The Metropolitan Transit Authority of New York thinks it knows what millennials want. From the New York Times:
William Wheeler, the authority’s director of special project development and planning, told the agency’s finance committee: “They are embracing transit. But they have certain demands.”
As part of an overview on transit strategies for the next 20 years, officials at the authority constructed a detailed profile of the millennial — broadly defined as a traveler born after 1980 …
“Desire to live in urban settings,” one bullet point read.
“A tech-savvy ‘24-hour’ lifestyle,” said another.
“Did not experience ’70s decay,” read a third.
“They have no experience with older systems when we were breaking down,” Mr. Wheeler told committee members.
“You’re not terribly impressed that your subway doesn’t catch fire now,” Mr. Lisberg said. “Now your question is, ‘Why don’t I have a countdown clock and why don’t I have Wi-Fi?’ ” …
“You’re not terribly impressed that your subway doesn’t catch fire now,” Mr. Lisberg said. “Now your question is, ‘Why don’t I have a countdown clock and why don’t I have Wi-Fi?’ ”
Funny point about the fire.
Re: countdown clocks, it IS kind of inexcusable for a subway.
Re: wifi – there should be no need for the MTA to dedicate funds to this. Simply allow the telcos to install cell antennae in the tunnels at appropriate locations. Even charge them lease fees, of course. It should be a revenue generator. We have this in Expo Line downtown as well as the Canada Line.