New York City Councilman Plans Hearing on Subway Safety

January 24, 2013

New York City lawmakers are planning to scrutinize subway safety after a string of recent deaths on the tracks.

City Council Transportation Committee Chairman James Vacca said Tuesday he plans a hearing on the issue as soon as possible.

Among ideas up for discussion: installing barriers to keep people off subway tracks.

Vacca’s announcement came hours after a man was killed by a train under Times Square. Witnesses told police he jumped into its path.

In the last two months, two subway riders were pushed to their deaths by strangers. A stumbling woman took a fatal fall onto the tracks. And a man was killed when he fell while walking between cars.

Transit officials are expected to discuss the deaths at a hearing of their own next week.