The MTA is looking into a “track intrusion” system that would alert transit workers when someone has fallen or leapt down from the platform into harm’s way, officials said.
MTA interim executive director Tom Prendergast said features such as laser beams could detect when someone is in an off-limits area.
“You could tie it in to an alarm system, flashing lights, things of that nature, to warn people someone is on the roadbed, or out if the safe location of the platform,” Prendergast said Monday. “It’s primarily used for security reasons but we’d look to use it here for safety.”
Such an alert system is already being tested on the PATH system, but details were not immediately available.
It’s the latest proposal by the transportation agency to prevent the roughly 135 people who are struck by trains in the typical year. Last year, 141 people were hit by a train.
Last year, the agency said it would install platform doors at one station along the L train.
Prendergast said the cost of providing such doors across the entire system would be about $1 billion — prohibitively expensive.
Some motormen have asked for permission to drive trains more slowly into stations, but Prendergast said slower speeds would exacerbate crowding and make platforms more dangerous.
The largest group of struck riders — 38% — is straphangers who simply trip. Suicides or attempted suicides comprise another 23%.
About 25% of all people struck are intoxicated or on drugs.
