Proposal

Ashlly Benavides, Devin Hernandez, Hajra Malik, Henry Quiñones, Miguel Ramirez

Department of English, The City College of New York

ENGL 21007: Writing for Engineering

Prof. von Uhl

May 14th, 2026

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 14, 2026

Miguel Ramirez

Subway PSDs

1942226234

[email protected]

Subway Platform Screen Doors Proposal

A proposal for the well-being of New Yorkers

New York, New York: Subway PSDs today announced Subway Platform Screen Doors, a new proposal for New York City. Subway Platform Screen Doors are aimed at the safety of New Yorkers and offer new safety measures for subway riders.

Features and benefits of Subway Platform Screen Doors include.

• Improve rider safety across the New York City subway system.

• Reduce track-related fatalities, service disruptions, and long-term operational costs.

• Addresses trauma experienced by subway operators after train strikes.

This proposal introduces a modular barrier system composed of laminated safety glass, steel framing, motion sensors, aluminum tracks, and synchronized motor systems. The design is intended to work alongside existing subway infrastructure rather than replacing it entirely. Research from Japan and South Korea has shown that physical platform barriers can reduce railway suicides and accidental fatalities significantly, with some systems reporting reductions approaching 89% (Lee, 2025). 

Beyond safety, the system also addresses track fires caused by debris, trauma experienced by subway operators after train strikes, and service delays tied to track intrusions. The proposal demonstrates that a phased implementation process focused on high-risk stations can create a financially sustainable path toward a safer subway environment in New York City.

Summary

The purpose of this proposal is to introduce a modular subway platform screen door system that can realistically be implemented throughout the New York City MTA system. Current subway platforms remain largely open despite the high number of fatalities, accidental falls, suicides, and track-related delays occurring each year. Existing safety measures, such as warning strips, signage, and surveillance systems, have not fully prevented these incidents.

This proposed innovation combines platform screen door technology with existing MTA infrastructure in order to create a safer platform environment while minimizing reconstruction costs. Unlike full-height enclosed systems used in newer subway systems, this design focuses on modular half-height barriers that are more compatible with the aging structure of NYC subway stations. The proposal also addresses secondary issues such as trash fires on tracks, service disruptions, and the mental trauma experienced by MTA conductors involved in train strikes.

Research for this proposal was gathered from engineering journals, transportation reports, MTA-related studies, and public transportation safety investigations. Existing data from subway systems in South Korea and Japan demonstrate that physical platform barriers can significantly reduce fatalities and improve rider safety. Estimated barrier costs, material requirements, labor demands, and implementation timelines were developed using existing MTA reports and comparable subway infrastructure projects.

Introduction

The New York City subway system remains one of the busiest transportation systems in the world, transporting millions of passengers each day. Despite its importance, rider safety continues to be a major concern due to the open platform structure present in most stations. Every year, individuals are struck by trains due to accidental falls, suicides, unprovoked attacks, overcrowding, or medical emergencies. In 2022 alone, there were 88 subway-related deaths (Michelle Go Murder | TAAF, 2025). 

The purpose of this proposal is to develop a realistic and financially sustainable subway platform barrier system capable of reducing fatalities and improving platform safety across the NYC subway system. The proposal specifically focused on modular half-height platform screen doors designed to integrate with older subway stations rather than requiring complete station reconstruction. 

Current safety systems used by the MTA include: warning strips, safety announcements, emergency brake systems, surveillance cameras, and police presence. While these measures may reduce some risks, they do not physically prevent riders from accessing the tracks, besides perhaps the police. The lack of physical barriers creates an unsafe environment during rush hour conditions, especially in stations with high passenger density. 

Research conducted in Japan and South Korea demonstrates that platform screen doors can drastically reduce railway suicides and accidental deaths. A study examining the Seoul Metro subway system found that platform screen doors reduced fatal suicides by approximately 89% after installation across 121 stations (Lee, 2025). 

Proposed Program

The proposed innovation is a modular subway platform screen door system designed specifically for older MTA stations that aren’t retrofitted with new platform designs. Instead of relying on full-height enclosed barriers commonly used in newer subway systems like those in Korea, the proposed design utilizes half-height barriers combined with a modular design for station compatibility. 

Source: Renders by Miguel Ramirez H. May 5 2026. 

The barriers would remain closed while trains are approaching or absent from the station. Once the train fully aligns with the platform, sensors and synchronized motor systems would allow the platform doors and train doors to open simultaneously. If obstructions are detected, the system will remain locked until clearance is confirmed.

The barrier consists of: Laminated safety glass ($800-$1400), Reinforced steel framing ($700-$1200), Aluminum sliding tracks ($150-$300), Motorized opening system ($1200-$2500), Motion/Obstruction Sensors ($400-$800). Estimated dimensions for each barrier section are approximately 54 inches by 54 inches with a structural height of roughly 8 feet. Each gate will come to approximately $10,000. 

The barriers primarily use reinforced steel, laminated tempered safety glass, aluminum guide rails, electric motor systems, and motion sensors. Laminated glass was selected due to its durability and shatter-resistant properties. Aluminum rails reduce corrosion and maintenance requirements, while steel framing provides structural integrity against repeated operational stress. Labor power for the project would include structural engineers, electricians, welding specialists, construction crews, maintenance workers, and train systems technicians responsible for installation, calibration, and long-term operation of the barriers. Labor would mainly occur during overnight maintenance windows in order to reduce disruption to daily subway operations.

Appendices

Source: Station Timeline Mockup by Ashlly Benavides. May 2026. 

The station timeline for the modular subway platform screen door system follows a phased implementation process due to the size and age of the NYC subway system. The project will begin with research, design, and material testing for the barriers, sensors, and synchronized door systems. After prototype testing, pilot installations would be focused on fair-traffic stations, particularly the Franklin Avenue Shuttle [S] and the Court Square [G] stations by the end of year 1, allowing us to test above and below ground traffic flow. Upon further data collection, research, and reiteration, the updated models would be rolled out to more at-risk stations by the end of year 2. After risk-data is collected and implemented into a new and improved model, the final drastic rollout will be to stations like 42nd Street Times Square, the region that experiences the highest rates of fatalities and track intrusions. 

The effectiveness of the barrier system would be evaluated by comparing subway-related fatalities, accidental falls, and track intrusions before and after installation. Engineers and MTA personnel would also analyze delay reductions, track-fire incidents, maintenance costs, sensor accuracy, and door synchronization performance. Passenger and worker feedback would additionally be collected to determine whether the barriers improve rider safety, reduce overcrowding concerns, and create a safer environment for subway operators and station workers. In the renders below, you can view what a potential result of round 2 implementation would compare to the original barrier designs. 

Source: Renders by Henry Quinones and Miguel Ramirez H. May 14 2026.

REFERENCES

Lee, Ah Rah, et al. “National Trends and Directions for Suicide Prevention Research in South Korea: A Narrative Review.” Psychiatry Investigation, vol. 22, no. 6, 17 June 2025, pp. 603–611, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12198889/, https://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2024.0383. 

Quinones, H. & Ramirez M. H. (2026, May 14). Updated Barrier [Render]

Ramirez M. H. (2026, May 5). Barrier [Render]

Ueda, M., Sawada, Y., & Matsubayashi, T. (2015). The effectiveness of installing physical barriers for preventing railway suicides and accidents: Evidence from Japan. Journal of Affective Disorders, 178, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.02.017 

‌Burkett, N. J., & News, E. (2023, June 5). MTA moves forward with plans to install platform doors in three subway stations. ABC7 New York. https://abc7ny.com/post/nyc-mta-subway-barricades-new-york-city/13348197/ 

‌Zara, C. (2012). After New York Post Subway Death Story, A Safety Question Remains: Why No Platform Barriers?https://cbcny.org/sites/default/files/NEWS_IBT_12062012.pdf 

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