Possible Token Booth Closing at Prospect Park Station

Last week workers from the Transport Workers Union were at the Prospect Park subway station warning that the MTA planned to remove one of the manned booths there. I called MTA customer service to try to confirm, but no one there seemed to know anything about it. And after making several calls in an effort to figure it out, I'm giving up for the time being.

So the Prospect Park station may or may not be among those losing a token booth worker (there are currently two booths, one at each end of the station). If true, it's certainly bad news.  Booth attendants not only help people find their way around, their presence may deter crime and, of course, it's nice to know there's someone there in case of an emergency.

The biggest direct impact on my life is that, when attendants are gone, emergency entrances/exits are closed. So getting a stroller or a cart full of groceries on and off the subway platform suddenly becomes a major hassle. (Presumably only one token booth will be closed, so access will remain open at one end of the station, but still....)

That said, I'm not sure booth closings are the worst of it. Fare increases, reduced schedules, and failing infrastructure are no picnic, either.  If it were up to me, any protest of MTA cuts would be linked to support for congestion pricing. The money has got to come from somewhere, and it's time for car drivers to pay their fair share.

(Photo: wallyg)

Comments

[Richard]

Car drivers do pay their fair share with tolls. Few cities are privileged with the extensive public transportation that New Yorkers have. The MTA has planned to automate a lot of its services for years. Protest might help them increase their budget, but most services are not coming back. Here is the true solution to your problem.
http://www.zipcar.com/

[tomgee]

Gross..
here is a MUCH better website

http://www.transalt.org/

[Scott]

Don't forget

http://www.ridethecity.org

If it's happening, it's going to be on the Flatbush side. The Lincoln Road Exit is the "Full Service" station where you can actually combine your cards and use other services than simply buying a card from the attendant.

[Matt]

Does anyone know the latest on service changes to the B? My understanding is that starting this month it will run local after Prospect Park, meaning the B will also stop at Parkside.

The comment above that "Car drivers do pay their fair share with tolls" is negated by the fact that there are no tolls on any of the East River bridges. The failure of congestion pricing was one of the great missed opportunities of the Bloomberg era, and its ramifications, for car drivers and public transit users, will be felt for a very long time to come.

[Richard]

Before the green people call for a shake out of car owners, why doesn't the MTA look to maximize revenue on its own. Here is one idea, offer internet broadband services on trains & buses for a fee. Cablevision has offered to partner with the MTA. http://tinyurl.com/mggl97

[Steve]

Why are they changing the B to local after Prospect Park?

Anyone know?

[Charles Star]

Steve: I'm pretty sure it is to do work on the Express track further down the line. I can't find any more information about the upcoming changes.