Riders packed a No. 4 train in July. (Photo: Rob Bennett for The New York Times)The three Lexington Avenue subway lines — the Nos. 4, 5 and 6 — have gotten so crowded that riders are routinely stranded on the platforms during peak periods, unable to board the cars, according to a report released on Wednesday by the office of City Councilman Daniel R. Garodnick, who represents parts of the Upper East Side.
The problem is not new, but Mr. Garodnick said it was probably worse on the East Side lines than anywhere else in the system, citing the passenger-loading guidelines used by New York City Transit, the arm of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority that runs the subways and buses. Mr. Garodnick urged the authority to spare the three lines from the service reductions being contemplated as the authority struggles to close a growing budget deficit.
Even at full capacity — 27 trains per hour — during the morning rush, the two Lexington Avenue express lines, the Nos. 4 and 5, frequently are too full to accommodate all the passengers, who must wait for the next train. Transit guidelines call for a three-square-foot space for each passenger to stand; often, such space is unavailable.
The result, Mr. Garodnick said, is not only commuter frustration, but also lost economic activity, and safety concerns.
From July 28 to Aug. 8, and again from Oct. 27 to Nov. 14, the councilman’s staff observed passengers along the uptown and downtown express tracks at the 59th Street station during the morning and evening rush and passengers at the downtown platform at the 77th Street station during the morning rush.
Although the evidence from the report is more suggestive than scientific, the findings suggested heavy crowding.
- More than 130 riders were kept off of each downtown No. 6 train at 77th Street during the morning rush, defined as 8:15 to 9 a.m. On two days, the number of stranded passengers exceeded 400.
- At least 75 commuters were unable to board each No. 4 and 5 train at 59th Street on the nights of Yankees home games in August.
- During the two commuter rush periods, an average of 25 riders were left stranded by every train at the stations observed.
In response to Mr. Garodnick’s report, the M.T.A. said in a statement:
As the sole subway corridor serving the East Side of Manhattan, M.T.A. New York City Transit’s Lexington Avenue Line is the busiest in the system. On an average weekday, 1.3 million customers board trains. To handle the rush hour crowding, the 4, 5 and 6 trains operate on two-minute headways—among the shortest in the system. With only two minutes between trains, the line is operating at its capacity, meaning that during the height of the rush period, no more trains can be added. However, work is currently underway on the construction of the Second Avenue Subway. When opened, this state-of-the-art rapid transit line will add significant capacity to the east side of Manhattan.
In order to keep customers informed of delays and service changes, New York City Transit is in the process of expanding its customer communication efforts through the use of text messaging, email alerts and the installation of Public Address Customer Information Signs, which will be installed in more than 150 stations on the numbered lines.
M.T.A. Metro-North Railroad is currently building a new commuter station adjacent to the new Yankee Stadium and it is scheduled to be ready next spring. This new stop will provide additional capacity beyond the Jerome and Concourse subway lines, which already serve the Stadium.
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