Roosevelt Island Variable Speed Escalators Save $2000 Per Escalator Annualy - How Much Does Out Of Service Escalators Cost Injured Riders?

Image of Roosevelt Island subway escalator from RIRA

The Roosevelt Island subway escalators may not work on a reliable basis but at least the MTA is making sure that they are energy efficient. Gothamist reports that:

The MTA's problems with current escalators aside, the agency has just introduced new escalators that go into a "sleep mode" when they aren't being used. The pilot program includes escalators at 34th Street-Herald Square, Roosevelt Island; Jamaica-Van Wyck and Parsons/Archer. MTA hopes to save almost $2,000 (per each escalator) in energy costs annually. While some riders are wary, one found the glass half full, telling NY1, "It's much better than them not working at all! If in fact it goes really slow when I'm not on it and actually works when I'm on it, so much the better."

The MTA estimates $2000 in cost savings per energy efficient escalator. I wonder if the MTA has ever done a financial analysis of the cost for an injury to an elderly, disabled or other person walking up the 157 steps to the street from the Roosevelt Island subway platform due to non-working escalators? As stated by a reader of this earlier post:

The inoperative escalator at the subway station is a disgrace. I was one of those "elderly" who was forced to walk the route in 97 plus heat. (With a group of young men close behind who objected to my labored ascent.
If I have a heart attack, stroke or other heat related event occur in my pursuit of the pavement, who will assume the burden of my medical and emotional expenses?

Now, if the MTA could only install levitating escalators, that would be impressive!

You Tube Video of Levitating Escalator

UPDATE 8/13 - New York 1 has a video report of the Roosevelt Island Sleep Mode or Variable Speed escalators and NY Times has follow up story as well. Roosevelt Island 360 has video on escalators also.