July 28, 2016 By Michael Florio
7 train riders now have a lot more information about their troubled train at their fingertips.
Access Queens, a transit advisory group, released its 7-train survival guide yesterday, which offers facts, figures and tidbits about each station along the line, according to Brandon Mosley, Creative Director with the group.
The guide provides an array of tips, such as how to avoid crowds as well as the best exit to take when leaving a particular station.
The guide reviews all 22 stations along the 7-line and provides information such as whether a station is handicap accessible, whether construction is planned and what are the most common complaints. It also suggests alternative bus routes in case the train is down.
Users can simply head to the survival guide on Access Queens’ website and click on each stop.
For example, the most common complaint about the 40th St- Lowery Street station deals with the frequent service delays.
The complaints were gathered from an Access Queens Facebook survey, Mosley said. He said these results best replicate the experience of riders.
“There is a disconnect between what the MTA thinks [about customer experience] and what we actually experience,” Mosley said.
The guide also states if the stop is local, express, or both, and facts about each station, such as when it opened.
Mosley also hopes to incorporate what stations have a police booth, or an MTA agent.
Access Queens will continue to update the survival guide, Mosley said.
The organization is comprised of Queens residents who seek a better 7 line. It was founded in 2015 by Sunnyside resident Melissa Orlando after she created the Facebook group 7 Train Blues, which now has over 2,100 members.
Riders use the Facebook page to update fellow riders of service issues in real time.
“There is a need for information and we provide it,” he said. “Sometimes the MTA’s site isn’t always accurate or up to date.”