MTA Warns Commuters To Be Vigilant

Last week, with the Fourth of July holiday weekend approaching, frequent commuters in Queens found anti-terrorist warning leaflets blanketing every LIRR car.
It was an effort by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to tell riders to keep their eyes peeled for anything left unattended. Like all MTA employees, the public is being asked to be vigilant and to report any suspicious packages or activity on the platform.
The message carried on the handouts was a simple one: "If you see something, say something."
When contacted by The Queens Courier about the distributions, a spokesperson from the MTA press office struck a reassuring note: "Were taking every step to ensure that both our customers and employees travel and work in safety. To that end we have begun the If You See Something, Say Something campaign, and the public response has been encouraging. The public should be aware that their safety is paramount to us, and were taking precautions to protect them every day."
Critics contend that there is still much room for improvement to the security of the system, however.
Neysa Pranger, a coordinator for the Straphangers Campaign, a city-based public transit monitoring group, told The Queens Courier: "We think that the MTA needs to invite an independent consultant to assess and overhaul their security procedures. Theres a real concern if the subway system is really prepared. An independent consultant could also help to streamline communications between the departments and the emergency services, which have not always been so smooth."
When it comes to the security of the rail lines, a sense of perspective is important, Pranger said. "The public is the eyes and ears of the system, and theyre often the first to notice when somethings wrong. But we dont want all the heightened security and the new posters to freak people out or dissuade them from traveling."
Recent controversial revisions to the Transit Authority’s Rules of Conduct have included a proposed ban on taking photographs on the subway. Its a proposal that has enraged many commuters and has even led some to commence an online campaign.
"We think a ban on photography on subway lines is a bad idea," Pranger said. Taking photos highlights life in New York City. Photos can document situations on the subways, and the conditions of the stations themselves. We have launched an online photo contest to send a message to the MTA. Weve had over 700 entries already."
"The world we live in has changed dramatically," Transit Authority President Lawrence Reuter said a few weeks ago, when he announced the first proposed revision of the rules in a decade. "These changes are intended to enhance security and safety."