Amy's Robot

Fighting Grime+

In the spirit of community activism, today we are launching a new social movement: The Amy's Robot Subway Vomit Campaign™.

MTA Service: NYC Transit Subway
Category: Complaint
Date/Time of Event: 02/13/2006 06:00 PM
Location of Event: 42nd Street A/C/E Downtown Platform

Customer (Emily) - 02/14/2006 03:06 PM

Dear MTA -

I'm writing because of an ongoing station maintenance issue. On Friday, February 3, a large pile of puke appeared on the northernmost staircase leading to the A/C/E downtown platform at the 42nd Street subway station. When I entered the station around 6:00 pm and was almost shoved directly into the pile by passengers exiting the downtown C train, it appeared quite fresh.

I assumed this issue had been addressed by a cleaner, but last Friday, February 10, the same pile of vomit was still there. It was clearly the existing pile of Feb. 3, as it was now quite crusty. That evening, I called the city's 311 number and was transferred to an MTA voicemail, where I left a message about the vomit.

However, yesterday, February 13, I saw that the vomit (now indelibly dried to the staircase) is still there. While I understand that TWU members are still without a contract, and that resources are tight, I am pleading with you to please have this situation remedied. It is a danger to myself and other riders to have to "hurl" ourselves, so to speak, into the middle of such a crowded staircase to avoid being covered to the ankles in puke.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Subject: Vomit on northernmost platform staircase
Response (MTA) - 02/15/2006 11:41 AM

This is in response to your recent e-mail message to MTA New York City Transit regarding the condition of a staircase at the 42nd Street station on the A/C/E lines.

Plesae note that the safety of our customers is our highest priority. Supervision conducts regular inspections of all areas of our stations, including platforms, stairways and tracks, to ensure proper conditions. Stations are routinely cleaned, and cleaners are instructed to remove litter, empty trash receptacles and disinfect unsanitary areas upon detection. In addition, stations are cleaned on a regular cycle by mobile wash teams using high pressure and hot water to thoroughly steam clean and sanitize the stairways, platforms and other areas. They are also instructed to take corrective measures when rodent infestation is detected. Accordingly, supervision will also investigate your concerns regarding cleanliness of this station and take the necessary measures to correct the
conditions you reported.

For the future, we ask that you contact our Department of Subways' Division of Service Delivery at (718) 243-3222, or write to the Division of Service Delivery, Complaints and Correspondence, 130 Livingston Plaza, Room 6008B, Brooklyn, NY 11201, regarding this type of issue.

MTA Service: NYC Transit Subway
Category: Complaint

Customer (Emily) - 02/17/2006 09:15 AM

Thank you for your reply. While I realize that I made an error in reporting the vomit (it turns out to be the third staircase, not the first - the one next to the handicapped ramp), as of last night, the vomit is still there. However, if your "mobile wash teams" are in fact circulating, I imagine they would have reached both of these staircases by now.

I appreciate that you would rather receive this information via phone or standard mail, but my previous phone message did not seem to have an effect, and a letter would add another several days toward remedying a situation that has now continued for almost two weeks. Instead, I have chosen to take a picture of the vomit every day that it remains and post it online at www.amysrobot.com until this situation is resolved. I ask you again to please remedy this situation soon.

Amy's Robot Subway Vomit Campaign: Day 1
(Picture Taken Thurs, February 16 - 13 days after vomit first appeared)

Amy's Robot Subway Vomit Campaign: Day 5, morning

Subject: Continued Vomit on Stairs
Response (MTA) - 02/21/2006 10:03 AM

This is in response to your recent e-mail message to MTA New York City Transit informing us that vomit still remains on the Third stairwell of the 42nd street station on the A/C/E lines.

Once again, please note that the safety of our customers is our highest priority. With regard to your second e-mail message, we have forwarded your concerns regarding this matter to supervision in the appropriate operating department for their investigation.

As stated in your previous e-mail message, Supervision conducts regular inspections of all areas of our stations, including platforms, stairways and tracks, to ensure proper conditions. Stations are routinely cleaned, and cleaners are instructed to remove litter, empty trash receptacles and disinfect unsanitary areas upon detection. In addition, stations are cleaned on a regular cycle by mobile wash teams using high pressure and hot water to thoroughly steam clean and sanitize the stairways, platforms and other areas. They are also instructed to take corrective measures when rodent infestation is detected. We have forwarded your concerns to supervision in the appropriate operating department for their investigation.

Amy's Robot Subway Vomit Campaign: Day 5, evening - VICTORY!
Tuesday, February 21, 6:00 pm

Finally, success! A mere 18 days after it appeared, the puke has been cleaned.

Of course, judging from the smell it was powerwashed off with urine - but we'll stick to one campaign at a time.

categories: NYC
posted by Emily at 9:03 AM | #