The
MTA released a survey of what issues MTA riders are most concerned about.
Most
of these concerns are in relation to those who take the subway, with the top
three results being personal security and safety, homelessness and people’s
erratic behavior.
The
results were announced during Monday’s MTA board meeting, where transit president
Rich Davey mentioned the installation of 200 cameras across 100 subway cars.
Throughout
the last few months, initiatives have been made to address these rider issues,
including more police patrolling the subways and bringing in social workers to
aid the homeless.
One
representative from the Rider’s Alliance says these issues are beyond the MTA’s
control.
“But
on the MTA's side, just reminding people there's a safety issue doesn't really
do very much except to say the MTA passes the buck to the city which is
responsible for it,” said Danny Pearlstein, communications and policy director
for the Rider’s Alliance. “The MTA should be doing its part which is creating
safety in numbers by making transit better than it ever has been before."
The
MTA provided a statement that read in part: "The MTA
understands safety is important to riders and appreciates the partnership of
the Governor, Mayor, and NYPD to address underlying causes of disorder in the
transit system."
The
statement also included that the MTA is committed to adding more social service
workers and officers on the subways when needed.