Subway commuters in New York City seem less than enthusiastic about a new MTA initiative that blasts 75-decibel audio advertisements throughout stations. Many residents have expressed their frustration with being constantly inundated by ads in all areas of their lives.
“Sometimes you just want some peace and quiet,” remarked 17-year-old Dominic Piervinanzi, who commutes on the 7 and A trains for his job at a restaurant. He added, “Everything feels so commercialized now. It’s always in our faces. Honestly, I don’t think it’s necessary, especially if you’re at the station a lot. It just gets old.”
The MTA’s Station Audio Ads pilot program features 30-second paid advertisements that repeat every ten minutes at select subway and commuter rail stops. If this program continues, it might become a normal part of daily commutes moving forward.
The MTA plans to assess the program’s results and make a decision by June, but commuters interviewed recently felt that a decision could be made much sooner regarding its discontinuation.
Park Slope resident Lana Brustein, 55, voiced her annoyance, stating, “There’s already too much noise pollution. I often can’t hear announcements because of all the constant background noise. It’s really frustrating.” She added, “We have enough sensory overload as it is, unless there’s a significant purpose for it.”
Luis Ogando, 59, from East Elmhurst, emphasized that the speakers should be reserved for important railway announcements, saying, “They should be used for safety, not for ads. Advertising is for TV, not for public spaces.”
Some commuters questioned the logic behind the MTA pushing for commercial ads when, they argue, there are far more pressing issues to tackle. Sha Kov, a regular subway user, expressed skepticism, saying, “People just want to exploit New Yorkers. If we can’t fix the subway, why are we focused on ads? There are people without homes in the trains.”
Interestingly, some riders might not even notice the ads. Emer Mailer, 21, who frequently rides the A train, admitted, “Honestly, I usually have my AirPods in, so I often don’t hear what’s happening around me.”
