The Q’s #1…?

Apparently, the Q train is the best line in the system. Who would have guessed?

The Straphangers Campaign’s annual State of the Subways Report Card looks at “six measures of subway performance for the city’s 20 major subway lines, using recent data compiled by MTA New York City Transit.” Out of their MetroCard rating system of a possible $2.25, the Q train acheieved a $1.60. Their reasoning:

The Q ranked highest because it tied for best in the system on announcements — and also performed above average on three measures: delays caused by mechanical breakdowns, seat availability at the most crowded point during rush hour, and subway car cleanliness. The line did not get a higher rating because it performed below average on the amount of scheduled service and average on regularity of service.

We have so many questions about this. So comparatively, the Q line does not have as many delays as other lines? Doesn’t feel like it. And how many of you get a seat at rush hour? And when will they start measuring who gets a seat? And do they factor in scheduled service changes, of which we have so many?

We’ll give it to the Q train for general cleanliness and for clear announcements, though.

They do note that the Q is scheduled to run less frequently than the system average–you’ll wait about 1.5 minutes longer for a Q at noon on a weekday than you will for most other trains. See the full profile of the Q line here.

And how about the B? It ranked a dismal 14th, with a MetroCard rating of $1.15. The line has an almost 2-minute longer wait than the average at rush hour, and cars that are less clean and that break down more often than average.