automated during the 1970s, but the operators were retained, though they were reduced in quantity in 2003.

In 2004, the number of elevator attendants at the stations was reduced to one per station as a result of budget cuts by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The agency had intended to remove all the attendants, but kept one in each station after many riders protested. The change saved $1.2 million a year. In November 2007, the MTA proposed to eliminate the