Introduction
Any modern city is practically unthinkable without a well-developed infrastructure, in which an important role plays the subway. At any rate it is true in relation to one of the largest cities of the US and the world New York City and its subway. It is one of the largest urban rail networks in the world and in the same time it is hardly possible to underestimate its role for the city since it is probably one of the most reliable and fast means of transport in New York. Anyway it is possible to estimate that the life in the city would be paralyzed if New York City subway stopped functioning.
At this respect it is particularly important to develop the subway and provide its reliable and safe work in the future when along with traditional problems the subway faces new ones, among which terror attacks seem to be the most dangerous and disastrous. In such a situation it is necessary to have a clear plan of further development of the New York City subway in new conditions and taking into consideration the perspectives of the development of the city, technologies and other factors, including political and socio-economic ones.


The History of the New York City Subway
The New York City subway has a long history and it is one of the oldest subway systems in the world but despite this fact it remains quite effective and reliable in the present days.
The subway was found in the early 20th century and the first underground line of the subway was opened in 1904 and the first elevated line was built 35 years later and it was the IRT Ninth Avenue Line. But in actuality it does not mean that these are the first structures of the subway system that were or still are currently used. It is quite a remarkable fact that the oldest structure that is still in use was opened in 1885 as a part of Lexingtone Avenue Line, which nowadays constitutes a part of the BMT Jamaica Line in Brooklyn.
Also it should be pointed out that when the first underground lines were open, they had been consolidated into two systems, which were owned by two private companies, namely Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company (BRT), which later was transformed into Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT), and Interborough Rapid Transit Corporation (IRT). In such a way first undergrounds lines were controlled by private companies despite the fact that the city was closely involved in building of new lines. At first it sounds a bit paradoxical but the explanation is quite simple. The reason is that the underground lines were built for the companies and then they were simply leased to them. As a result, IRT received the lines via original Contracts 1 and 2 and the Dual Contracts were used for the later extension and widening.
Nonetheless, in 1932 the first city-owned and operated Independent Subway System line opened. Initially it was intended to compete with the hegemony of private companies and in the same time it allowed to tear down some of the elevated railways. Soon the ‘appetite’ of the city had progressed and till 1940, the two private systems were bought by the city. However, such a monopoly of the city led to a bit unexpected results for some of the elevated lines were closed either immediately after the acquisition or soon after.
Naturally it was not an easy task to integrate the systems, which had existed separately for quite a long time and it was one of the main goals of the new owner for first years. Gradually several connections were built between the IND and BMT, which currently operate as a one division known as the Division B. Unfortunately the integration of the IND and the IRT was even more complicated because the latter had narrower lines and the decision to remain its own division, which became the Division A, was quite logical.
Obviously the city had to create an effective system of management of the subway in order to provide its effective and stable work. In order to achieve this goal the New York City Transit Authority was created in 1953 but it should be pointed out that it occupied not only with the subway proper but also with buses and streetcars. Gradually it was transformed and improved that led to the creation on its basis of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in 1968 and until the present day the system has not been changed radically.
Nowadays the system is still functioning quite effectively and stable despite the problems it faces in the present days. Its main function is to carry people during the working day and the number of people that are carried daily is quite impressive, for instance in 2002 it constituted 4,5 million passengers a day. Naturally the structure of the subway stations has to be and is adopted to such demands to accommodate large numbers of people, especially in rush hours. A typical New York subway station platform is from 400 to 700 feet long. Quite remarkably the city has to resume the elevated railways and nowadays some subway lines in the outer boroughs have elevated tracks with stations passengers climb up to.
Currently many stations and lines provide services of quite a high quality and often there are both express and local services. As a rule such lines have three or four tracks among which the outer two serve for local trains, while the inner one or two for express trains. Basically stations, which are served by express trains, are major transfer points or destinations.
Also it should be said that the BMT Jamaica Line uses skip stop services on portions, in which two services operate over the line during rush hours, and minor stations are served only by one of the two. While the IRT Broadway-Seventh Avenue Line finished to use skip stops in May 2005.
The Current Problems of the New York City Subway
The achievements of the New York City Subway has been mentioned above but, unfortunately, as any other subway system it has its own problems some of which are quite difficult to solve and some have appeared recently practically have never existed before.
In fact it is difficult to define what problems are more or less serious and which of them have to be solved immediately but what is obvious is the fact that there are problems and they should be solved and it is highly recommendable to solve the problems in complex since many of them are closely interrelated and one problem causes another.
First of all, one of the old problems of the New York City subway that remains still unsolved properly is the problem of its age and old constructions. What is meant here is the fact that the New York subway is quite an old system that exists more than a century. Despite some reconstructions and innovations many stations still do not correspond to the modern demand of comfort and equal access for all citizens. For instance, most stations are not handicapped accessible that is absolutely unacceptable for such a huge city as New York.
Furthermore, the equipment of the New York City subway system is also getting old. Consequently the equipment needs to be substituted by new one. In the same time old equipment, including old trains cars, rails engenders another serious problem the problem of its reliability and safety.
It is obvious that old equipment is dangerous to use since the risk of its breaking and wrong functioning is permanently growing. Besides the most pessimistic forecasts as for possible accidents, it is also should be said that the old equipment may change a normal schedule of functioning of the subway that have negative consequences for the whole city because too many people depends on the subway and if something is wrong with it than they will have less opportunities to get in time in their destination and in the same time the only alternative they have is their own transport that will create additional problems fort the city traffic especially in rush hours when traffic jams are a real problem for the city, including its ecological aspect.
Another problem that is relatively new and dates back a couple of decades ago is the problem of crime in the New York City subway. In fact the problem of crime was particularly significant in 1980s when crimes simply overwhelmed the subway. Though nowadays the problem is not solved but the situation has been improved at list a bit but there is enough room for work in the direction of complete elimination in the subway especially in the current situation when another danger, that is considered to be the greatest problem of the modern subway system is the problem of terror attacks that is also a question of security that will be discussed a bit later.
The recommendations for solutions of the problems of the New York City subway
On realizing the current problems of the New York City subway, it is necessary to find possible solutions which could be, on the one hand, effective and, on the other hand, applicable in the current situation and in the specific conditions of the New York subway system.
First of all, as it has been already mentioned above, the New York subway system, or at least its part, is quite narrow and the integration of the lines was quite problematic in the first half of the century neither this problem is solved nowadays. In the same time this problem cannot be solved without complete reconstruction of the narrow lines that is very expansive for the city and it can hardly be done.
Furthermore, initially the subway was not supposed to carry such number of people daily this is why many stations needs to be enlarged in order to be more comfortable and special so that people could easily use it without any troubles in rush hours when the station are overcrowded.
Consequently it is not the best solution to build a new subway system because of its high price and lack of space. This is why the most plausible solution is to reconstruct the existing infrastructure of the New York City subway.
As for the equipment, it is obvious that new trains, cars, etc has to be set in use in the subway in order to increase the speed of the passengers’ transportation that provides higher possibilities to increase the number of people that can be carried in the subway, eventually it leads to the increase of the subway effectiveness at large.
Finally the problem of crime in the subway has to be solved in the municipal level since it is the problem of the whole city and not the subway only. Naturally it is possible to introduce a better system of surveillance in the subway in order to faster detect criminals and prevent crimes but the problem of crimes it is rather socio-economic problem than a problem of the subway system of security. This is the most effective way to solve the problem of crime in the subway is the general improvement of socio-economic situation in the city along with improving the work of police and security services in the subway.
The Security of the New York City subway
Nowadays the problem of security is as important as it has never been before. The reason is that in addition to crimes that overwhelmed the subway in 1980s a new even more serious problem appeared – the problem of terror attacks. The 9/11 in the US and the recent terror attacks in London make the solution of this problem of paramount if not to say vital importance.
However, the problem is very difficult to solve. Naturally it is possible to introduce very strict regulations and security system and check practically all passengers of the subway but it creates a number of inconveniences for users. On the other hand, when it is necessary to make a choice between security and comfort the former wins.
Furthermore, it is also necessary to realize that the New York subway system is very complex and it is impossible to solve the problem of security within a restricted area. On the contrary, the effective system of security has to be developed and introduced in all components of the subway system and even overcome its borders. This is why the shield of the security system should include not only the New York City subway but also the Long Island railroad and New Jersey transit.
It is obvious that such a spread of the security system would be the most effective since it can provide the essential unity of the railroads where the surveillance is much more effective because it is possible to control a potential criminal or terrorist since the moment of the entrance to the moment of the exit, analyze his/her actions and prevent any dangerous acts if necessary.
The Financing of Reconstruction and Security of the New York City Subway
Obviously, the solutions of the current problems of the New York City subway demand proper financing, which may be not a solution but rather one more problem for the city because the complete reconstruction of the subway and upgrading the equipment along with a dramatic increase of security expenditures and the creation of a more advanced and wider spread system of security is very expansive project and for the city budget it is even too expansive. This is why, along with state and federal financing, it is necessary to find alternative sources to realize the plans suggested above.
As for the state financing of the projects, it is possible to invest the money the city receives from the subway into its reconstruction while federal agencies and police, participating in the development of a new security system, may financed from the federal budget spending the taxes on the New York subway. At this respect, it may be possible to discuss the possible increase of prices for the tickets in the subway, as one of the potential sources of financing.
On the other hand, it is possible to stimulate private investments into financing the reconstruction of the subway and upgrading the subway equipment. In order to make the investments more attractive it is possible to sell a part of the city share of the New York City subway with sustaining the general control of the city over the system.
Conclusion
Thus, taking into consideration all above mentioned, it is possible to conclude that the New York City subway system, having quite a long history, needs to be improved. It needs to be basically reconstructed and reequipped in order to increase the reliability and safety of the equipment. In the same time the system of security should also be improved and enlarged. As a result with the help of the city authorities, federal government and private investors the current problems of the subway may be solved and it can enter the second century of its functioning renewed, more securer and much more comfortable.Do you need any help with your written assignments? Feel free to use our service! It is very easy process to buy an essay! You need to fill in the order form, contact the writer to discuss details, if needed, and, of course, pay money. Make your life easier, using writing services! If you have problems with your written assignments we will help you.


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