Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,160
Likes: 6,381
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
[MENTION=179437]CrankyOne[/MENTION], do you live in NYC now? Your profile doesn't say.
I'm only guessing but perhaps the problem is harder to solve because the system is so much older than other subway systems. I've been using the subway a lot in the last couple of years, and I've been thinking about how dirty the air feels to my lungs and sinuses. I was thinking they ought to plunge the tunnels with water or steam, because the brake dust just accumulates. Then lo and behold, they just announced that they're going to start cleaning the tunnels more frequently than ever, though I don't know how. So here's hoping. I'm sure this air pollution has an appreciable effect on many people's healths.
Ventilation is a technology, so I imagine it improves over the years, but only if planners pay attention to it. It was one of the major technologies that enabled the Holland Tunnel (under the Hudson River between NJ and NYC) to be built. Without it, the tunnel would have been unusable. It's about 1.6 miles long.