Bringing the Subway Into the Digital Era

Jessica Long
Sep 4, 2018 · 4 min read

It’s a Monday morning, I wake up and get dressed. I walk my dog while casually checking the new MTA app (no delays for the 117th day in a row!). I see the R train is coming in ten minutes, as expected, so I take my time walking to the train. Upon arrival in the station, I am greeted by a wave of refreshing cold air. As I approach the turnstiles I wave my phone over the scanner to pay my fare. I walk down the stairs and to the platform and the R train pulls up exactly thirty-two seconds later. On the train I walk down the open gangways to the cafe car for my daily drink and muffin, readymade for me of course. The wifi onboard is working great, so unfortunately, I have no excuse to not have finished all fifty labs assigned over the weekend. After a quick and quiet 25 minute ride, I hear a chipper announcement telling me I have arrived at Whitehall. Perfect.


West 4th Street Supervisory Tower

Although I wish this was my daily commute, it is not. However, maybe it could be someday? It’s clear more needs to be done to improve the subway system and everyone has their opinion on how to do just that. But today, I just want to focus on what the MTA has been doing to get caught up with the digital era and what we can imagine for the future.

MTA Facts and Figures

Q: Average weekday subway ridership in 2016?
A: 5.7 million, the highest since 1948

Q: Longest Ride with no change of trains?
A: The A train from 207th Street in Manhattan to Far Rockaway in Queens (more than 31 miles).

Q: Highest station above ground?
A: Smith-9 Sts in Brooklyn, 88 feet above street level.

Q: Deepest station?
A: 191 St in Manhattan, 180 feet below street level.


So what is the MTA doing now?

  1. Countdown clocks — The MTA recently finished rolling out their brand new countdown clocks in every single subway station. These clocks take the guesswork out of waiting for your train and even provide public service announcements. There are two countdown clocks at each station. The stations have bluetooth receivers at the front and back of the station, so they can monitor when the train enters and leaves. With that information the clocks at the next station can display estimaed arrival times.
  2. Next generation ticketing — Last year, the MTA board officially approved a contract to replace MetroCard readers with a high tech fare payment system. This means you’ll soon be able to pay your fare with your phone and/or credit card. Work is set to begin late this year on 500 subway turnstiles. They are planning to phaseout the current magnetic strip metro-card in 2023.
  3. Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) — The MTA is slowly, but surely, switching the subway’s signal system from a fixed-block system to communication based system. The L is the only line that uses CBTC at the time of writing but the 7 line is “finishing up”. Since the block system is designed to allow only one train in a “block” at a time with a buffer block on each side. This results in alot of excess space between trains. CBTC allows the trains to be closer together and have more of them on the same line because they can transmit their exact location to the control center. Recent estimates have this huge undertaking finshing in 40–50 years!
The difference between signaling methods

What do you imagine the future is like for public transportation? How can we bring New York City’s subway into the digital era? AI written train announcements that appeal more to your emotions? Self-driving subways like the ones pioneered in Copenhagen? AI powered maintenance schedules like in Hong Kong?

For now, here’s a prototype of what the subway could look like in the future. Trains will be equipped with wifi, usb ports, open gangways, and 58 inch door spans (eight inches wider than the current doors.) The MTA is expected to start testing the new cars in 2020. ;)

The R211 train

    Jessica Long

    Written by

    Full-Stack Web Developer | Mobile App Maker | CSS Queen | Kansas Native Living in the Big Apple | Cocker Spaniel Owner |

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