Letter to Chairman Kalikow

June 15, 2001

Hon. Peter Kalikow
Chairman
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
347 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10017

Dear Chairman Kalikow:

In a recent meeting with you, we suggested that the MTA provide the riding public with a chance to name subway cars. We write to renew our suggestion.

The Straphangers Campaign believes that there would be real benefits if subway cars had names. Naming cars would help keep them freer from vandalism by giving them an identity. The MTA could also raise money from "naming rights," with people paying to place a non-commercial plaque on a car.

In May, we started a contest inviting riders to submit possible names to be placed on subway cars through the campaign's web site, www.straphangers.org. A total of 1,178 names were submitted by 660 individuals. The contest ended June 7th.

Today we are submitting the winning names to you. The five winners were:

o The "BABE RUTH"
o The "DUKE ELLINGTON"
o The "HONEYMOONER"
o The "RADIO CITY FLYER"
o "A SUBWAY CAR NAMED PERSPIRE"

A list of the winners and twenty runners-up is attached. The list can also be found at http://www.straphangers.org/nametrain. We think you will agree that the names are very much in the spirit of our "only in New York" subway system and well illustrate the appeal of naming subway cars.

We will be releasing the winners of the contest to the media on Wednesday June 20th.

Yours truly,

Gene Russianoff Neysa Pranger
Senior Attorney Coordinator

Cc: Hon. Barry Feinstein
Chris Boylan
Lawrence Reuter

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