A draft report on the status of a $2.7 million elevator safety project started by the by the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) revealed that “despite public concern, media attention and demands for improvement by the MTA Board, elevators and escalators remain a problem.” According to the report, in the first six months of 2010 there were 208 reports of entrapments (riders stuck in an MTA elevator). The report also noted significant concerns such as inspection and maintenance work reported as having been done may not have been performed, and monitoring equipment that was disconnected at some elevators, including elevators with the highest number of entrapments.
An MTA spokesman said the agency isn’t satisfied with elevator performance and steps are being taken to improve service. Carmen Bianco, senior vice president in charge of subways, said the agency will create a chief of elevators and escalators to improve maintenance and reliability of the equipment.
“We know we have to,” Bianco said. “We know this is a huge source of frustration for our customers.”
Read the full story: MTA Elevators and Escalators Still Giving Rider the Shaft with Entrapments, Report Finds (via NY Daily News)