#HTE

Check Out NYC’s Redesigned Hi-Tech Subway Cars and Stations

For a so-called world capital, my hometown of NYC has a downright embarrassing subway system. We don’t have the convenience of London’s Oyster card, the beauty of Paris’ stations, the tidiness of Tokyo’s platforms. But now, finally, New York’s Governor Cuomo has resolved to do something about it.

This week Cuomo held a press conference showing off the design features of the 1,025 redesigned subway cars we’re (supposedly) getting, as well as 31 renovated subway stations that actually seem as if they were designed in this century. Here’s a look at what’s in store, as we finally try catching up with the rest of the world.

The Stations

Increased Visibility

I actually disagree with this claim, as those circles used to be the size of dinner plates. The one in the photo above looks more personal-pizza-sized.

Service Announcement

This only provides actionable information if you are willing to divert to a taxi or Uber. For those of us bound to the train, if the alert reads “Lousy Service,” all it does is let you know how much your wait is about to suck. And putting the date above it is not as useful as what every New Yorker really wants to see: The TIME.

Neighborhood Map

Will surely be a boon to tourists.

Enhanced Lighting

Will certainly make the stations look better, though we’ll never mistake this one for the Arts et Metiers station in Paris.

Countdown Clock

This gets a big thumbs-up. Knowing when the train is coming is a stress-reducer.

Wayfinding Information

I can’t see any improvement over what’s already up, though the design looks a bit cleaner.

USB Ports

Sure to be a boon—if they can make them vandalism-proof.

Easy to Clean Finishes

Anything’s got to be better than the current grime-grabbing sidewalk finishes we’ve got now. But the real test will be: How does it handle chewing gum?

By the bye, two dead giveaways that the rendering above was put together by a non-New-Yorker: Number one, the R stops at 49th and 57th, there is no 53rd Street station. Number two, there’s no such thing as “4 Avenue & 54 Street;” that should say “Lexington Avenue and 54 Street,” for chrissakes.

Glass Barriers

I don’t see what these add beyond aesthetic value, which probably wouldn’t last long—are they tag-proof? They’re also bound to increase maintenance costs, since no one needs to Windex the cheerful iron grates we’ve got now.

Neighborhood Map

Again, good for the tourists.

Service Announcement

Can’t hurt, though rather than listing the lines numerically and alphabetically, they ought to be ordered in proximity to the lines you’re likeliest to transfer to. It’s little details like this that separate UX from great UX.

The Actual Cars

New Exterior

It looks acceptably modern, but I think the way the train looks is everyone’s last priority.

New LED Headlights

No one cares. Seriously. No one is riding to work and thinking “MAN am I glad this thing’s got LED headlights!” and high-fiving the guy next to him.

Wider Doors

A good, practical feature, but I still want to see them equipped with poison-tipped thresher blades that take care of those people who unthinkingly block the entrance when the doors open.

Digital Display

Can’t hurt, but not a huge improvement.

Wi-Fi

Anything that might keep people checking their Facebooks instead of loudly yapping into their phone is aces in my book.

Open Gangway

I’m actually opposed to these. I get that they provide an airier feel, and if the train isn’t crowded makes it easy to work your way towards the door that will open in the right place at your station, but I liked having that barrier for when there’s An Incident. Those of you that live here know what I’m talking about: The train pulls up, and every car is packed with people except for one, which is mysteriously empty. Gee, I wonder what’s in there, steaming away in a lovely pile on the floor?

Arrows on the Floor

This is a complete waste of paint. If the subway doors open and you can’t figure out which direction to go, maybe you should move to a region where it’s more common to commute by riding a sure-footed animal.

Service Announcement

We’ve already got these. To the person who did this rendering, you should not have bothered calling this out. You might as well have an arrow pointing down that says “Floor.”

USB Ports

Again, would be good if they can make them vandal-proof. Otherwise it’s just a matter of time before someone starts a Tumblr called “Things People Shove in NYC Subway USB Slots.”

Wheelchair Location

A good thing for sure, as long as they work out corresponding markings on the platforms so that a wheelchair user knows where to wait.

Flip Seat

I always dug these on the 6-train. Especially the noise they make when you let them go and they slam back into the wall; the tourists always identify themselves by turning their heads to see what the noise was.

Improved Grab Bar

Out of everything shown here, this is the one feature I seriously dig. The only way I can think to improve it is to have sharp horizontal thorns sticking out of it at intervals. The thorns would prevent Back Leaning Guy from doing his thing, and would provide clearly delineated handhold areas between the thorns, preventing Sweaty Slide-Down Hand Contact.

Lastly, there’s no word on when these changes will actually be enacted; the Governor’s office will only say they’re part of a “five-year MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority) Capital Program.”