MTA logs subway performance improvements

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) logged subway performance improvements in March, including an increase in on-time performance and a decrease in major incidents on MTA New York City Transit’s (NYCT) system. 

Weekday on-time performance last month rose 65 percent since March 2018, the highest performance number logged since November 2013, according to an MTA press release. 

MTA officials also noted weekday major incidents totaled 50 for March, down 40 percent from 84 the same time last year. Weekday delays also were down 40 percent to 37,667.  

The average additional unanticipated time customers spent onboard the train due to various service issues dropped 27 percent.

Officials attribute the reduction in delays in part to progress made in reducing track debris fires. This has included clearing debris using new platform-based mobile vacuums and vacuum trains that move around the system picking up trash. 

The number of track debris fires dropped 42 percent to 64 in March, compared with 111 last year.