News Release

Winners Announced in Contest on Ways to Celebrate 100 th Anniversary of the Subways in 2004

Ideas Range from Commemorative Subway M&M's to a Subway Stamp to Letting Riders Name Subway Cars

The NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign and the Tri-State Transportation Campaign today announced the ten winners of a contest for ideas on how to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the New York City subways, which will 100 years old in October 2004.

The subway opened on October 27, 1904 , the groups noted.

Five hundred riders submitted entries since the contest was launched on October 2 nd , 2003 , the groups said. Ideas were sent to the Straphangers Campaign website, http://www.straphangers.org ,

The groups said the ten winning ideas for celebrating the centennial of the subways were:

• Have special edition "Subway M& M's" corresponding to each line's color, letter and number.
• Publish a coffee table book of subway maps and how they have changed since 1904.
• Issue a commemorative subway postage stamp.
• Develop educational programs for schools explaining the importance of the subways.
• Celebrate by making your station shine!
• Break ground on the Second Avenue Subway.
• Give each station a plaque featuring that station's history.
• Have the public name subway cars for New York figures, events and places (such as “The Spirit of Jackie Robinson" or "The Wonder Wheel.")
• Open the old City Hall station as an art museum.
• Have transit workers wear badges saying the "Subways Are100 Years Old and I'm Proud of It!"

Each winners will receive a free seven-day MetroCard and their ideas will be sent to officials at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, said the groups.

"Many, many riders also suggested lowering the subway fare to a nickel during the centennial celebration," said Neysa Pranger, coordinator of the Straphangers Campaign.

"We hope transit officials give serious consideration to the creative suggestions offered by the contest winners,” said Jon Orcutt, director of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign. He said that the contest rules could be found at http://www.straphangers. org/subway100.

Pranger noted that the MTA is considering a variety of ways to mark the 100 th birthday, including running “nostalgia” trains, recreating the first subway trip and holding a party in City Hall Park.

The MTA plans can be found at http://www.mta.info, the groups said.

Pranger added that the groups had e-mail addresses for several of the individual contest winners, who could be contacted for further information.

-30-

<< Back

_____________________________________________________________
www.straphangers.org | www.nypirg.org