Intercoms come to subway stations

Help is now a button click away for local commuters on the 1 train.

Last week, officials unveiled Help Point intercoms for the stations at West 231st Street, West 238th Street, Van Cortlandt Park/West 242nd Street on the 1 line and the Wavefield/East 241st Street station on the 2 line. 

The state-of-the-art devices feature a blue beacon lights and two-button communication systems. A green button connects users to transit personnel who can provide travel information, while a red button connects them with the Rail Control Center during emergencies.

“I would not sort of underscore the importance of the green button,” Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said at the stations’ Oct. 17 unveiling.

He pointed out that the new intercoms will allow subway riders, including tourists who are unfamiliar with the area, to get questions answered without leaving the platform. 

Earlier this month, Public Advocate Letitia James announced that the MTA would roll out cameras on the subway over a five-year period in an effort to reduce crime and promote commuter safety.  

“We should always be doing everything we can to keep crime down,” Mr. Dinowitz said while standing by a Help Point intercom on the downtown side of the 231st Street station. 

The assemblyman, who allocated nearly $1 million to the MTA for the four stations in his district, added, “The smart way to deal with things is to prevent something from going on.” 

In total, there are five Help Points at the 231st Street station. Since there is no station booth on the uptown side of the 1 line on 231st Street, there is one Help Point that sits near the elevator before commuters enter the subway turnstile. Two Help Points are also positioned at the front and back of the uptown and downtown sides of the subway platform. 

“I think all stations should have a person of importance to get in touch with since they don’t always have police going around,” Wilma Jordan, 66, said as she waited to board an uptown 1 train at the station.