Commuters may notice something a little different the next time they come to the 191st Street subway station in Manhattan.
Platform fencing is currently in place at the Washington Heights stop. This is the first of four installations of the new technology as part of a platform safety pilot program that could spread to other areas of the city.
“This is still at an experimental stage and we will be watching closely to see if the barriers are effective in stopping track incursions without disrupting passenger circulation. If the tests pass, we will be ready for widespread deployment.” We are ready,” MTA Chairman Janno Lieber said in a press release on Sunday.
Fences, which are installed at the ends of platforms to allow people to safely enter and exit the subway, were installed at stations over the weekend. The pilot is part of a larger New York City Transit Authority program to prevent injuries to people on railroad tracks.
West 8th Street-New York Aquarium Station, where the F and Q trains stop, and Clark Street Station, where the 2 and 3 trains pass, are also part of the pilot program. The MTA has not yet revealed the fourth station where new barriers will be installed.
The MTA said it leveraged existing resources and in-house labor to complete construction Friday and Saturday.
“This in-house approach is a great low-cost, low-tech first step solution, and we look forward to seeing more initiatives of this kind to help passengers feel and stay safer underground.” said Executive Director Lisa Dagrian. the MTA’s Standing Citizen Advisory Committee said in a release.