It's Survey Time: The #7 Line

The MTA is issuing surveys for subway service. The first is the for the 7 line, which I use most frequently.
The survey featured generalized questions about service, announcements, etc. Here's the list of questions.
 
 

1. Minimal delays during trips
2. Reasonable wait times for trains
3. Adequate room on board at rush hour
4. Sense of security in stations
5. Sense of security on trains
6. Working elevators and escalators in stations
7. Signs in stations that help riders find their way
8. Signs in subway cars that help riders find their way
9. Cleanliness of stations
10. Cleanliness of subway cars
11. Station announcements that are easy to hear
12. Station announcements that are informative
13. Train announcements that are easy to hear
14. Train announcements that are informative
15. Lack of graffiti in stations
16. Lack of graffiti in subway cars
17. Lack of scratchitti in subway cars
18. Courtesy and helpfulness of station personnel
19. Comfortable temperature in subway cars
20. Ease of use of subway turnstiles
21. Availability of Metrocard Vending Machines
22. Overall Performance

Then the survey asks the three areas above that need the most improvement. There was one thing I was hoping would be on there that wasn't: comments. There are several things that are consistently nagging on this line that I wish to acknowledge.

A. Delays

In the morning, some Flushing-bound 7 trains don't even make it to Flushing. They terminate at 111th Street and then proceed into the nearby Corona Yard after leaving passengers on the platform. However, there are two things wrong with this. The first is that usually, it seems that not even the train crew knows the train is terminating at 111th Street. It is an unpleasant surprise for everyone, this causes the second problem. Because the train is stopped there for about 5 minutes, the train behind it usually waits outside the station for 5 minutes. This causes a backup along the line, with train after train being delayed by either discharging its passengers, or taking on passengers that the previous train discharged. Now, these delays have been so bad at times, that trains were backed up all the way to 40th Street! That's when the transfer at 74th Street comes in handy for me.

What should they do?

In the afternoon rush hours, when a train terminates at Willets Point, there's an across-the-platform transfer to an arriving express train to carry passengers to Main Street. My idea follows a similar vein. Instead of terminating at 111th Street, they should terminate on the middle track at Willets Point. Manhattan-bound expresses would platform on the default Manhattan-bound platform to allow this move, and would switch to the express track south of the station.

Graphics to come soon.

Until the graphics are posted, here's a text description.
7 Express Southbound: On C2 or CM track at Main Street. Switch to CM at Main St. Interlocking. Switch to C1 north of Willets Point. Switch back to CM track south of Willets Point. If Local and Express depart Main Street at or near the same time, Express has priority at the merge point.
7 Willets Northbound: On C2 at 111th Street. Switch to CM south of Willets Point. Discharge passengers and reverse direction. Switch to CMc south of Willets Point and relay on CMa or CMb at 111th Street. Reverse direction and proceed into Corona Yard.

This way, trains to Main Street may arrive across the platform from the terrminating train, and nobody (especially the train behind it) would to wait 5 or more minutes for the train crew to make sure the train is empty of passengers.

B. A Certain Station

 The worst thing about the 7 line can be summed up in three words: MAIN STREET STATION. This three-track malady of a station has crowd flow issues. In the afternoon, it's sometimes impossible to determine which track the next train will depart from. Logic dictates the first train in will be the next train out. The mezzanine signs say it will be on another track. The signs on the platform say it will be on another track. And the guy on the platform will tell you it's on yet another track! And when the train does come, it's usually packed, and that means that the crowds will make a mass exodus out of the station. It gets to the point that you have to yell and scream at them to have them get out of your way.
Ugh! I hate that!

What should they do?

Logic should dictate train departures. First in is first out. Stairs closest to the turnstiles are designated Down staircases. Remaining stairs designated as Up staircases. The policy should be tightly enforced. Platform signs, mezzanine signs and all announcements should clearly and unambiguously announce which train is leaving next. If a train leaves from a wall track, the next train to leave must not be on the opposite wall track unless the middle track is occupied with a standing train of revenue service cars with doors open on both sides. If a train arrives on the middle track, doors are to open on the side opposite the track where the next train out is standing. If an arriving train is to be taken out of service, clear and consistent and constant announcements should be made from the time the train enters the station until the train doors close. Such train may not arrive at a platform where signs indicate the next departing train, unless the arriving train is on the middle track, in which case the train doors will open only on the side opposite the next departing train. A departing train should receive the "line-up" (clear departing signal) within 20 seconds of receiving the starting lights (green lights hanging over the platform adjacent to each track).


There. Now that I've vented about Main Street station, a bit on the good things about the 7. The express is fast, you never have to wait long for a train during rush hour, and the views are great. That's about it.