STILL WAITING TOO LONG

While finding improvements in overall service on the M train, commuters who participated in the second-annual Rider Report Card called for fewer delays along the elevated line that serves Middle Village, Ridgewood and Bushwick.

As announced by MTA New York City Transit, the subway line received an overall grade of C, up from the C- the M train was given last year. Even so, those who took part in the survey urged the authority to make reducing wait times for trains and delays during trips their top two priorities in the coming year.

Employees of the MTA distributed hundreds of paper surveys to riders at stations along the M train line in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan between Oct. 29 and Oct. 31. Electronic versions of the questionnaire were also available at the MTA's website, www.mta.info.

In all, approximately 900 report cards were returned; 848 paper surveys were sent by mail and the remainder through the Internet.

According to the authority, overall satisfaction for service on the M line rose by one point since the first survey was conducted in 2007, from 88 to 89 percent. Eleven of the 21 categories rated by riders received higher marks; none saw their grades decline.

One of the categories which improved significantly was "train announcements that are easy to hear," which earned a C+ in the report card survey. Riders gave the category a satisfaction index of 85, up 15 points from a year ago.

The president of MTA New York City Transit Howard H. Roberts Jr. noted that the increased grades were likely the result of the replacement of older R42 cars on the M line with R160s, the newest cars in the authority's fleet.

"This positive result in customer satisfaction demonstrates how financial investment in new equipment through the MTA Capital Plan and effective maintenance of that equipment leads to improved service," Roberts said.

Other categories which improved in this year's survey included "station announcements that are easy to hear" (C-), "train announcements that are informative" (C), "lack of scratchitti in cars" (C+) and "cleanliness in subway cars" (C+).

Among the other areas were graded by M train customers as follows:

• Adequate room on board at rush hour—C;

• Sense of security in stations— C;

• Sense of security in trains—C;

• Working elevators and escalators in stations—C;

• Signs in stations that help riders find their way—C+;

• Signs in subway cars that help riders find their way—B-;

• Cleanliness of stations—C-;

• Station announcements that are informative—C-;

• Lack of graffiti in stations—C;

• Lack of graffiti in subway cars—B-;

• Courtesy and helpfulness of station personnel—C;

• Comfortable temperature in subway cars—C+;

• Ease of use in subway turnstiles— B-; and,

• Availability of MetroCard vending machines—B-.

Topping the list of areas riders would like to see improved on the L line were "reasonable wait times for trains" and "minimal delays during trips." Participants gave both categories grades of C- and C, respectively.

Also among the top 10 priorities for the M line were rated, in order, by commuters as follows:

• Cleanliness of stations;

• Sense of security in stations;

• Adequate room on board at rush hour;

• Station announcements that are easy to hear;

• Sense of security on trains;

• Courtesy and helpfulness of station personnel;

• Cleanliness of subway cars; and,

• Comfortable temperature in subway cars.

Full results of the M train report card and the surveys conducted for other train lines across New York City can be found online at www.mta.info.

The M line originates out of Middle Village-Metropolitan Avenue and makes four stops in Ridgewood at Fresh Pond Road, Forest Avenue, Seneca Avenue and Myrtle-Wyckoff Avenues. The train also serves three Bushwick stations— Knickerbocker Avenue, Central Avenue and Myrtle Avenue- Broadway.

During rush hours, the M train travels through Williamsburg and lower Manhattan into Brooklyn before terminating in Bay Ridge. Trains operating during daytime hours make their final stop at Chambers Street, while other M trains after the evening rush hour end their route at Broad Street.

On late nights and weekends, the M train serves as a shuttle between Metropolitan Avenue and Myrtle Avenue-Broadway, where customers can pick up the J train to continue into Manhattan.