MTA Expresses Disdain for Subway Station Grades

The Metro Transit Authority says it won't green-light a City Council-proposed rating system for subway stations.

The letter grades would be similar to the system used for restaurants and would take into account such factors as floor and tile cleanliness, leaks, and rats.

The idea, proposed by Council member Peter Koo at a budget meeting on Wednesday, was also supported by committee chairman James Vacca of District 13, according to a report by WNYC. 

The suggestion was quickly rebuffed by MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz because station conditions, such as peeling paint and rodents, were already plainly visible to riders.

MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota also criticized the idea, saying the idea would strain the agency's budget, according to the Daily News. A fare increase is already planned for 2013 to cover a projected deficit.

But a station agent told Patch he thought letter grades were a good idea. "They would do more to keep the stations clean, do more maintenance," said the agent, who declined to give his name.

"Maybe they'll give workers more money to be more productive—and maybe the management will get out of their offices more and become more productive," he added.

Riders interviewed were mixed on the proposal. Some said they thought it would be a good idea to make riders aware of what's going on.

"Some of the subway stations are pretty dirty," said 19-year-old Shaquille Brown. "It's good for people to know how clean the station is."

Others said they didn't think it would make a difference since unlike restaurants, riders wouldn't choose their station based on its grade.

"I don't see the point," said Jordan Janota, a 26-year-old set designer. "This is close to where I live, so obviously this is the station I'm going to go to."

The subway lines serving Prospect Heights get mixed reviews in a survey by the Straphangers Union using indicators such as how often the trains come, how crowded they are and cleanliness.

The advocacy group rated the Q line the second best in the city, primarily due to a rider's good chances of getting a seat. The B line ranked 15th out of 18 lines, and the No. 2 line tied for worst line, both primarily due to crowdedness, while the No. 3 line ranked in the middle—11th of 18. All Prospect Heights' lines ranked about average for cleanliness.

Earlier this year, the MTA's  In October of 2011, .