AskaNewYorker: I am at the Lorimer Street toll fare booth, talking to my favorite station agent, Daniel.
Daniel: Well, it’s called a Station Service Booth, actually.
AskaNewYorker: How long have you been a service station master?
Daniel: Station Agent. Sometimes secret agent. I’ve been doing this for 17 years. My next potential ex girlfriend will probably find this interview delightful.
AskaNewYorker: I hope so. I’ve always been an excellent “wing man”, you know. In general, I understand that these stations may be on their last legs, the days for the station agent may be numbered.
Daniel: I don’t know if that is really ever going to happen because I’m sure both the transit authority and the MTA all recognize that it would be a dangerous maneuver. We do considerably more than sell fares. We provide travel assistance and security. We’re here to intercede in the event of crime or illness. We deal with that stuff all the time. It wouldn’t be a question of just eliminating salary jobs. We do a lot for the public.
AskaNewYorker: So, if you’ve been doing this 17 years, you started in 1987. What was the fare back then? Of course it is $2 now.
Daniel: Ninety cents. I regret the curve that happened to the fare, but I also understand the industry from an economic point of view. It’s a horrendous challenge to run any type of railroad profitably. I’ve worked computer simulations regarding economic models of railroads and it’s nearly impossible, if not fully impossible, to run any rail road, without subsidies we’d be broke.
AskaNewYorker: Oh, the MTA, what a rich organization. How do you deal with them?
Daniel: I use my seniority to work ultimately where I reside. I know many of my passengers from the streets.
AskaNewYorker: Back to the MTA. They could blink and clean up the tracks. Why don’t they?
Daniel: There’s substantial work involved in station maintenance and a lot of the cleaners that I’ve met have become really good friends. I appreciate their effort, and I know what they are faced with over an 8 hour work day. And I think they do a really good job.
AskaNewYorker: Ever notice how poorly the maintenance people paint the walls and such, seems so careless, they just slop it on. Is that MTA maintenance?
Daniel : Yes, it’s the MTA, but then again the MTA is a collection of little kingdoms. Station maintenance has little to do with us. There’s a certain amount of stalling over the fence.
AskaNewYorker: Tell us about Iris Bourne, apparently the supervisor for the station.
Daniel : No longer. The “supers”, as did the agents, rotated assignments. I’m not sure where Mrs. Bourne is located now.
AskaNewYorker: Have you considered becoming a “super” station attendant?
Daniel: Positively not. I have issues with the tasking assigned to the station supervision. I certainly do not want to burn my career down at this point, but I never found that career path advantageous. I’m more productive out here on the front lines, than shuffling papers and such.
AskaNewYorker: (another employee brings Daniel a Starbuck’s coffee) Do you take your coffee regular?
Daniel: Yes, I do. (laughs). Usually in a cup, sometimes intravenously.
AskaNewYorker: What other subway systems in the world do you admire?
Daniel: Moscow. It’s an art work, literally. Mosaics, architecture, art…lovely.
AskaNewYorker: How about Paris?
Daniel: Paris is interesting. They’re using rubber tire trains, which is interesting. Probably creates some kind of pollutant. The tires wear horrendously. It looks pretty, but I’m not sure of the safety.
AskaNewYorker: And Washington DC?
Daniel: Might as well make an extension of the Epcot Center. DC is cute if you like chrome and glass and tinsel and all that stuff.
AskaNewYorker: What’s the best way to learn about the NYC subway system. Not too long ago we had someone on the site asking all about the history and such, and where he could learn more.
Daniel: Twice a year, the New York Historical Society has a scenic tour to explore the Brooklyn Bridge Station, which incidentally started out with a piano lounge. The NY Historical Society coordinates with the Transit Museum and they operate an old vintage train through some of the now old, closed-off stations and provide a lot of insight into the history and development of the subway. Try it sometime!
AskaNewYorker: Thanks a lot for talking to us, Daniel!
