Write a well thought out thesis or description that includes the following:

- Description of the Project

This project is intended to revamp the current subway system in Toronto by making it more safe
and accessible to citizens. The current issue we identified is that violence is a major issue on
the subways. To counteract this, we want to bring stricter fare enforcement to ensure that those
who don’t pay are not admitted into the subway. We also want to add glass barriers to ensure
that nobody is crushed or killed by an oncoming train which has happened to people I know.
Finally, we want to ensure that ALL cell carriers have service on the subway. This allows people
to call the authorities instead of using the flawed emergency button on the subway.

After this in depth analysis we came up with the following building style/characteristics for our
model of a safe subway system:
- Safety measures to prevent violence
- Accessibility for all citizens, including those with disabilities (elevators)
- Technologically advanced with cell service and security cameras
- Spacious stations with multiple platforms and entrances/exits
- Interesting appeal with modern design and art installation (use of bright colours)
- Modernistic design (not old)

Facts:
the largest subway system in the United States, with 7 million passengers each weekday and
over 1.3 billion rides a year
Moscow (the largest at 3.2 billion rides per year), Tokyo with 2.6 billion, and Seoul and Mexico
City, each with 1.4 billion rides per year.

We asked the following five questions to our our expert through messages and received this:

1. Have you ever witnessed or been involved in a safety incident while riding the subway?

Yes. About 2 months ago actually. I was on the train and there was a guy who may have been
on drugs. He pulled a hammer out of his pocket and started threatening and screaming at a
woman sitting next to me with it. Then he turned to me and opened a pocket knife near my face
and asked me if I had anything to say. I got off the train at the next stop and told the conductor
and they held the train to let the police know.

2. Do you feel that there are enough security personnel on the subway, and do they make
you feel safer?
No, not nearly enough security personnel on the subway. Late at night and early in the morning,
before rush hour, are two of the most dangerous times to be on the subway because you are
usually alone and there are never any cops around. These would be the most important times to
have police because in NYC, it's when nobody is around that bad things happen

3. Do you think overcrowding is a major factor that contributes to subway incidents and
delays?

Yes. Overcrowding is a big problem because the service has not resumed normal levels since
covid. They reduced the service by 30% during the pandemic, and never brought it back fully.
During this time there was not enough space in the Main Concourse at Grand Central Terminal
for people to even walk at least six feet apart during covid. Overcrowding makes it hard to find a
seat, and on fast trains where there's nothing to hold on to, you can fall over or into other
people. Also overcrowding when there are people coughing and sneezing is a health hazard.

4. What is your opinion on the current state of subway maintenance, and how does this
affect safety?

Subway maintenance is abysmal. They've been "fixing signal problems" since I've been born. 25
years later, it's the same thing over and over. Track fires, broken tracks, general maintenance.
All of these cause constant delays, especially during "off" hours and weekends because that's
when they do their work. So if you're coming home late at night, say 10pm, you'll typically have
to wait twice as long for your train, and when it does arrive, it'll move slowly or skip stops
because of maintenance. Perfect example: I volunteer in the city on Friday nights. If I can finish
by 9:30, I'll be home by 10:10. About 40 minutes. But if I finish at 10pm, I won't be home until
around 10:50-11:00 because of delays and maintenance

5. How do you think the subway system could better communicate safety information to
passengers?

The MTA app needs to be improved. Updates should be more frequent, and they should have
more up-to-date notifications regarding delays and other hazards for the trains that you take
most often. They kind of do this now, but the app is so bad that I just rely on Google and Twitter
for MTA information. So a better subway app would be a major improvement. I want to know if
there's a problem BEFORE I swipe my card and get to the platform only to find out that my train
isn't stopping at the station. They need to be more proactive instead of reactive.

Steps to take in the construction and fabrication

We first need to collect cardboard and clear plastic to create the outline of the station, and then
gather model subway trains to fully realize our vision.
Materials and Time to complete

Cardboard, Train, Clear Plastic, Mini Turnstile, Paint, Map - We estimate it will take 3 classes to
finish.

One main area or problem that you would like to direct your project to be used for

Our project should be looked at as a blueprint to help resolve the issues on the TTC that have
plagued the system for the last few years.

General description of the product you are creating and the solution you have come up with.
This solution should have at least 5 characteristics to it.

We are creating a redesigned subway system that has safety and security as it’s main priority.
With glass barriers on the platform, cell service in the tunnels, increased security around the
entrance, stricter fare enforcement, and improved emergency resources, we believe we can
help resolve the issue.

After thorough research, we discovered that the “volume of people navigating heavily
congested pathways, constricted platforms, and crowded stairs, escalators, elevators,
ramps, and transfer stations, provides numerous opportunities for adverse incidents
to occur.” (Gershon 2). To solve the issue of overpopulated subway stations such as in New
York, Shanghai, and China includes the following options:
1. Add additional entrances and exits to stations: Passengers entering and leaving the
station can become backed up in a station with only one entrance and departure point,
which can result in crowding. Passengers can be spread more equally throughout the
station, decreasing congestion, and enhancing traffic flow, by adding extra entrance and
departure points. This can make it easier for people to use the subway from different
locations and eliminate the need for them to walk far distances to get to an entrance. It is
great that subway stations throughout Toronto and New York are adding entrances on
each end of the station, sometimes even in the middle, but it is crucial that this change
becomes even more rapid.
2. Multiple Platforms: Adding additional platforms to existing subway stations can let people
board trains more equitably distributed. more trains can run on a single line when there
are several platforms, which reduces platform crowding and wait times for passengers
while also providing greater room for boarding.
3. Increased Space: Besides adding more entrances and exits, expanding the station's
interior space can also aid in reducing crowding. This can be done by making the
platforms larger, opening up additional areas inside the station, and adding more stairs
and escalators.
Another severe issue is security and violence which is a main issue in what we are trying to
solve in our project. “At rush hours, large numbers of people are brought together under
potentially volatile conditions, that is, confined, overcrowded spaces that are often both
overheated and noise… 12,000 violent subway-related security incidents reported in the US
each year, including cases of homicide, rape, larceny, aggravated assault, and arson. (Gershon
3). Even in times where there are not many people, crime and violence is a huge risk to all. To
reduce the fear of crime on the subways we researched the following solutions:

1. Increasing the number of police personnel on duty in subways, as well as adding more
security measures like surveillance cameras, can increase police presence and
monitoring. This can assist in preventing criminal conduct and the handling of any
occurrences that do happen.

2. Enhance visibility and lighting: Enhancing visibility in subways can make people feel
safer and less afraid of crime since dark lightning on part of a subway train or station
looks sketchy.

3. Put community policing methods into practise: Community policing entails collaborating
with neighbourhood communities to identify and resolve safety and crime concerns. This
is especially useful in subways, where police officers may establish connections with
frequent commuters and other key players to increase safety and lower crime.

4. Raising public awareness and educating people about safety precautions and how to
report events can aid in lowering crime on the subway. This can even be taught within
our school and it will help ease students’ fear of taking the subway.

5. Enhance upkeep and cleanliness: A clean, well-kept underground system may make
passengers feel safer and give off a less chaotic impression. By preventing vandalism,
keeping subway cars and stations clean can also aid in reducing crime.

Vision Board with visual and textual references to create a collage of ideas which supports your
research and idea
How this problem has been addressed by other people
All written work must be typewritten, error free spelling and grammar
Include reference to all of your research sites.
Works cited
JTI82(1).book(jti004.fm) (nyneuroslp.com)