See Why NYC's Subway Trains Move So Slowly

NEW YORK, NY — Many New York City straphangers find themselves on a delayed subway train just about every day. The reasons for the slowdowns are rarely clear, but an interactive report The New York Times published Wednesday offers some answers.

The Times detailed how two key decisions by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have led delays to increase. First, the MTA modified hundreds of signals to control train speeds after a 1995 crash on the Williamsburg Bridge.

The changes were meant to make the subways safer, but in reality, faulty signals force trains to brake even when they're traveling below the speed limit, according to the Times. For instance, the median travel time between the Wall Street and Bowling Green stations on the 4/5 line increased by 12 seconds after signals were modified in March 2013, according to a chart the paper published.

MTA rules meant to protect track workers have also reportedly caused problems. When there's work being done on one track, "slow zones" on nearby tracks force trains to go less than 10 MPH.

The transit workers' union and the MTA argue the policy helps keep laborers safe, but it's also driven up the number of delays related to track work, the Times reported.

The paper illustrated its findings with animated graphics that show how those "seemingly small changes" have choked the subway's capacity to recover from delays.

Take a look at the Times' full report here.

(Lead image: Photo by Maria Cormack-Pitts/Patch)