MTA Will Put In $700 Million to Protect Subways from Flooding

By Y.M. Lowy

Thirteen years after Hurricane Sandy and following a year marked by subway service disruptions due to flooding, the MTA showed progress on its efforts to protect the transit system from severe weather.

During a board meeting today, MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber urged city, state, and agency officials to “step it up” and do more to safeguard the system from storm damage. The remarks came on the anniversary of the massive hurricane in 2012 that knocked out much of the city’s infrastructure.

Lieber highlighted work already completed, including lining nearly 500 subway manhole covers, raising railroad substations above ground, and adding protections to subway fan plants. “These improvements are mostly meant for coastal flooding, but heavy rain and other severe weather events still require ongoing attention,” he said.

This year, major rainfall events disrupted service, including a July 14 downpour that dropped two inches of water across Manhattan and the Bronx and brought parts of the system to a halt. Another storm on July 31 dumped 2.75 inches of rain, significantly affecting Long Island Rail Road service. In both cases, service was restored the following day. MTA representatives said such events can overwhelm the city’s sewer system, sending runoff into subway vents and worsening flood risks.

The MTA allocated $700 million for subway stormwater protection in its current five-year capital plan to help prevent future disruptions and keep the system operating during heavy rain and flooding.

photo: Shutterstock