Is public perception correct that subway service and local train service in general have gotten worse over the past several years With the upcoming increase in fares, many commuters are unhappy with the service provided by public transportation.

Over the past 30 years, weve invested more than 100 billion through the Capital Programin all the vital infrastructure that keeps New York moving.

These investments have done so much more than revitalize our transit system.

Theyve revitalized our region, enabling improvements that have brought customers back to our system in droves.

Before October 2013, wed never recorded 6 million daily subway riders.

This systemwhich is fully in place on the L line and under construction on the 7 lineallows us to run more trains, move far more people, ease crowding and provide better service.

The MTA plans to replace 86 miles of subway track with safer, smoother track.

They try to be courteous, but dealing with angry or impatient passengers is part of the job.

Most incidents between a rider and a transit worker usually starts with a passenger angry about the MTA, poor service.

In speaking to the AmNews, Russianoff wanted to remind New Yorkers of how train service used to be and how things have improved over the years.

But theres a reason why we didnt raise a fight over the fare hike thats coming down.

The reason is that we didnt think it was outrageous, given the enormous financial problems the MTA faces.

Also, there are 20 subway lines in New York, and 11 of them are overcapacity.

As far as weather-related issues are concerned, the LIRR has adopted many new protocols over the last five years that we believe has improved our service during weather emergencies.

Russianoff said theyre not wrong about the longer commutes, but chalked them up to the season rather than put blame on those providing the service.

I take the R from Brooklyn, and sometimes it takes 20 minutes for a train, but its usually because of the winter and the snow.

But until then, it might help to remember that the workers underground are just doing their jobs.

Openbve New York