Res. No. 833

Resolution calling upon the New York City Transit Authority to set a maximum safe speed for trains entering stations.

By Council Members Nelson, Comrie, Fidler, Gerson, Gonzalez, Koppell, Sanders Jr. and Weprin

 Whereas, The New York City Transit Authority (NYCT) regulates the speed at which subway trains operate in various situations on the basis of a variety of factors, including the potential danger to transit workers and riders; and

Whereas, Anecdotally, it seems NYCT trains do not enter subway stations at a consistently and uniformly low safe speed and in fact sometimes barrel in at relatively high speeds, screeching as they come to a halt; and 

Whereas, If an area where transit workers are deployed is designated a “Work Zone,” any train passing through such zones are required to travel at a maximum speed limit of 10 miles per hour in order to provide such workers with enough lead time to avoid being struck by the train; and

Whereas, Unlike situations such as “Work Zone” designations, it is unclear whether the NYCT sufficiently takes into account those situations in which workers and riders on subway station tracks and platforms are in potential danger of death or injury from rapidly oncoming trains entering the stations; and

Whereas, Such potentially dangerous situations include when workers are on the track; when riders are standing too far forward on the platform; and when riders are pushed too far forward by crowded conditions on the platform; and

Whereas, There are also a variety of situations where a rider may even end up on the track of a train station, including instances in which a rider slips as a result of crowded conditions, falls or faints as a result of illness; or is intentionally pushed onto the track; and

Whereas, There are no State or Federal regulations that apply to the speed of a subway train as it enters a station; and

Whereas, A uniform and consistent maximum speed limit imposed on trains entering NYCT train stations would enable a train operator to better respond to the presence of workers or riders on the track or conditions on the platform in which riders are in danger of contact with an oncoming train; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York City Transit Authority to set a maximum safe speed limit for trains entering stations.

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