NYC Assemblyman Calls For Platform Barriers In Subway Stations

By Idy Perl

Lawmakers are responding to last week’s horrific incident on the MTA, in which a passenger waiting on the platform was pushed onto the tracks and struck by an incoming train and nearly lost his life. 

Manhattan Assembly Member Tony Simone is advocating for barriers to be installed on all MTA platforms to prevent such incidents from occurring, on purpose or by mistake. As of today only 14 subway stations have platform barriers. 

As the NYC congestion pricing has now gone into effect, in part to encourage more New Yorkers to use public transportation, making the subways safer is an imperative step to get more people onto the trains. 

“After the horrific attack in my district that saw a man nearly lose his life under a train, it is clear that we need safety infrastructure improvements that are commonplace across the world,” Simone said. “My legislation will require the MTA to install platform screen doors and gates system-wide within five years.” =