The race to include projects in the MTA’s 2005-2009 capital plan continues.

Bronx politicians are pressuring the MTA to fix shabby subway stations in their borough, and include them in the pending capital program. Their call responds to a recent MTA Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee report that ranked 50 stations citywide, and found four out of the five worst were in the Bronx. Stations were ranked on a variety of factors, including litter, working telephones, exposed wiring, and conditions of walls and ceilings. The Daily News reported that Borough President Carrion is setting up a meeting with the MTA to discuss the findings. "All New York City deserves a clean, safe well maintained public transportation system. Conditions at these stations are completely unacceptable," Carrion told the News. The five dirtiest stations were: Moshulu Parkway, No. 4 Bronx, 174^th-175^th street, B,D Bronx, Kingsbridge Road, B-D Bronx and Atlantic Ave L, Brooklyn.

The PCAC study found that while there has been a general improvement in subway station environments since 1994, more needs to be done. For example, station ceilings were in worse condition today than they were in 1994. The report also illustrated the success of the MTA’s investment in the system over the past decade. The subway stations ranking best have had major renovation work done in recent years.

The entire report is on-line: www.pcac.org.

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