Is the L train the best in the city?

Photo: sarahnw

According to the latest Straphanger's Campaign State of the Subways report, it is!

They write:

"The best subway line in the city is the L with a MetroCard Rating of $1.40. The L ranked highest because it performs best in the system on two measures—regularity of service and announcements—and well above average on three other measures: frequency of scheduled service, delays caused by mechanical breakdowns and the percentage of dirty cars. The line did not get a higher rating because it performed well below average on: a chance of getting a seat during rush hour. The L runs between 14th Street/Eighth Avenue in Manhattan and Canarsie in Brooklyn. The previous top-rated line—the 1—dropped to a fourth-place tie."

If you want to read an indepth report on the L, plus links to L-related forums and and contact info for the L line superintendent, visit Straphanger's L Train Home Page.

Are you as surprised as I am by this? The L has gotten a little better, true, though it is still sorely inequipped to deal with the rapid growth of our neighborhood. But is it really the best?

—Mikki