Technical Appendix

Methods

In order to minimize bias, survey conductors were trained to ask every third person that entered the subway platform to take the survey. At bus stations, survey conductors were trained to ask every individual waiting for the bus. People who declined were offered information on how to take the survey online. The online survey was available to everyone. We combined the data from the subway and the online surveys for our final analysis. Plots are generated using ggplot2 and plotly in R version 3.5.2.

Subway Survey

Subway surveys were conducted at the following stations:

Bronx

Morris Park
238th Street
Simpson Street
Fordham Road
Hunts Point Avenue
149th Grand Concourse
Moshulu Parkway
Castle Hill Avenue
Yankee Stadium / 161th Street

Brooklyn

Atlantic Terminal
Broadway Junction
Jay Street / Metro Tech
Coney Island / Stillwell Avenue
36th Street
Winthrop Street
Fort Hamilton Parkway
Bay Ridge / 77th Street
Junius St.
Myrtle / Wyckoff Avenue
Prospect Avenue
Newkirk Plaza

Manhattan

168th Street
145th Street
96th Street
135th Street
Lexington Ave / 59th Street
34th Street / Hudson Yards
Grand Central / 42nd Street
14th Street / 8th Ave
Delancey Street / Essex Street
West 4th Street / Washington Squarez
Christopher Street / Sheridan Square

Queens

Queens Plaza
Jackson Heights / Roosevelt Ave
30th Ave
Steinway Street
Junction Boulevard
Flushing / Main Street
Far Rockaway / Mott Avenue
Court Square

Staten Island

St. George Ferry Terminal

The subway survey included the following questions:

Which subway line do you use most often?
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- A
- C
- E
- B
- D
- F
- M
- G
- J
- Z
- L
- N
- Q
- R
- W
- S
- SIR
How frequently do you use the subway?
- Never
- Almost never
- Once a month
- Once a week
- More than once a week, but varies
- Weekdays, Monday through Friday
- About five days per week
- Everyday or almost everyday
How do you get to the subway?
- Bus
- Walk
- Citibike
- Personal bike
- Uber, Lyft, Juno, Via or other App
- Taxi
- Commuter rail - Long Island Rail Road
- Commuter rail - Metro North
- Ferry
- Drive in personal vehicle
- Path / NJ Transit
What is the primary reason you use the subway?
- To commute to and from work
- To commute to and from school
- Other activities
What is the average length of your subway ride?
- Less than 20 minutes
- 20 minutes to 40 minutes
- 40 - 60 minutes
- 60 - 90 minutes
- 90 minutes - 2 hours
How satisfied are you with the subway service?
- Very satisfied
- Somewhat satisfied
- Neutral
- Not satisfied
- Highly unsatisfied
How frequently do you experience subway delays?
- Almost everyday
- A few times a week
- Rarely
- Almost never
- Never
If you experience delays, approximately how long are you delayed?
- Between 5 to 10 minutes
- Between 10 to 20 minutes
- Between 20 to 45 minutes
- Between 45 to 60 minutes
- More than 60 minutes
If you experience a delay greater than 15 minutes, while waiting for a train are you likely to:
- Wait it out for the next train to arrive
- Seek alternative routes- use another train
- Take the bus
- Take a taxi or a for-hire vehicle
- Bike
- Walk
How frequently do you experience service changes/re-routing?
- Feels like all the time
- Mostly only at night
- Mostly only on the weekends
- Almost never
What are your top three concerns / complaints about transit service?
- Delays
- Frequent route changes at nights or on the weekends
- Fares are too high
- Crime / Safety
- Customer service / Lack of communication
- Station infrastructure
- Old trains
- Trains are too overcrowded
- Lack of accessibility for persons who need elevators
If you are delayed on a train, what is the most common reason given by a conductor?
- Train traffic
- Waiting for a signal to change
- Signal malfunction
- Weather
- Sick passenger
- Police incident
- No reason given
At its current rate do you feel the subway is affordable?
- Yes
- No
What do you think about the fare increases being proposed by the MTA?
- I am not aware
- Fare increases are necessary
- MTA continues to find ways to take my money and reduce service
- I am worried I will struggle to afford the subway
- Other / No thoughts

Optional personal information

First Name
Last Name
Email Address
Zip Code

Bus Survey

Bus surveys were conducted at the following stations: