“It is 100% the case that the lack of seating in new facilities is because of the homeless,” said Smart, who has studied how transit agencies address homelessness in cities throughout the world. “The bosses of the designers of the station … when they look at that issue of balancing their passengers’ comfort and homeless folks using the space, they tilt immediately in the direction of providing no seating.”
Topic
LIRR
Grand Central Madison, one year later: Embraced by some, reluctantly accepted by others
“I think it’s a good project,” Smart said about East Side Access. “The fact that it exists today makes New York City a better place than if we didn’t have it. The benefits, however, really accrue to a relatively small number of people. For each person, the benefit is moderate.”