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Blue Line is the Most Dangerous MTA Line
Blue Line commuters step across tracks / Photo by LA Wad via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is taking a serious look at the safety of the Blue Line which is the most dangerous of the five rail lines, according to ABC Local.
How dangerous is it? Since the Blue Line opened in 1990, it has been linked to 101 fatalities and 875 collisions. These aren't alarming numbers for other rail lines in the country, but these figures mark the highest number of incidents on any of MTA's five lines and agency officials are taking steps to reduce fatalities along the Blue Line as a result.
What makes it so dangerous? The line travels through 103 crossings mostly at street level, which brings the line in close contact with people living, working and reveling near the track. The other four rail lines go through tunnels or skyways more often, reducing the number of street-level incidents.
How to make it safer? MTA has installed warning devices to keep people off the tracks and plans to spend $1 million next year to install more swing gates to slow down people trying to run across the tracks. MTA is also considering installing cameras to monitor train operators.
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