Cuomo Declares State Of Emergency For MTA

NEW YORK, NY — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency Thursday morning for the Metropolitan Transit Authority.

The state of emergency for the regional transit authority — which operates the New York City subway, Long Island Rail Road, the Metro-North Railroad and many of New York's bridges and tunnels — will suspend procurement rules. The suspension should allow the MTA to expedite the purchase of materials needed to repair crumbling infrastructure, Cuomo announced.

While speaking at the MTA's "Genius Transit Challenge Conference" Thursday, Cuomo said the New York City subway system is the "most problematic component of the MTA." Near-constant delays and service changes on city subways are "maddening" New Yorkers, Cuomo said.

Cuomo blamed the subway's problems on decades of "underinvestment, deferred maintenance and deferred modernization," but also claimed that a recent surge in ridership is compounding the system's problems.

"We know the system is decaying and we know the system is decaying rapidly. I think of it as a heart attack – it happens all of a sudden and the temptation is to say, well something must have just caused it," Cuomo said Thursday. "No, a lifetime caused it."

As part of the state of emergency, utilities provider Con Edison is tasked with conducting a complete inspection on its equipment, transmission and interlocks throughout the entire MTA system within 90 days, Cuomo announced.

Cuomo also announced Thursday that the state government would commit an additional $1 billion to the MTA's capital plan.

Newly appointed MTA Chairman Joe Lhota said the state of emergency will mean a better MTA for commuters.

"Today we're taking an important step forward to provide all New Yorkers with a transit system they deserve," Lhota said Thursday.

Cuomo's announcement comes two days after an A train derailed near 125th Street in Harlem and smashed into a subway tunnel wall. Thirty-four people were injured during the derailment, which was caused by unsecured construction materials left on the tracks, MTA officials said.

All injuries were reported to be non-life threatening. At least six patients were taken to the hospital and one person was treated at the scene.

Two employees responsible for overseeing construction work on the stretch of track where the materials were left have been suspended, MTA officials confirmed with Patch.

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