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Riders approve of announcements despite giving C− grade to R train

By Philip Newman

Straphangers accorded the R train the same C−minus as in 2007 in an MTA survey, but expressed a high overall satisfaction level, particularly on directional signs, announcements and comfort in subway cars.

“While the grade on the R line remains the same, we see that there is some improvement in the satisfaction index, which tells us that we have achieved some traction,” said New York City Transit Authority President Howard Roberts.

Straphangers sent in 4,141 report cards by mail and 126 on the Internet in commenting on the R line, which runs from Bay Ridge−95th Street in Brooklyn to Forest Hills in Queens.

The response was 24 percent below that of 2007.

Of the 21 categories, 16 were unchanged from the previous year. The following remaining five areas improved by one level: “signs in stations that help riders find their way,” “station announcements that are informative,” “train announcements that are easy to hear,” “lack of graffiti in subway cars” and “comfortable temperatures in subway cars.”

The highest grade, B−minus, was given to “availability of MetroCard vending machines.”

The greatest increase — five percentage points — in the riders’ satisfaction index was in “station announcements that are informative,” “station announcements that are easy to hear,” “reasonable wait times for trains” and “lack of scratchitti in subway cars.”

The top three priorities among R train patrons were unchanged from 2007: “reasonable wait times for trains,” “minimal delays during trips” and ”adequate room on board at rush hour.”

Full report card results are available at www.mta.info⁄nyct⁄index.html.

Reach contributing writer Philip Newman by e−mail at [email protected] or phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 136.