Speaking from a MTA conference seeking solutions to New York City’s aging infrastructure, Governor Andrew Cuomo declared the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s system under a state of emergency.
“The delays are maddening New Yorkers. They are infuriated by a lack of communication, unreliability, and now accidents. Just three days ago we literally had a train come off of the tracks. It’s a perfect metaphor for the dysfunction of the entire system,” Cuomo said.
New York’s governor is requesting MTA chairman Joe Lhota to come up with a reorganization plan, along with equipment and transit power failure reviews within 90 days.
“Number one, we need an updated fleet of subway cars and a better system to overhaul, fix and maintain the existing cars. Number two, we have a signal system that is in desperate need of upgrade and replacement. We have an outdated communication system to inform riders of operating conditions. And number four, we have a power grid that fails all too often,” Cuomo said.
Cuomo assigned an additional one billion dollars to MTA’s capital plan, seeking innovative ways to fix New York City’s subway system.
“The oldest Subway cars are fifty-two-years-old. They literally should be in a museum. And the MTA’s new project capacity is frankly deplorable. The MTA will tell you today it takes five years to get a new car. That is just ridiculous. I could build a car in five years.”