ago kids did this so easily,” she said. “My son died. When are they going to do something?” She added, “Obviously I am planning to sue.” In a statement to The Post Friday night, the MTA said, “Riding outside subway cars is dangerous and against the rules, and we won’t comment on pending litigation.” Nazario said she wants to discuss possible subway-surfing prevention steps with Mayor Eric Adams but didn’t elaborate. Zackery was riding on the roof of a northbound J train across the bridge with his girlfriend when he slammed his head on a metal beam at 6:45 p.m. and fell beneath the train, according to police. He apparently had turned his head back to look at his girlfriend when he was struck and fell. Nazario cremated Zackery’s remains Friday and said she planned to move his ashes to her family’s apartment. “I’m going to bring his ashes home. I want my son in his room one way or another,” she said. Subway surfing incidents increased 560% between January and May last year, MTA data show — with 449 incidents compared to just 68 during the same period in 2021.

4405 MV to QV

*4470-4471, 4476-4477, 4482 MV to CS 4404, 4413, 4451, 4454, 4456 MV to QV *4470's Tracker has been dead for a while and at this moment it is assumed to have left MV as the remaining CS NG's have also left MV.

When I've used OMNY from Local Bus/Subway to Express Bus, I've been charged the $4 difference & when transferring from Express Bus to Local Bus/Subway, it's also reflected the transfer. I'm trying to experiment the walking transfer from Lex-59 to Lex-63 next.

Looks like it hasn't gone too well during rush hour...

It's recommended that if you do get it from that CFSC, use cash. Apparently there's some fees you have to pay when you make low dollar amount transactions with card.

Don't even bother looking at these locations yet. Some 7/11's haven't been able to update their POS Systems to register the OMNY Cards, though the 7/11 on 1 Av & E 87 St is selling them, which is where I got mines from, as well as the 7/11 on 14 St & 2 Av (though they had 2 left when I last checked, so idk if they restocked), then there's a Speedway in Staten Island on Edgewater St & Willow Avenue that also has and is selling them. Since these cards are still being shipped, I don't expect there to be a list of retail locations until at least a few weeks from now. At the moment, it's just pure luck of walking into the right spot.

You could use cash or card to purchase and refill. Depends supply & demand for those locations, and if the POS Systems at those locations have been updated to register the cards. Most 7/11's are selling them already, though a handful have sold out and have had to put in more orders for OMNY Cards. Speedway's in Staten Island have also been selling them as well, and a handful of CFSC Cash Checking's (Name dropping the spot on Lexington Av & E 29 St).

The 7/11 on 1st Avenue & E 87 Street has them, got mines from that location, and someone just recently got theirs today. Though I'd be quick, cuz they're selling out in the blink of an eye, which is another factor which has made it difficult to purchase on top of some locations not yet receiving their batch/updating their POS Systems to recognize the cards. The limit is $600 on the OMNY Card, you can add whatever you want in cash or card at a retail location, or reload it on the omny.info site with a credit/debit card. Apparently if you lose the OMNY Card, you can suspend it if you register it to your OMNY Account, and you can link a new OMNY Card in which you can use the balance frozen from a lost one.

I am busy as of this month and won't have time to round up all the units with OMNY for the end of the year, so if you're willing to you can either do the full fleet or just the Brooklyn Bus Fleet. It's pretty much up to grabs this month.

The 191 Street Elevators are back up and running. Project got completed early. (Saw the 181 St Elevator replacement got accelerated to December 5th, 2021 from March 2022.) Completed 191 1 Station: February 2020 - February 2021 November 2020 The new elevators are in service! Construction began February 1, 2020, and wrapped up way ahead of schedule on November 24, 2020, instead of February 2021, dramatically minimizing the impact on our customers.

Any Rear door bases on JG's C40LF's yet or just the Front, because 216 so far is the only one I've spotted with a base in the rear.

@Via Garibaldi 8 I'm not aware if you've received these types of complaints in your advocacy group, but several people have already been frustrated with the fact that the College Point based BxM9 Trips' OMNY Readers are yet not activated and for those who do depend on OMNY have been kicked off the bus by some Operators. Really wonder how this was never thought through, but you might want to bring that up.

Bases for ENY - 4550 FB - 6128

Yeah, you should nag that dude about it... Everything on your phone seems completely normal. Last week I couldn't log into omny.info because apparently the servers were down, I had a couple of friends also attempt to log into their OMNY accounts and had the same error, didn't know about the issue until I notified them with photo evidence about what was going on.

Lol to the Driver, should release stats specifying the device types that are used on OMNY, I use my iPhone/Apple Watch because with my contactless card there is sort of a little delay and you have to take a bit more time to tap, as opposed to my phone where I don't even have to hover for half a second and it reads my card. On the BxM6 I did experience a passenger having trouble getting his contactless card read by the OMNY reader, Idk if it is something to do with frequency or in the case of your phone firmware/hardware or anything of that sort. I have encountered OOS readers, so it would be good for you to bring that issue up.

Oh that glitch. 😂 I tapped on the M1 and M3 on various occasions, and had it show up on my account as "Q101" "Q103" and the day I used it on the Subway at 96 Street, it later came up as "R254." You'll most likely keep coming across those glitches as I have, but in regards to the mobile wallet, I am unsure of your device or setup, but make sure your card doesn't require verification from your bank to be used on your mobile wallet, and when you're tapping make sure you get the area of your phone with the NFC Chip closer to the reader. I use my iPhone and Apple Watch more than I've used my contactless card and it's performed decently, so I haven't yet experienced issues on that end.

Bases for 9560 as well. 216 has a reader in the front, Base in the rear door. First C40LF spotted so far with Bases in the rear door.

Very Interesting read here... Link: https://www.thecity.nyc/2020/10/25/21533583/mtas-subway-omny-tap-fare-ada-disabled-subway-riders MTA’s New OMNY Tap-and-Go Fare Setup Leaves Disabled Subway Riders Waiting BY JOSE MARTINEZ OCT 25, 2020, 7:00PM EDT Share this story A commuter taps her phone on an OMNY pad at Times Square-42 Street, Oct. 24, 2020. The MTA’s new contactless fare-payment system, already in use at hundreds of subway stations, is on track to be working at every stop and on all buses by the end of the year. But OMNY will not be an option for subway riders with disabilities until the fall of 2021, after its tap-and-go scanners are installed and activated at the automatic gates that are the way in to accessible stations for commuters in wheelchairs or with service animals. “I couldn’t use OMNY in the subway even if I wanted to,” said Dustin Jones, a wheelchair user from The Bronx and founder of United for Equal Access, a transportation advocacy group. “They didn’t put those readers near the autogate and I feel 100% left behind.” The MTA has been installing OMNY access at stations across the city, Oct. 23, 2020. Jones said getting access to OMNY after other riders is “typical” of a subway system where only about a quarter of stations are fully accessible and planned Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades are jeopardized by the MTA’s coronavirus-driven financial collapse. The autogates open to riders who use MTA-issued reduced-fare MetroCards for people with disabilities. But the gates are not yet tailored for OMNY, as the transit agency continues its phased introduction of the new fare-payment system. “I’m a little tired of always being the last person in the back of the bus, figuratively speaking,” said Edith Prentiss, a wheelchair user and member of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA. “We’re always the last ones to get something working.” ‘A Transitional Period’ The MTA says the OMNY rollout is on schedule, with phasing necessary to deal with potential glitches along the way while shifting to new fare-payment systems via smartphones and contactless cards. OMNY is in “a transitional period, which is so important for people with disabilities who may have been travel trained to use the MetroCard,” said Gian Carlo Pedulla, a blind subway rider who is on the MTA’s Advisory Committee for Transit Accessibility. “The extra time will allow for individuals to learn the new OMNY system.” The MTA plans to start a reduced-fare pilot program for the new system next summer after developing and launching an OMNY card that can be refilled with cash or linked to bank accounts and credit cards. Riders currently must use a smartphone payment app or a general-purpose bank-issued contactless payment card. Other features, such as unlimited ride passes and student fares, will also be added during the rollout. ‘We’re in close contact with customers with disabilities and advocates to keep them apprised.’ The full OMNY reduced-fare program will follow the pilot program later in 2021, with plans to phase out MetroCards by 2023. “The incredibly popular OMNY system continues to roll out on schedule as planned and we’re in close contact with customers with disabilities and advocates to keep them apprised and make sure we build a system that works as well for them as for anyone,” said Kayla Shults, an MTA spokesperson. ‘Why Can’t We Do It Now?’ The contactless payment system has expanded to more than three-quarters of all 472 subway stations and drawn nearly 25 million taps since its May 2019 debut on Staten Island buses and along a stretch of the 4, 5 and 6 lines, according to the MTA. As with the MetroCards that are used at the autogates, riders with disabilities will have to fill out an application for reduced-fare subway access through OMNY. “You have to prove you’re disabled, you have to wait weeks to get approved — you can’t just get a MetroCard and get on the subway like everyone else,” said Jessica Murray of Rise and Resist’s Elevator Action Group, which advocates for mass transit accessibility. An autogate for a reduced-fare MetroCards, Oct. 24, 2020. Jose Martinez/THE CITY An MTA spokesperson said the agency plans to revamp and speed the application process for riders who want to receive reduced-fare trips through OMNY. Riders said they’d prefer earlier access to OMNY in subway stations. “I don’t see any reason why they can’t quickly upgrade the autogates with OMNY readers at the same time they are upgrading the turnstiles,” said April Coughlin, who uses a wheelchair. Jones expressed similar sentiments in blunter terms: “We’ll get to it later — really? Why the hell can’t we do that now?”

Meanwhile the people in Inwood are F*cked on a nightly basis, because the Bx12's the only thing that runs there at night, but no North-South local routes. It's also sad to say Election Day and Early Voting coming up and with voting locations being in those areas, there is no way in hell that poll workers will ever show up before 5 AM who depend on transit. No M100 and No Bx7.

Did you happen to ride 6144 on the M15 SBS? Rode it yesterday and had to tap up front.

22 Bases (FRONT DOOR ONLY) On the other hand, one of the 3800's on the M4...

The implications of conveying people to “get a car” is purely blind-sighted until there comes a traffic problem. Most of these guidelines fail to provide the solutions are alternatives that can be sought in a New York City environment. There are people who can’t afford a Hotel Room to self isolate, or live in a single bedroom apartment with multiple family members which makes it impossible to self isolate which can sometimes lead to multiple people in that household to become infected. Telling a person who barely makes ends meet to get a car is nothing but an insult and there’s little that the city/state have done to mitigate that real problem. Obviously depending where you live in the country your options and alternatives will be much different. As for Pinepower, he just complains about things but fails to realize the bigger picture. The demographics change, social behavior changes, communities change and honestly things won’t be the way they were when you were young. So I find that more as an issue of denying change than trying to embrace it.