Latest news with #WXY
Fast Company
19-05-2025
- Fast Company
This simple change could make NYC's subway feel safer
In recent months, the New York City subway system has seen a string of shocking and deadly incidents of violence, including several passengers who have been shoved from the platform into the paths of moving trains. A recent report finds that misdemeanor and felony assaults within the subway system have tripled since 2009. For everyday riders and visitors alike, there is now a lurking fear that their next trip on the subway could be dangerous. Many, including the governor of New York, are seeking solutions, which range from adding more police presence to increasing surveillance to installing more lighting to combatting fare evasion. But there's another approach that could go a long way to improving security and safety in the subway system. Through specific and targeted design interventions, the subway system itself could be retrofitted to reduce violent crime. This is one of the conclusions of What To Do (and Not To Do) About Subway Safety, a new set of policy recommendations from the urban policy journal Vital City. Based on input and research from criminologists, behavioral scientists, transit experts, and policy wonks, the recommendations include focusing on mental health and substance abuse among users of the system, increasing access to social workers, and using police forces more strategically. Claire Weisz, cofounder of the architecture and design studio WXY, contributed to the report with ideas for design interventions that could increase a sense of security and comfort for subway riders. These design ideas include improving sight lines within the system's underground stations, increasing visibility between passengers, and reducing dead ends and other areas that can isolate people. Rather than calling for a wide scale and expensive investment in safety infrastructure like Japanese-style platform barriers, the design ideas proposed here are lower lift interventions. The standout design idea from Weisz and WXY is the addition of highly reflective surfaces throughout subway stations. Lining ceilings, walls, and even the areas right above the edge of the platform, these shiny surfaces passively increase visibility, spatial awareness, and navigation within the sometimes circuitous underground world of a subway station. 'Mirrors or mirror-like surfaces, which could be stainless steel, in the right places can actually help people see around columns, see down hallways, see around corners, but also get a sense that I'm getting closer towards an exit, or I'm getting farther away, or here's where a platform is,' Weisz says. 'Right now, there isn't kind of intuitive wayfinding.' Reflective surfaces can also increase a sense of security. Directly influenced by the violent shoving incidents that have been happening in recent months, the subway design interventions feature a curved reflective surface just overhead of the tracks, called a soffit. This gives people standing and waiting for trains the ability to catch glimpses of their surroundings without having to look behind their backs. 'When you're standing and waiting for the subway, you can see other people,' Weisz says. The soffit also visually tightens the station interior, making it feel more compact. 'It closes down the space between the platform and the third rail on the tracks, so that you're not as open to the whole track.' The idea behind these reflective surfaces comes from the world of hotel design, Weisz says. Hotel hallways and elevators are commonly outfitted with mirrors that let people see themselves but also, perhaps subconsciously, understand that they are also going to be seen by others in this public place. It's a bit of social engineering informed by behavioral science that encourages more self-awareness and courteous behavior. The surfaces become like eyes on the platform. Adding these reflective surfaces could be a form of tactical design, improving conditions in subway stations without the need for a drastic and expensive redesign. But for a transit system with nearly 500 subway stations —and almost every one having a unique design—making widespread improvements will not be easy. 'Everything's expensive, but I do think a couple of pilots in stations that are complex would go a long way,' Weisz says. 'My hope is some of these discussions are going to bring money forth from philanthropy or from academia to do a couple of pilots that really get monitored and recorded to find out if this is changing how people feel in these spaces as they move through the subway.' Weisz acknowledges that while the shoving attacks that have been reported in the subway system are rare, they've created outsized impacts on riders' perceptions of safety within subway stations. To maintain the system's essential role in the functioning of the city, she argues, those perceptions of safety must be improved. 'Good design allows people to behave in a way that optimizes the use of public space in the system,' she says.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
FCPS considers redistricting 980 students to balance elementary enrollment
A draft option of redistricting would move 980 students between four elementary and two middle schools in Frederick County Public Schools in anticipation of a new school. In addition, the school system is considering moving the boundaries of two other schools — one elementary and one middle — but the current proposal doesn't include moving students from those schools. Elementary School #41 is scheduled to open for students in August 2026. The school, which does not have a name yet, will be built at Whiterose Drive and Mussetter Road near New Market. The redistricting is to balance enrollment between the new school and five other elementary schools: Blue Heron, Oakdale, Deer Crossing, New Market and Spring Ridge. The attendance boundaries of three middle schools — Gov. Thomas Johnson, New Market and Oakdale — will also be affected. Based on 2024 enrollment, 6,086 students combined attend the eight schools. Elementary School #41 is expected to have a state-rated capacity of 882 seats. Oakdale Elementary School is operating close to 170% capacity, according to FCPS' Educational Facilities Master Plan's 2024 enrollment. The draft option included moving: * 681 students from Oakdale to Elementary School #41 * 104 students from Spring Ridge to Oakdale Elementary School * 86 students from Blue Heron to Oakdale Elementary School * 2 students from Deer Crossing to Elementary School #41 * 107 students from Oakdale to Gov. Thomas Johnson Middle School The draft option for the redistricting is scheduled to be presented to the Frederick County Board of Education at its meeting on Wednesday. The school board will not be voting on whether to approve the draft, but will discuss the draft and potentially direct staff members to make certain changes. As required by FCPS Policy 200, which governs school attendance areas and redistricting, several community engagement sessions are scheduled throughout May and June, including virtual and in-person meetings, and a general feedback form. No dates have been set yet. FCPS hosted two community engagement sessions last month. A public hearing for the redistricting is also scheduled for October. A date has not been set yet. The school board is scheduled to vote on a final redistricting plan for the area in November or December, which would take effect at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. WXY Architecture + Urban Design of New York led the redistricting study and created the draft option. The redistricting will cost the school district approximately $250,000 from Elementary School #41's project fund. The agency has previously provided reports and recommendations to Prince George's County Public Schools and Montgomery County Public Schools for school district boundary changes. After the draft option is presented to the school board, WXY plans to post the draft option to the project website, which is available at To create the draft option, WXY looked at student enrollment data, such as the number of students who are eligible for Free and Reduced-Price Meals, who are eligible for an Individualized Education Program and who attend special programs at any of the eight schools. FCPS recently accepted submissions for a name for the new elementary school. Submissions closed on April 25. On May 8, the school district is scheduled to announce a list of five to 10 names for the community to provide feedback. The deadline to provide community feedback on the shortlist of names is May 23. The committee will then select three names to recommend to the school board in August. The school board makes the final decision.
