News Release

Group Releases Winners of "Name-a-Subway Car" Contest:
Calls on MTA to Allow Public to Name Subway Cars

The NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign today released the winners of a contest to "name" a subway car. The group also called on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to provide the riding public with a chance to name subway cars.

The contest invited riders to submit possible names to be placed on subway cars through the campaign's web site, http://www.straphangers.org. A total of 1,178 names were submitted by 660 individuals. The contest began May 21st and ended June 7th.

The five winning names were: The "BABE RUTH," the "DUKE ELLINGTON," the "HONEYMOONER," the "RADIO CITY FLYER," and "A SUBWAY CAR NAMED PERSPIRE."

A list of the winners and twenty runners-up is attached and can also be found at http://www.straphangers.org/nametrain

"Naming a subway car would help keep it freer of vandalism by giving it an identity," said Gene Russianoff, staff attorney for the campaign. "The MTA could raise money from 'naming rights,' with people paying to place a non-commercial plaque on a car."

The campaign presented the contest winner names to MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow in a letter sent on June 15th. The group first raised the idea with Mr. Kalikow in a meeting last April. (See attached letter.)

"The thousand-plus names we received are very much in the 'only in New York' spirit of our subway system and illustrates the interest in and benefits of naming subway cars," said Neysa Pranger, campaign coordinator.

Contest rules can be found here.

The five winners each received a free, 7-day unlimited-ride Metrocard.

The MTA gave state names to subway cars during the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair. A picture of a named car can be seen at http://www.nycsubway.org/slides/r3336wf/r36-9440.jpg

<< Back

_____________________________________________________________________ www.straphangers.org | www.nypirg.org