The subways are overcrowded, as you may have noticed during your morning commute. You know, like when that guy who smells like he bathes in garlic has his elbow shoved into the small of your back for the entirety of the subway ride. Yeah, the morning commute is overwhelming, and the bad news is that things may be getting worse.

According to a report published by New York City Transit in June of 2007, a startling number of trains were running past capacity. In most cases, there isn’t even room on the tracks to add trains to help alleviate the congestion.

In an article in the New York Times, Howard H. Roberts, Jr., president of New York City Transit, was quoted as saying, “From my point of view, this is scary….We’re several years and a big capital construction project away from being able to provide what I consider adequate service.”

Roberts went on to point out that in the last year, the A division trains (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) generally ran about 7 percent later and canceled more trains than the B division trains (all the lettered trains and the number 7). On the 4, 5, 6, and L lines in particular, trains often exceeded the transit agency’s capacity guidelines. The number 4 trains were late most often, running on time only 82.3 percent of the time, while the J, M, and Z trains, which ran far from full capacity, had an on-time performance record of 99 percent.

While there are plans in the works to ease overcrowding, such as the infamous 2nd Avenue subway line—which has been a looming project in New York City since the early 1920s—don’t expect to jump on that easy ride anytime soon.

The groundbreaking for the 2nd Avenue line took place on April 12, 2007, and construction began on April 23. The line will run from 125th Street to the Financial District, ending at Hanover Square. The project will be split up into four phases—phase 1 comprising the area between 96th and 63rd streets; phase 2, the area between 125th and 96th streets; phase 3, the area between 63rd and Houston streets; and phase 4, the area between Houston Street and Hanover Square. Unfortunately, phase 1 has already been pushed back from 2014 to 2015.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, meanwhile, has been pushing legislation that would charge people entering Manhattan under 86th Street in an effort to increase the use of mass transportation. If this legislation goes through, which seems likely, it will mean drastic additions to the already maxed-out transit system. While Bloomberg claims that the additional revenue could benefit the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), it is unlikely that commuters would see the results of this extra cash for some years.

So, it seems, the Big Apple is in a transportation quagmire. New York City is home to more people now than in any other time in its history. It is estimated that the population will reach a whopping 9.7 million by 2025. In other words, remember that smelly guy and the elbow he so lovingly dug into your back? One day you will think of him fondly and mutter to yourself, “Those were the days.”

By Justing Gray

Here are a few tips to make that next subway ride a little easier for all of us: 

1. Don't eat dounuts. If each New Yorkers lost 10 percent of their weight, there would be 10 percent more room in each subway car.
2. Lose the shopping bags. Pack light and always ask yourself if you really need that much stuff. You’re going to work, not scaling Kilimanjaro.
3. Move in, move all the way in. There may be nothing more aggravating than squeezing into the entrance of the subway, only to notice that there is plenty of space in the middle.  For your sake, don't set up camp right in front of the door. 
4. Remember: You are not the only one here. It is 8:45 in the morning. Yeah, the train is packed. It is really uncomfortable and annoying. Do you know who else feels that way? Every other person on the train! You are not the only one being inconvenienced, so please don't get mad at the guy next to you.