New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) would rollout open gangway subway cars and increase cameras throughout the subway system.
Hochul made the announcement during an inaugural ride on the open gangway cars. The R211T cars will run on the C line between Washington Heights and East New York. Hochul boarded the car with MTA leadership and other elected officials at the 168 Str. AC1 station in Washington Heights.
“The subway is the lifeblood of New York City and we’re making record investment so it’s safe, efficient and successful,” Hochul said. “New train cars, additional security cameras and more reliable service will make the subway system even better for decades to come.”
The system will be the first train in the modern era to feature open gangway cars. Previously, the Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT), one of the three operating authorities to precede MTA, ran three-car open gangway segments for forty years, ending in 1965.
The open gangway R211T pilot cars are part of a larger modernization effort systemwide, officials said. The cars include pre-installed security cameras, and will add to the existing 1,000 subway cars with in-car cameras throughout the system. Officials said the entire NYC Transit fleet is expected to have in-car camera installation by January 2025.
The open gangway pilot cars are part of a larger order of R211A 60-foot cars, funded through the Federal Transit Administration, using funds that include money allocated from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The R211 cars feature 58-inch wide door openings that are eight inches wider than doors on the existing fleet, designed to speed up boarding and reduce car idle time. Additionally, the cars have more accessible seating, digital displays and brighter lighting and signage, among other features.