Tech Report

By: Nick Gambino

 
Modern New York City subway cars are lightyears beyond what they were like when I was growing up in the 80s and 90s. Back then graffiti and urine seem to be décor choices.

A lot has changed: graffiti tagged trains are a thing of the past, ear-splitting Redbird trains have all been retired and urine statistics are on a decline. Though for some reason I still can’t understand a word the conductor is saying over the PA.

With a recently proposed plan announced by New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, the subway system will be seeing the major overhaul it needs to bring it up to the digital age.

Governor Cuomo held a press conference on Monday where he laid out the MTA’s $27 billion, 5-year plan to bring us a modern system by 2020. The plan should see the addition of 1,025 new cars, digital displays, WiFi and USB ports in all cars and stations.

WiFi and USB will cater to the millions of daily riders, many of whom are workers on their way to or from their job.

“People want to work, and they want their device to work 24 hours a day,” explained Governor Cuomo. “They don’t want to have to look up. There has to be WiFi, and there need to be charging ports.”

“Full color digital customer information displays” will be featured in each subway car to inform riders of stops and announcements.

The new cars will also feature wider doors to accommodate the sheer number of people trying to pack onto trains during rush hour.

Up to 750 of the new trains will follow an open-ended design to effectively get rid of disconnected cars. This will allow for more space for passengers and the ability to “feely traverse the length of the subway car.” Say good-bye to overcoming certain death by passing between cars going 40 MPH through a narrow tunnel.

Stations themselves will include major upgrades including WiFi, charging ports and digital displays that will allow for real-time updates on train arrival and departure. They will renovate 31 stations to begin with but have plans to renovate another 170.

While the nostalgic New Yorker in me will miss what I consider the last of old-school New York, the NYC subway system, I guess it’s time to allow our trains to meet the modern digital age. Bittersweet. I’ll be alright. Just give me a moment.

What do you think about the makeover the NYC subway is receiving? Let us know in the comments below or join the conversation on Twitter!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nick Gambino is a regular script writer and tech beat reporter for NewsWatch. He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and daughter.