The New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is establishing some information adjustments starting Thursday. According to FOX 5 New York, 2,200 subway station brokers are transferring out of token cubicles to supply customer support to riders on platforms.
More Details About The Subway Station Agents’ New Roles
According to the outlet, the station brokers shall be interacting immediately with subway prospects. Agents will reportedly help with giving riders instructions, serving to prospects with fare machines, and aiding throughout service disruptions.
Additionally, the outlet additionally states that station brokers will “report any elevator, turnstile or quality of life issues.”
MTA CEO Janno Lieber has reportedly been outspoken in sharing that having token cubicles within the subway is “outdated.”
“Right now, MetroCard vending machines handle almost all the transactions, even with OMNY, even more of the transactions no longer go to the booth. The booth transactions are down to like 1%.”
However, Richard Davey, the president of NYC Transit, says that token cubicles won’t be utterly faraway from NYC subway infrastructure.
“There will be legitimate reasons for our agents to be in those booths to make reports, get information about service changes, or delays, for example, or just to take a break.”
How The MTA Reportedly Plans To Keep Station Agents Safe
In 2022, the NYPD reported that transit crime elevated by greater than 53% since 2021, as per New York Post. As of March 3, 2023, an up to date NYPD report has acknowledged that transit crime is down 19% up to now this yr. However, concern for station agent security continues to be a precedence for the corporate.
Richard Davey defined.
“They’ll be issued all phones, for example, so if they have to report an issue that they see in the station, they’ll be able to reach our rail control center or police if they need to report something significant or urgent.”
Additionally, the MTA has additionally introduced that three extra Customer Service Centers will open within the subway. This reportedly consists of areas at Fulton Street in Manhattan. As properly as Myrtyle-Wyckoff Avenues in Brooklyn and 74th St. — Jackson Heights — Roosevelt Avenue in Queens.
Station brokers who’re stationed on the Customer Service Centers will help prospects there with making the change to OMNY. According to ABC7 New York, OMNY is the “payment system that is replacing MetroCards.” Furthermore, the system permits a commuter to pay for MTA service by way of their smartphone or bank card.