Frequent Delays Top Subway Riders' Complaints In New Survey

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NEW YORK CITY, NY – It’s the delays, stupid.

The constant waits for service topped a list of straphangers’ grievances with the subway system in a recent survey conducted by city politicians.

Out of 1,870 commuters who took the poll on Aug. 3 and 4, 49.5 percent said delays were their “biggest issue.” Overcrowding came in next, with 22.2 percent of respondents saying that peeved them most.

Asked when the last time they were late for an appointment was, 42.6 percent of respondents said “this week.”

“These issues have real consequences. Those who miss appointments or were late to work and school can face penalties,” Upper Manhattan Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez said on Tuesday. “Some miss out on job opportunities while others can even be fired.”

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Rodriguez and Bronx Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, who chair panels with oversight of the MTA, led a group of politicians on a two-day tour of the subways last week. They were seeking commuter feedback as elected officials struggle to put an end to frequent delays and other problems.

“All these findings show how important the need to fix our subways is,” Rodriguez said, “and not just to bring the system back to a status quo we saw a few years ago but to an entirely new level that will benefit all New Yorkers.”

Find more survey results below.

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Lead image by Shant Shahrigian/Patch.