New York ( CNN ) -- Technological challenges would pose major obstacles to the installation of platform doors in New York 's subway system , transit officials said Monday . During a transit and bus committee meeting at the Metropolitan Transit Authority headquarters , board members discussed the possibility of installing such barriers to curb the number of subway train fatalities . The discussion came in the wake of two incidents last year in which people were pushed onto the tracks and fatally struck by trains . In December , Ki-Suck Han , 58 , was pushed onto the tracks in a subway station near Times Square by a 30-year-old homeless man . A few weeks later , a 31-year-old woman was charged with second-degree murder as a hate crime for pushing 46-year old Sunando Sen onto the tracks at a subway station in Queens . In 2012 , there were 141 subway incidents in which a person came into contact with a train , 55 of which were fatal ; that 's slightly more than the average of 135 accidents per year , said Cheryl Kennedy , vice president of system safety at the MTA . Thirty-three of the 141 were alleged or attempted suicides , 54 occurred while the victim was standing on the platform , and three occurred when riders fell between the cars , she said . The installation of platform doors in New York 's subways could potentially end incidents in which customers are pushed or accidentally fall or climb down intentionally to retrieve dropped items . It could also increase security by limiting unauthorized track access , resulting in less vandalism and litter , according to the MTA . However , such an installation would prove costly and complicated . `` When the system was designed over 110 years ago , it did n't plan for that , '' said Thomas F. Prendergast , president of MTA New York City Transit . `` It 's hard to incorporate into the system now . '' Investigations into the feasibility of installing subway platform doors included the examination of public transportation systems in London , Paris , Seoul , Tokyo and other international cities . The preliminary conclusion was that the age and diversity of New York 's 468 subway stations would require major changes to their structures and electrical systems . One problem is that stations have unique characteristics , some with curved tracks and column lines near the platform edge . `` In stations where we have barely managed to create an accessible path for the disabled , construction may prove to be infeasible , '' said Peter Cafiero , chief of operations planning . `` Many stations are listed as landmark or historical , which will require external review and approval of all designs . '' Challenges would include the need for platform edge reinforcement to hold up new walls , electrical upgrades in tight spaces , train door and platform alignment and communication issues , and accommodation of train cars of different sizes and with doors in different places . The cost of installation and maintenance would also be a challenge in a system that operates around the clock , Cafiero said . `` I do not want to give the impression that any death is acceptable , '' said Prendergast . However , `` there are technological issues we need to overcome to come up with a solution . '' Gene Russianoff , a staff attorney for the Straphangers Campaign for the New York Public Interest Research Group , said he shared the concerns expressed by MTA representatives , but suggested exploring alternatives like intrusion-detection technology . Such a system would alert train personnel when someone was on the track or too near the edge of the platform , he said . `` It seems like it would be a lot cheaper , '' he said . Though people have been hit by trains for as long as trains have been around , he said , `` That does n't mean you should just shrug and say it 's like the weather . '' Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer called last week for the MTA 's inspector general to carry out an investigation into subway fatalities and to consider new safety programs . `` The MTA ca n't just revert to the easy fixes ; I am asking that the agency take a more comprehensive approach by keeping all options on the table that make sense for the safety of commuters and the MTA 's bottom line . '' CNN 's Tom Watkins contributed to this report .
`` It 's hard to incorporate into the system now , '' says MTA 's Thomas Prendergast . `` There are technological issues we need to overcome , '' says Prendergast . ``We have a lot of work ahead of us in terms of getting this thing up and running on time for the next two years or so.