New York City Transit (NYCT) vs. the World

Talks about innovation, lack there of, etc.

https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2024/10/03/ ... -the-world

Room for Improvement: What New York’s Subway System Can Learn from Cities Around the World


New York’s subway was once an international model of modernity. But it's not anymore.

New York’s subway was once an international model of modernity. It connected the United States’ largest city with speed, frequency and reliability. Even today, New York’s subway has some unique features. It has 24-hour service, a rarity across the globe, and its flat fare policy allows riders to traverse the full extent of the city at a reasonable price — in contrast to, say, London, which is divided into six zones, with longer trips costing more money.

Over the past century, however, New York’s system has lost its luster in international comparisons. It is now far from the world’s most modern urban rail transit system, and it is actually substantially shorter in length than it was in the 1930s because a number of elevated lines were removed.

Fortunately, there are many opportunities for New York to improve its system — especially if it’s able to leverage funding from congestion pricing. Having visited and studied many of the world’s biggest cities’ metros, I have come across several key technologies that New York can use to make the system more effective and more attractive for its riders. These technologies could improve the existing system — or be especially effective if implemented together on new express subway lines linking the region.
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JS - Interesting NYCT Subway subject(s) here noted by SB...

I will mention NYC's "One City One Fare" comparison to London's higher priced zone fare system...
As most know NYCT collects the single flat fare upon entry to the system...The London Underground
requires the use of turnstile gates for BOTH entry and exit with a Oyster Card or an encoded ticket...

Depending on the level of enforcement zone fares would create even more turnstile lines that would
have to be watched for fare evasion over and above what NYCT has now...LU has fare inspectors that
ride trains around the system making ticket checks (there is a YT video on this subject) as compared
to NYCT...The NYPD Transit Unit and NYCT inspectors monitor NYC Subway (and Bus) fare enforcement...

One past example of an extra NYC Subway fare was on service to the Rockaway Peninsula - a second
token was required to exit at stations south of Aqueduct Race Track or Broad Channel...The extra fare
was eliminated with the September 1, 1975 fare increase - at that point the NYCT fare rose from 35 to
50 cents...Those riders crossing that "boundary" paying 70 cents saw a 20 cent fare decrease then...

Until the Metrocard began offering Subway-Bus transfers in 1997 (and Unlimited Ride cards in 1998)
all riders using both modes paid separate NYCT fares - this change was a big money saver for many
passengers - and NYCT ridership climbed steadily with these new fare options available...

In closing NYC Transit has always been somewhat different then other North American and World
systems - but in many instances these agencies can learn from one other...
MACTRAXX

I'll just add that BART (San Francisco) and WMATA (Washington, DC) are also distance based and require use of fare gate/turnstile on entry and exit.

Allan wrote: ↑Tue Oct 08, 2024 2:18 pm I'll just add that BART (San Francisco) and WMATA (Washington, DC) are also distance based and require use of fare gate/turnstile on entry and exit.

Allan - We can not forget PATCO running from Philadelphia to Lindenwold (Camden County, NJ)...
After reading about fare evasion problems on both BART and Metrorail what I would find interesting is
that these riders were willing to chance being caught twice each time in their attempt to get a free ride...

Implementing zone fares on the NYC Subway system would be a major change from the current flat fare...
This would not be worthwhile unless there would be a substantial percentage of riders traveling short
distances saving significant money - and then even more enforcement and fare lines would be needed...
Staying with the current fare system would be the easiest approach for NYC Transit...MACTRAXX