MTA Ready for Open Gangway Subway Cars

Open gangways are featured on subway trains in Toronto and Montreal. They could also be a welcome addition to the crowded New York Subway by 2023.

1 minute read

April 27, 2017, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Toronto Subway

The open gangway subway car used in Toronto. | IVY PHOTOS / Shutterstock

[Updated 5/2/2017] "The MTA wants to order up to hundreds of “open gangway” train cars designed to be roomier than the familiar close-ended cars on the tracks today," reports Dan Rivoli.

MTA officials believe that car makers "can build spacious train cars that can handle the unique layout of tracks and stations." Thus, "the agency wants to tap into its option to order up to 640 'open gangway' train cars," with the possibility of the more spacious cars hitting the tracks in 2023.

In the meantime, a new model of train cars, without the open gangways, is expected to hit the tracks later this year. "The model — called R179s — should have been picking up passengers by now, but a manufacturing defect held up the order," according to Rivoli.

Planetizen noticed last year when Governor Andrew Cuomo gave approval for the open gangway layout when touting a proposed $27 billion redesign plan for the New York subway.

[This story was updated with a corrected location in the introductory text.]

Tuesday, April 25, 2017 in New York Daily News

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 4, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

White and yellow DART light rail train in Dallas, Texas with brick building in background.

DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process

The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.

May 28, 2025 - Mass Transit

Aerial view of large complex of apartment buildings surrounded by fall foliage trees in suburban Dallas, Texas.

Renters Now Outnumber Homeowners in Over 200 US Suburbs

High housing costs in city centers and the new-found flexibility offered by remote work are pushing more renters to suburban areas.

June 6 - Point2

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6 - PC Magazine

Worker in hard hat stands in front of oil pipeline under construction with yellow heavy equipment.

Supreme Court Ruling in Pipeline Case Guts Federal Environmental Law

The decision limits the scope of a federal law that mandates extensive environmental impact reviews of energy, infrastructure, and transportation projects.

June 5 - NPR

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.