{"id":33397,"date":"2017-06-30T06:08:45","date_gmt":"2017-06-30T06:08:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=33397"},"modified":"2017-06-30T06:08:45","modified_gmt":"2017-06-30T06:08:45","slug":"governor-declares-state-emergency-nyc-transit-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/world-news\/governor-declares-state-emergency-nyc-transit-system.html","title":{"rendered":"Governor declares state of emergency for NYC transit system"},"content":{"rendered":"

Governor declares state of emergency for NYC transit system<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday that he has declared a state of emergency over New York City\u2019s troubled public transit system and has asked its new leader to complete a series of urgent reviews of the agency\u2019s management and aging infrastructure.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Democratic governor said the state of emergency declaration will help cut red tape and speed up improvements.<\/span><\/p>\n

The city\u2019s subways and commuter trains have been plagued by rising delays and unreliable service. Dozens of people were injured when a subway derailed Tuesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cuomo, speaking at a conference for the MTA Genius Transit Challenge, which is seeking innovative solutions for the city\u2019s transit woes, said he\u2019s asked Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Joe Lhota to come up with a reorganization plan in 30 days and an equipment review in 60 days. He also wants a 90-day review of transit power failures.<\/span><\/p>\n

The state of the subway system \u201cis wholly unacceptable,\u201d said Cuomo, citing decades of underinvestment, deferred maintenance and surging ridership.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think of it as a heart attack \u2014 it happens all of a sudden and the temptation is to say, \u2018Well, something must have just caused it,\u2019\u201d Cuomo said. \u201cNo, a lifetime caused it. Bad habits caused it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The problems abound: In a fleet of 6,400 subway cars, more than 700 have passed their 40-year expiration date. The oldest are 52: \u201cThey literally should be in a museum,\u201d Cuomo said.<\/span><\/p>\n

It takes the MTA five years to get a new car.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat is just ridiculous. I could build a car in five years,\u201d Cuomo said. \u201cIf the MTA\u2019s current vendors can\u2019t provide them in the timeframe we need, then the MTA should find new vendors. It\u2019s that simple.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Much of the signal system was installed before 1937. The MTA\u2019s current replacement timetable is seven to 10 years per line \u2014 40 to 50 years systemwide.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have countries that are building entire subway systems in a matter of years,\u201d Cuomo said.<\/span><\/p>\n

The ongoing subway problems are coupled with two months of Amtrak repair work that will cause widespread delays at Penn Station, where the subways converge with New York and New Jersey commuter lines and Amtrak trains.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cuomo repeated his warning that rail riders could face \u201ca summer of hell\u201d but said alternatives like ferries, express buses and creative train scheduling should provide some relief.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conference participants included representatives of transit systems in Paris, London, Istanbul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing, Singapore, Toronto, Zurich and Copenhagen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-\u00a0https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/national\/governor-declares-state-of-emergency-in-nyc-transit-system\/2017\/06\/29\/dd0f2028-5cda-11e7-aa69-3964a7d55207_story.html?utm_term=.363b480394a3<\/span><\/p>\n

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