NEW YORK — There is relief for New York’s subway system as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said it will double the number of open restrooms at stations across the city.
Plus, a new survey suggests more passengers are satisfied with transit service.
On a day when many trains were delayed by signal problems, Virginia Madrey celebrated the idea that when she has to go to work, it’s okay if she also has to go to the bathroom.
“We need that. Sometimes those trains are late. We need that bathroom,” Madrey said.
Yes, the rarely celebrated comfort of metro toilets. More than 100 of them have closed during the pandemic. Nine stations finally reopened their toilets in January, and 12 more will reopen on May 2. This would bring the total amount down to around 30% of the pre-pandemic level.
Here is a list of the stations where the baths will reopen in May:
- norwood
- wooded lawn
- 168th street
- 72nd Street Q Train (Upper East Side)
- the brooklyn bridge
- 57th street
- The Barclays Center
- 36th Street D and R lines
- Coney Island
- Euclid Avenue
- Rinsing
- Queensboro Square
Here are the nine resorts that reopened their washrooms in January:
- E 180th Street
- 161st Street – Yankee Stadium
- 42nd Street-Bryant Park
- 14th Street – Union Square
- Fulton Street
- Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue
- Forest Hills-71st Avenue
- Rue Jay-MetroTech
- Kings Road
Here is a map of all stations with renovated facilities, strategically located throughout the system:
“It’s an important service that New Yorkers have said we should be doing more of,” the president of New York transit, Richard Davey. He added that passengers are not only relieved by the bathroom situation, but are also breathing easier after their recent journeys.
After months of safety concerns following a spike in crime in 2022, transit officials have noticed a new trend: passengers are feeling safe again.
“For the third month in a row, customers are telling us they feel safer than the month before,” Davey said.
Subway satisfaction in March 2023 is 65%, according to the MTA’s customer survey, up from 52% in June 2022. Satisfaction with bus ridership also increased from 63% to 69%, according to results shared Wednesday.
Ask the station masters and they’ll tell you what the difference is: security. Not only have traffic offenses been down 21% this year so far, but the public is seeing the police more often.
When asked if she thought a visible police presence had made a difference, MTA station manager Germaine Jackson said an emphatic yes.
“Big difference. Probably a 99% difference,” Jackson said.
Regarding the return of station restrooms, Jackson also addressed what might be passengers’ biggest question: Will they stay clean?
“We have a higher cleaning frequency in our bathrooms and we inspect them every hour,” he said, assuring that they will be clean.
Of course, challenges remain. One in three users are still unhappy with the system, which has liquidity issues, signal issues and needs upgrading.