Comments on: New Variable-Speed Escalators for New York Subways http://www.commuteroutrage.com/2008/08/06/new-variable-speed-escalators-for-new-york-subways/ Exposing fraud, waste, abuse, and general stupidity Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:27:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: James Leonard http://www.commuteroutrage.com/2008/08/06/new-variable-speed-escalators-for-new-york-subways/#comment-1939 James Leonard Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:01:25 +0000 http://www.commuteroutrage.com/?p=770#comment-1939 Variable speed escalators violate US escalator code A17.1 and can only be approved through variance if there is a turnstile or some other device that activates the increase in speed such that the escalator is at full speed prior to a rider stopping on for obvious reasons. The above makes it sound as though when the rider steps on the speed increases, this should not be so. Variable speed escalators violate US escalator code A17.1 and can only be approved through variance if there is a turnstile or some other device that activates the increase in speed such that the escalator is at full speed prior to a rider stopping on for obvious reasons. The above makes it sound as though when the rider steps on the speed increases, this should not be so.

]]> By: Lewis Derkins http://www.commuteroutrage.com/2008/08/06/new-variable-speed-escalators-for-new-york-subways/#comment-1835 Lewis Derkins Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:26:29 +0000 http://www.commuteroutrage.com/?p=770#comment-1835 Michael - I sent a query to MTA today, they responded that I would get an answer in 15 business days. I'll keep you posted. Your link should be updated in the sidebar. Happy Birthday to your dad. Michael -

I sent a query to MTA today, they responded that I would get an answer in 15 business days.

I’ll keep you posted. Your link should be updated in the sidebar.

Happy Birthday to your dad.

]]> By: Michael http://www.commuteroutrage.com/2008/08/06/new-variable-speed-escalators-for-new-york-subways/#comment-1815 Michael Sat, 09 Aug 2008 04:53:14 +0000 http://www.commuteroutrage.com/?p=770#comment-1815 The straphangers campaign has phone numbers for the line managers. Those are the only MTA phone numbers I've been able to find for you. http://www.straphangers.org/linesupers.html 12346 “A” Subdivision Assistant Chief (212) 424-5363 7 7 Line General Manager (347) 694-1380 a b c d e f g j/z m n q r v w "B" Subdivision Assistant Chief (718) 927-8511 L L Line General Manager (347) 694-1056 I would call them to see if any of them can direct you to the right person. Also, update my blog link in the sidebar, I bought a domain. Thank you kindly. www.infosnack.org The straphangers campaign has phone numbers for the line managers. Those are the only MTA phone numbers I’ve been able to find for you.

http://www.straphangers.org/linesupers.html

12346
“A” Subdivision Assistant Chief (212) 424-5363

7
7 Line General Manager (347) 694-1380

a b c d e f g j/z m n q r v w
“B” Subdivision Assistant Chief (718) 927-8511

L
L Line General Manager (347) 694-1056

I would call them to see if any of them can direct you to the right person.

Also, update my blog link in the sidebar, I bought a domain. Thank you kindly.

http://www.infosnack.org

]]> By: Lewis Derkins http://www.commuteroutrage.com/2008/08/06/new-variable-speed-escalators-for-new-york-subways/#comment-1814 Lewis Derkins Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:57:12 +0000 http://www.commuteroutrage.com/?p=770#comment-1814 Also FYI, I still haven't had a chance to contact them about this. Also FYI, I still haven’t had a chance to contact them about this.

]]> By: Lewis Derkins http://www.commuteroutrage.com/2008/08/06/new-variable-speed-escalators-for-new-york-subways/#comment-1813 Lewis Derkins Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:56:40 +0000 http://www.commuteroutrage.com/?p=770#comment-1813 The article claims it is mainly for the cost savings of $1,800 per escalator per year, and the interviews in the article seem to support this. There are mentions of service life for some parts, savings on electricity, etc... My problems with this are that it undoubtedly lengthens the life of some parts, but it is a more complicated system, so there are more things that can break. They don't make any claims that it lengthens the <em>service life</em> of the escalator. You also have to understand that a part of my issue with this topic is that the New York times didn't make any attempt to answer basic questions like this. Maybe I'm crazy, but this is exactly the kind of question I would expect a journalist writing this story to ask - is this really a savings? We know that it saves $1,800 per year compared to a normal escalator, but that means nothing over the service life if you obliterate it with a much larger up front cost, which is what the budget seems to show. The article claims it is mainly for the cost savings of $1,800 per escalator per year, and the interviews in the article seem to support this. There are mentions of service life for some parts, savings on electricity, etc…

My problems with this are that it undoubtedly lengthens the life of some parts, but it is a more complicated system, so there are more things that can break. They don’t make any claims that it lengthens the service life of the escalator.

You also have to understand that a part of my issue with this topic is that the New York times didn’t make any attempt to answer basic questions like this.

Maybe I’m crazy, but this is exactly the kind of question I would expect a journalist writing this story to ask - is this really a savings?

We know that it saves $1,800 per year compared to a normal escalator, but that means nothing over the service life if you obliterate it with a much larger up front cost, which is what the budget seems to show.

]]> By: Michael http://www.commuteroutrage.com/2008/08/06/new-variable-speed-escalators-for-new-york-subways/#comment-1810 Michael Fri, 08 Aug 2008 22:11:21 +0000 http://www.commuteroutrage.com/?p=770#comment-1810 I like to assume that public agencies have reasons for doing the things they do, but that you need to figure out what it is. I contact WMATA for answers on DC metro stuff all the time, and have found the people in charge of design and planning to be mostly competent and able to explain why they do the things they do. Are the new escalators faster, to reduce people's commute times? Are they safer to get on and off, do they wear out less frequently? I like to assume that public agencies have reasons for doing the things they do, but that you need to figure out what it is. I contact WMATA for answers on DC metro stuff all the time, and have found the people in charge of design and planning to be mostly competent and able to explain why they do the things they do.

Are the new escalators faster, to reduce people’s commute times? Are they safer to get on and off, do they wear out less frequently?

]]> By: thedailycommuter http://www.commuteroutrage.com/2008/08/06/new-variable-speed-escalators-for-new-york-subways/#comment-1791 thedailycommuter Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:07:33 +0000 http://www.commuteroutrage.com/?p=770#comment-1791 maybe you should work for the MTA. you're apparently doing a more thorough research than the bozos coming up with these improvements plans that don't seem to pay off in the long run. maybe you should work for the MTA. you’re apparently doing a more thorough research than the bozos coming up with these improvements plans that don’t seem to pay off in the long run.

]]> By: Lewis Derkins http://www.commuteroutrage.com/2008/08/06/new-variable-speed-escalators-for-new-york-subways/#comment-1786 Lewis Derkins Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:15:20 +0000 http://www.commuteroutrage.com/?p=770#comment-1786 Michael - I enjoy that you act as our unofficial ombudsman. I have actually already considered calling MTA, but yesterday was busy, and I couldn't find a good contact number. I will see what I can dig up. I'm not really interested in what the Straphangers have to say though - the cost of these things is something that numbers from MTA will answer. My suspicion is that these things are expensive enough that you won't realize any real savings. Michael -

I enjoy that you act as our unofficial ombudsman.

I have actually already considered calling MTA, but yesterday was busy, and I couldn’t find a good contact number. I will see what I can dig up.

I’m not really interested in what the Straphangers have to say though - the cost of these things is something that numbers from MTA will answer.

My suspicion is that these things are expensive enough that you won’t realize any real savings.

]]> By: Michael http://www.commuteroutrage.com/2008/08/06/new-variable-speed-escalators-for-new-york-subways/#comment-1784 Michael Thu, 07 Aug 2008 10:11:09 +0000 http://www.commuteroutrage.com/?p=770#comment-1784 And this is why you should call over to the MTA or the Straphangers campaign to get the story. And this is why you should call over to the MTA or the Straphangers campaign to get the story.

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