By Gus Saltonstall
A major Upper West Side train station now has platform barriers.
Protective edge gates were installed earlier this summer at the 96th Street 1, 2, and 3 station. As described by the MTA, the barriers are designed to prevent “intrusion” onto the tracks, which includes unauthorized entry, but also helps prevent people from falling or possibly being pushed into the train’s path.
The 96th Street stop is among the more than 65 New York City stations that have gotten the platform barriers over the past year, as Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office continues toward its goal of barriers at more than 100 subway stations by the end of 2025.
The barriers at the 96th Street station are installed on the local 1 train side of both the uptown and downtown platforms.
“At my direction, the MTA has ramped up the installation of protective platform barriers, building on their efforts to brighten stations with LED lighting and equip every subway car with security cameras,” Hochul said in a news conference last month.
According to Gothamist, these platform barriers were adopted after an MTA study looked at other options that were not practical or were prohibitively expensive.
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It makes it easier to walk on that yellow strip, as long as you have good balance. Keeps people out of your way.
The idea of the yellow strip is NOT to walk on it but to stand back. That’s like driving a car on the service road.
Oy.!
Great point!
I’m pretty sure I saw them at 66th street before I saw the 96th st ones.
Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
A rather rude and unhelpful comment.
Being pushed in front of a train is rather rude and unhelpful, The fact that the MTA has to find a solution to all the crazy people walking around this city punching people, pushing people in front of trains and this is what they come up with?
Stand behind that and you won’t get pushed in front of a train.
The fact that this is necessary should anger people. New Yorkers have been ok with well it was worse in the 90s mentally.
It’s not necessary. There were 8 murders in the subway system in 2024, a system that millions of people use every day, most of them late at night. The fear that people want to instill in others is a bigger problem than the subway itself.
Sorry, but I think what you’re posting here is nonsense. No one wears a sign on their head that says they are dangerous, and no one has an effective (or fair) way of detecting future violent behavior in another person based on how they look. Yesterday, a 23-year old man used automatic weapons to shoot children in a church in Minnesota; that person, according to reports, does not appear to have a criminal history. Installing subway barriers on platforms is a common-sense measure intended to make our subway slightly safer. It’s not a valid reason for fear-mongering by posting inane or inaccurate criticisms about something no society or jurisdiction on earth has an easy answer for.
I’ll assume your comment is serious. While on the surface what you say is true I don’t think this will help if the crazy person pushes someone in front of a car.
Seems like a non-solution all in service of avoiding the actual solution (removing the crazy people).
Imagine walking along talking on your phone via hidden head set and being escorted out for being a crazy person. I’m just sayin’
We are all crazy.
Touché!
That’s a very busy station with lots of transfers. Have you ever been at that station when it’s jam packed? You know there’s a lot of crazy homeless people there don’t you?
I use that station during rush hour at least 8 times a week, sometimes more. I’m not very worried about crazy people pushing me but if you are, those barricades are there to help you feel better. Stand behind one and you’ll be fine.
Totally true – but we are not on the Titanic. I think that’s the part of your comment that is inappropriate.
NYC is a lot like the Titanic. Let’s see who survives. It’s astounding to think that we have to find solutions to work around lunatics and criminals, rather than getting rid of the lunatics and criminals.
NYC always survives.
The city, perhaps. It’s the people who don’t.
I agree New Yorkers are somewhat like cockroaches, we’re survivors! Myself included, I was born in Washington Heights.
The rich ‘passenger’s will survive..Hello Molly Brown..the poor poor will drown..
We kinda are on the Titanic,
People just don’t realize it yet.
The only difference is people jumped off the Titanic, instead of being pushed off.
If we’re on the Titanic, it’s not because of the MTA. It’s because of the people who voted for Trump to make their purchasing power greater (cheaper eggs anyone??) and to deal with immigration, but instead got an Autocrat who wants to take over all the levers of power and decimate the most important power of a Democracy: THE VOTE!!
Yeah, THAT Titanic.
Yup!
Ok, run with that scenario.
Not sure I’ve seen any administration official pushing people onto the train tracks.
I agree that there are too many mentally ill people in the system people but it’s not only the MTA who is responsible. What we see in the system is representative of a larger, national problem.
The reality is that the MTA does not mind losing people to uber and lyft. They will just force people who don’t have the privilege of living on the UWS and having their entire life in the same 15 neighborhoods be forced to use subways.
Are you kidding? They need every passenger fare they can get.
MTA loses money on most trips. The less riders they have, the less service they run and they can reduce operating costs.
Mental health treatment is not the MTA’s mandate.. That should be in the portfolio of the completely innept, corrupt Eric Adams.
The primary purpose of the barriers, as in other cities around the world, is to prevent people from accidentally falling onto the tracks. It will, of course, also protect against people being shoved, but, thankfully, that occurs far less often than accidental falls.
The MTA’s job is to run a vast mass transit system as safely and efficiently as possible. Barriers will approve safety and should be applauded.
It’s not the MTA’s job to solve the problem of homelessness or untreated mental illness. That enormous task falls to the city, state and federal governments.
What others cities? I’m very well traveled and I have never seen anything like this. Please let me know.
Chicago, Boston and DC I think
in Paris, BA some lines are fully protected.
it’s actually a good solution. Just stand behind the barrier and you can’t be pushed.
The most negative person on the uws. Congratulations!
But always truthful
And after Mamdani wins it will be the Titan
Looks like a pet gate. Maybe look at the Tokyo subway to see how it’s done.
Also at the 66th St. station.
Also 86th Street
I saw these. Idk if they’ve done studies, tests, or trials for these, but they look so completely ineffective. lol
I think just seeing them will help remind people not to zone out near the edge of the platform.
Total waste of money and time!
I take the train daily and appreciate them. A lot of these UWS platforms are narrow and this brings ease. They are also nice to lean on 🙂
As someone who’s been pushed onto the tracks at Penn Station I appreciate the gesture but this won’t help you when you’re walking past the un-barriered sections. There’s really no feasible solution, I’m afraid. This is just window dressing.
I think a partial solution would be to increase the state’s ability to see that violent, mentally ill people are institutionalized and not left to their own devices.
What are their 🤣devices?…
It is at the 116th Street station. There are openings in the barriers that line up with the doors. I think it is a good idea. If you feel faint or are being shoved there is something to grab on to, to stop you from going over.
I found that the barriers didn’t line up with the doors, or vice versa, I guess
Am I dreaming or have I read about retractable barriers that run the length of the platform and move aside when the train is in the station and the doors open? In Japan maybe? But of course those would take considerable more money and engineering than the MTA’s fixed gates.
You can only imagine how much this would cost in New York and the time it would take to install the system.. Totally pointless!
They do have them in Tokyo. But, as you say, installing such safeguards here would be far more expensive than what they’re doing in this pilot (?).
They have them in Paris as well. That works. It’s expensive. But these little walls are pretty silly!
Yes, you have. the Metro system in Europe uses them. Don’t know why MTA can’t.
LOL. Do you think every city in “Europe” has the same metro system?
Our train cars are not uniform so it’s impossible currently to implement full platform-length barriers like Japan. Japan has them because people like to jump into the tracks on their own unfortunately
Paris has them on some lines.
Prague and Milan too at some stations .
I’m so sorry this happened to you. Did you need therapy to get over this criminal event? Was the perpetrator arrested? Did you receive a monetary compensation?
I was out of commission and in therapy for months, lost a lot of work and in many ways, am still out of commission years later due to this having happened. I talked to a lawyer and he told me trying to sue the MTA with all their resources would be like trying to piss up a rope. I do appreciate your concern though. Thank you.
You know, I was wondering how the cranky regulars in the WSR comments section were going to find a way to complain about these safety-providing, esthetically non-objectionable barriers.
You didn’t let me down.
Honestly, not everything merits complaint…
It’s Gale Brewer’s fault
The MTA has very limited resources and huge expenses. It has to allocate its resources very carefully to use them as efficiently as possible. This is not an efficient use of resources. In a world of infinite resources, this would be wonderful. But it is a nice to have, not a need to have, and the MTA has a lot of need to haves that have to be prioritized.
If there was one station where I would put them it would be 72nd Street on the 1/2/3 where the platform gets quite narrow. So I’m not sure why they didn’t start there if they are going to fund this project.
Maybe they could get more aggressive about the farebeaters who are costing the MTA millions? If they can’t physically stop them, those hi-viz dressed guards might take photos of the scofflaws and post them online. Every time I swipe my own card I feel like a chump…..
Our neighborhood mostly pays – but other uptown stations – farebeaters en mass with someone holding the door! It is disheartening to see a fare increase while all kinds of people – clearly people with the means to pay – just waltzing in! The security guards – massive waste of money. Cops should flood the areas with rampant farebeaters – use plainclothes cops – give some meaningful punishment to these scofflaws. Put them on workcrews to clean platforms for example! And yes the system is basically a homeless shelter – this am – far north corner on the downtown platform 1 train, there are always vagrants doing god knows what there.
“Doing god knows what”…WHAT?
They will not be installed at 72nd because the platforms are extremely narrow. I don’t think there would be enough room left for passengers to stand if these barriers were inserted on both sides.
In any case, a deranged individual can find a way to push a victim onto the tracks, even with partial barriers such as these.
The inherent problem with the MTA is that resources are ALWAYS limited. Everything has to go through the bean counters. Their job is to make hard decisions that no elected official wants to be directly accountable for. Even the advocacy groups like Riders Alliance, aren’t real grassroots groups, they’re funded by Mark Gorton among others and operate within the parameters that the MTA and big money donors let them. Not only that, they banned a disabled transit enthusiast (https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/25/nyregion/he-loves-new-york-and-it-loves-him-right-back.html) from their events because he associated with people who disagreed with the urbanists at Riders Alliance.
I also think that no one has really spoken to some of the most condescending and arrogant figures at the MTA. Norman Silverman and Peter Cafiero who both are no longer there come to mind.
Do you know what would help? If people stopped… Jumping or crawling under the turnstiles! And I don’t want to hear that they can’t afford the fare… Especially if they’re jumping the turnstile holding a $1400 phone and wearing designed sneakers.
Yes..I see it every day…The young and ‘entitled’ jump..The poor, ‘crazy’ crawl.
Old folks rarely jump..
I bet these cost 10 times what you are guessing they cost.
LOL!
Maybe we should have a fundraiser, $5 to guess how much they cost. The person who comes closest gets a jar of M&Ms (or maybe, since this is the UWS, a gift card for a week’s worth of bacon-egg-&-cheese sandwiches?), the rest of the money goes to some worthy cause.
Shovers determined to murder (premeditatedly or on a sudden whim) a random person they resent can appear “out of nowhere,” then escape. Riders must decide to help the victim or go after the criminal. Shovers don’t have to be certifiably ill, just feel like making someone more miserable than they are. These flimsy-looking barriers may at least remind riders to stand back.
I guess you can’t push anyone on the tracks in the yawning gaps between the barriers.
The idea is that you don’t stand in the “yawning gaps”. You do understand that, surely.
My point was sarcastic. The reason the barriers are up is so that it is more difficult to push people on the tracks. But there are huge gaps and it would hardly be a deterrerent if someone really wanted to push someone. You do understand that, surely.
And don’t call him surely!
ONLY when it’s very very crowded?
Of course, the answer in the world of Hochul, Bragg, NYC Council, MTA, Heastie and soon Mamdani isn’t to fix the actual problem. It is to treat a symptom. Criminals need to be locked up and removed from not only the subway but society. The mentally ill need to be institutionalized for treatment. We have tried it their way with no bail, no incarceration and a government funded mental health industrialization complex that turns sick people loose in our communities without the proper support. None of it works! Instead of admitting their mistakes we get some pathetic execution of safety barriers. So keep voting for these clowns and screaming about Trump while getting run over by a “deliverista” on an e-bike.
I am a Democrat, but I agree. Individuals who harm the citizenry should not be allowed to roam at large.
Politics has nothing to do with being safe; it’s a right all citizens should have.
Politics has everything to do with it. Politicians make laws. Laws can protect people.
You’re a ‘Democrat’?..Good luck!
Who’s the mayor, again?
Sure Bill. Because the city has had the resources to put all of those with mental health issues in appropriate care, for a length of time. Oh, also, don’t raise our taxes while doing it.
I know you’d prefer to have an armed paramilitary presence in the city, who will just lock up the mentally ill, instead.
What’s your solution?
Honestly that would be incredible, would support and donate to that.
Same here.
So you suggest what- do nothing? Ask DiBlasio where did the billions dollars go? NYC budget is $113 billion and billions are spent on homeless services and mental health care. Where does the money go?
On the mental health question, it isn’t the money, it is the method of care post Willowbrook. I suggest a watch of this: https://youtu.be/7B-okvAO1tM
Now, If money is an issue in our ability to care for these people and make them and our communities safe then why would we have spent over $12BILLION on illegal immigrants since 2022?
Bill,
Stop making sense.
It upsets people.
Ask the President..He can bring in the military and National Guard and ICE while he’s at..America’s problems solved…Oh that’s next month? Sorry.
Who’s to say that somebody couldn’t go between that and jump onto the train tracks.
And if somebody’s going to push somebody they can do it easily it’s not protecting anyone what a waste of money.
These things add HUGE safety to the rail system and its insane they havnt been installed 50 years ago…
Rather than allocate funds to put really effective barriers in place (see Tokyo subway system) they waste money and time with this nonsense. I mean, look at it! If you don’t understand the fatal flaw in that design you should be fired for thinking it would work.
I’ve written comments several times on this subject in the past. Let’s do it the right way. Safety first. A patent was issued back in 1908 for what would work. It’s properly elsewhere. Come on. MTA and NYC. Make happen and properly
Charles S. Shute patent 1908
https://patents.google.com/patent/US915122A/en
Saint Petersburg line 2
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_2_(Saint_Petersburg_Metro)
Very interesting. Thank you for sharing . I would think back in the day that it was to stop people from accidentally falling in or getting dizzy and topping over. I don’t think people are pushing people intentionally onto the track in 1908 and 9 — correct me from wrong.
That won’t stop some thug from pushing someone down the stairs or stabbing them…or both
Don’t give them ideas!
And it won’t stop anyone from slipping on a dropped candy wrapper and breaking a hip. Good grief, one can’t be afraid of everything!
No. The biggest problem with these new barriers is now EVERYONE will know where the doors will open, not just me. Dang! That ridiculously specific knowledge, accumulated over years of careful observation, was great for getting on first and getting a seat. How dare they! (Yes, I’m joking. Kind of.)
A waste of money those barriers get in the way for people with strollers and wheel chairs.
Who is driving their stroller or wheelchair into the side of a train or rolling on the yellow line?
I am sure someone made millions just by designing these.
MTA is corrupt. They can’t stop/get money from fare evading thieves so they “adjust” the fare up to $3 sticking it to the honest people. Don’t make me talk about their “honest” overtime pay… 🤡
Also 145th
The barriers are helpful
The Tokyo subway doors are estimated to cost about $7 billion, for only 128 stations (where it is possible) to install. That would only be for about 1/3 of the stations of the MTA.
Another concern is the lack of fire exits, the MTA ignores the fire code and gets away with it.
These are a good idea The 1 stations also need some deep cleaning and painting.
Interesting comment. Of course the platforms are gross, but I look at the mosaics and tiles a lot(I’m a mosaicist), and they have had a lot of restoration on a number of the stations. There’s also a spot at 110th St (uptown platform, front end) where someone clearly spray-painted the wall and it was very carefully cleaned. The paint remains on the grout (shades of red and blue on what’s usually grubby gray) and on some of the tiles (as a gentle sheen of color) but it’s gone from the cream-colored tiles. So some work is happening. And we definitely wouldn’t want them painting over any of the mosaic and tiles!
But of course, yes, it would be awesome if the stations got power washed one a week!
I saw these. What an effing waste of money. It doesn’t stop anyone from falling in front of a train, or jumping. I might jump just to prove the point. STOP WASTING OUR MONEY, MTA.
What is the point of those barriers? If they don’t want people to be able to fall / be pushed onto the tracks, they have to do what other cities do, which involves glass walls all along the edge and doors in the glass walls that open when the subway doors open. This is pointless and a waste of money. Of course it does cost much less than the full walls, but it doesn’t serve any purpose.
The money spent on barriers (walls) to keep poor, desperate immigrants out and separate families at the border, should be used for subways to build proper and longer barriers.
Money is allocated to the wrong things. The above would help people whether immigrants or citizens.
Great idea! Now how to solve this problem. A friend was going from the street to the platform level and was pushed down the stairs. Maybe some barriers there, too?
Alas, a good thing to have today.
The Paris subway system has the most effective barriers. But of course, that beautiful city also doesn’t allow criminals and the homeless to roam the stations. I feel safe there. Same with Madrid. New York is a so far behind when it comes to public transportation. The stations are cleaner too.
Has the reporter, or anyone noticed that the barriers have wide open spaces between them? Or is this just a press release restatement. Pretty much all they are good for is that you can lean now farther out to look down the tunnel using them for leverage,
What about if the train has an emergency, and can’t line up the doors with the gaps? Getting out of the train could be cumbersome.
This is a mediocre solution to keeping people off the tracks (for any reason). What we need are not Tokyo-style gates but rather the kind of “platform screen doors” (as they are called) that we see being implemented in subways around the world, including London, Melbourne, and Seoul (not to mention on the JFK AirTrain platforms right here in NYC). You can see them here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncSFoJFv72c
These would not only restrict access to the tracks, they would help keep subway platforms dramatically cooler by preventing subway train a/c exhaust heat from venting into the stations (the main source of heat on platforms) and they would keep brake dust from dirtying the stations (one of the main sources of grime in the subway system).
Not perfect, but if they keep eager commuters off the yellow line (and leaning over the tracks to spot the oncoming train), they could be helpful. I don’t think they’re a great solution (see my comment about retractable gates) but maybe we shouldn’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. (OMG, did I just say something positive about the MTA? The meds may be working.)
I don’t know if these will be good enough or not, and I don’t pretend that these will solve all the problems, but I think that trying to find some solutions (and ones that won’t cost us an arm and a leg in added fare fees to cover other, potentially better but certainly lots more expensive, and still partial solutions because the social aspects of violence aren’t solved by even the fanciest barriers) is a good thing. So, these may be better than nothing. We’ll see. Meanwhile, having something to stand behind and having something to hold on to if one isn’t all that steady, are good things. Just because it won’t solve everything, doesn’t mean it is not worth trying.
Platform screen doors would be the best solution, but it would cost the MTA an arm and a leg to do it while crying broke.
“Barriers” is a very loose term for that. What, exactly, are they supposed to do? Won’t stop people. I get they can’t do what the London tube does in terms of actual barriers but this is just a waste of money.
Nice attempt at trying to protect people from being pushed or jumping on the tracks themselves, but they’re not tall enough. If a person wants to climb over it’s too easy.
The 86b St. downtown station has the barriers installed in about 2/3 of the station’s platform–the front 2 or 3 cars do not have them. Does anyone know why? Did they run out of supplies or money? Since I usually stand at the front at the train, this is not happy news.
They’re also at 86th. I can’t really see the purpose in the design.
Someone said the barriers are flimsy. They aren’t. They look like chain link fencing but they are a much heavier metal and are solidly bolted into the platform. Pushing with both hands, I could not move it even a centimeter. One good thing about the barriers is I do not think they will ever need any maintenance or repair. Any protective barrier that was mechanical would totally baffle the MTA .
an extremely expensive solution that will change nothing,
How often will the subway train not stop in the right spot so the doors are blocked?
There is still enough space between the door and the barriers for passengers to leave the train, although it will be slower.