More Subway Car Announcements In The Clear, Survey Finds

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For the first time ever, an advocacy group has found the MTA is doing a better job keeping riders who are on delayed subways informed. NY1's Tina Redwine filed the following report.

It's a frequent gripe for riders: A muffled announcement, or none at all, when you're stranded in a subway car going nowhere.

"It's just a very uneasy feeling," noted on straphanger.

A Straphangers Campaign survey released on Thursday says we're on track for improvements. For the first time since it started the ratings 15 years ago, Straphangers found -- system-wide -- subway car announcements about delays and disruptions were made almost half the time and were also clear and accurate.

That's compared to only 40 percent two years ago.

The Straphangers Campaign says riders can thank new equipment.

"Investing in the newer cars allows for these announcements actually, for the riders to experience I guess more details within the announcements, more meaningful announcements," said Jason Chin-Fatt of the Straphangers Campaign.

The advocacy group says 69 volunteers rated 6,000 subway car announcements from January through April to come up with the ratings.

The surveyors didn't experience enough delays to say statistically on which lines you're more likely to hear delay announcements.

Meanwhile, on basic announcement like the name of the next station, the report found that they are being made and are clear and accurate 85 percent of the time -- the same results as two years ago.

On basic announcements the survey found the 4 train drives home a perfect score followed by the 6, Q, N and 1 trains.

It's not surprising since these lines have the newer trains, though riders on the oldest trains are left wondering.

On the R, riders get the basic information only 56 percent of the time, followed by the 7, 3, B and then the C and D.

"I really enjoy the peaceful time to get my reading in," said one straphanger.

For those who are bothered, the MTA says you will hear more improved announcements starting next year when the first of 300 new subway cars are delivered.

To see the results of the full survey, visit straphangers.org.