Next Stop, 50th Street-Rockefeller Center, Transfer Available To Top Of The Rock

Is the MTA getting paid to have its subway conductors advertise Rockefeller Center’s new observation deck? Officials are mum:

A Transit Authority bulletin directs train crews to mention the “Top of the Rock” observatory when pulling into the 47th-50th St./Rockefeller Center station. Veteran motormen and conductors said they believe the order is unprecedented — and some riders are less than thrilled.

Scott Gocherman, 30, a retail manager waiting for an uptown F-train yesterday had this message for transit managers: “Get me from here to there. I want to get to work. I don’t need you to be trying to sell me anything.”

Some riders said they didn’t even notice the pitches. Others thought the new plugs could be a good way to generate extra money for system maintenance or upgrades.

But Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman Tom Kelly said the spiels are a free “courtesy” to let riders know of the tourist attraction. He couldn’t immediately say who requested the “Top of the Rock” mention.

A spokeswoman for Tishman Speyer, co-owners of Rockefeller Center, was tight lipped. “We are declining to comment,” the spokeswoman said.

Riders have been asking conductors what the heck is “Top of the Rock,” conductor Ronald Brockington said.

But nobody bothered to explain to train crews what their announcements were about, he added.

“It’s making us look like buffoons,” Brockington said.