Subway Apparently Just Not Going To Work Today???

If you are reading this missive from underground, where you have been trapped like a rat (with the actual rats) on one of the many subway lines currently experiencing unbounded, sweaty chaos, my sincere apologies: All hell has broken loose on our ailing transit system, resulting in extreme delays across the board. For evidence, please see the NYCT Subway Twitter feed, which has been spitting out delay announcements at a steady and alarming rate all morning.

For reference, all but four lines are *currently* engulfed in chaos. (If the MTA is to be believed, which...is it?) Since about 8:40 a.m., the 4/5/6 has run with delays thanks to a signal malfunction between Union Square-14th Street and Spring Street, causing 5 trains to reroute along the 2 line, which in turn has caused delays on the 2/3. Apparently, the MTA did not update its arrival clocks to reflect the change, causing due consternation among commuters.

Signal problems at Canal Street also mean that C trains are running express between Canal and Columbus Circle-59th Street. The entire A/C/E has been delayed as a result. Signal problems at Court Square-23rd Street have also seeded mayhem on the F, M, and R lines.

On top of all that (which, as you may have guessed, means delays for everyone), a someone was struck by a train at Ocean Parkway this morning, rerouting Q trains along the N line between Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue and Dekalb Avenue. It seems as though the J/Z also ran into some hiccups this morning, but those have allegedly been resolved. (????)

I know that's a lot to absorb, so here's a little taste of what all that nonsense looks like in real life: A mind-bogglingly long line to even get onto the fully packed, Uptown 4/5/6 platform at Union Square (incidentally, the city's hottest—especially on days when each and every square foot has been crammed with human flesh).

The crowd-induced anxiety is crushing, even from my remote blogging vantage.

So heartening when the MTA appears to simply give up estimating. THE TRAINS ARE NEVER COMING.

Conveniently enough, it would seem the MTA has not been particularly timely in its delay and service change updates, adding an extra layer of frustration to this hellscape.

Continue to tweet your questions, comments, and concerns to the MTA, but also, maybe save a few words for the man who actually controls the subway: Gov. Andrew Cuomo, despite his recent protestations to the contrary. Maybe considering CCing him on any and all subway-related complaints you may air in public.

And good luck down there, everyone. You'll make it out one day!

If you found this commute frustrating, tell your state representatives and Governor Cuomo to stop robbing the MTA of badly needed funding and figure out a way to come up with more cash for a 21st Century transit system.