Here’s an excerpt from a very interesting Op-Ed in the Times this morning that supports exactly that I believe:

To be effective and held accountable, managers of decentralized units require autonomy and authority, neither of which is possible within the city’s subway system. These managers will have to operate under the same civil service titles and regulations and the same constricting union agreements, use the standard subway cars and in almost all cases share the tracks. They will have little leeway to run more frequently or more regularly, or to operate longer trains.

There is no indication that the managers will be allowed to buy more subway cars or rebuild stations. Moreover, unless they control their own sections of the rail yards and their own car-maintenance and car-cleaning crews, they will have little influence over the condition of “their” subway cars. Only if the managers of the different lines exercise authority over these factors can one expect innovation, differentiation and competition; otherwise each manager could reasonably claim that he lacked control over crucial factors and could point a finger elsewhere.

While I too believe it is a step in the right direction, it is likely to not make a difference because very little power will be given to the line managers.  They will have to run their own lines within the same constraints the lines currently operate, so how will it change?

Haven’t been able to make it to any of the recent fare hike hearings?  Don’t worry, you’re not the only one.

Tomorrow night, you can participate in the next hearing, aka Public Engagement Workshop, from the comfort of your own home.  I suggest a you get a 6-pack, throw on your PJ pants, and dial in.  I think the questions could get quite “colorful” if people aren’t in front of a large group of people.

CLICK HERE to register on the MTA website for the webinar.  You’ll need to connect through your computer and dial in to a phone number to participate.  Not sure what they will be showing on the computer, but whatever.

Finally, a little business sense over at the MTA.  Today, they announced plans to make each subway line operate as it’s own, autonomous rail line.  Each line will have it’s own manager that can focus on the needs of that specific line.

Howard H. Roberts Jr., president of New York City Transit, will announce an overhaul today of how the subway system is run. The changes are designed to give individual subway lines a greater degree of autonomy by putting each one under the direction of a manager who will be responsible for almost everything that happens on the tracks, in the trains and in the stations. [NY Times]

Currently, there are single managers that handle multiple lines.

Of course, with everything the MTA does, there has to be a pilot.  Can’t just do it, we need to test it until the end of time.

So first guinea pigs will be the 7 line and L lines.  They were chosen because they are fairly self contained (unlike other lines that share tracks). 

The plan is to then release another batch of subway rider report cards to see if there was any improvement noticed by riders. 

Every weekend this month, the MTA Transit Museum is going to roll out some of the old “antique” trains for people to ride along the V line.

First of all, I think this is very cool.

Second, I think it would be hysterical to see the look on people’s faces when these trains pull up, and they have no idea what’s going on.  You have to figure that most people would know in advance that a pre 1970 train car is about to approach.

They even decorate them!  See the photo here on AMNY.  Boy, would people be pissed if one of these old clunkers broke down and caused delays.