State of emergency declared for New York's subway as Governor pledges $1 billion
The governor also announced $1bn in additional funding
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Governor of New York has declared a state of emergency for the ageing, frequently failing subway system in New York City.
Speaking two days after a derailment injured at least 34 people, Andrew Cuomo said he was planning to sign an order to speed up efforts to improve the system and that the “current state of decline is wholly unacceptable”.
“One of the processes we’re going to expedite is the MTA procurement process. I’ll ask the comptroller and the attorney general for a special team to expedite the process,” he said, referring to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority that oversees the city’s vast subway system. “But it will no longer be a tortured exercise to do business with the MTA.”
While he said issues with the transit system have been going on for years, Mr Cuomo said its “current state of decline is wholly unacceptable”.
““The delays are maddening New Yorkers,” he said.
“We need ideas outside the box because, frankly, the box is broken.”
New York’s system was opened in 1904 and is one of the world’s oldest public transit systems.
It has a total of 468 stations, runs non-stop and every day around there are somewhere around 5,655,755 journeys on its 230 miles of track. Yet this old and much-used the system has long struggled for sufficient funding.
Those who use it frequently complain about stoppages, cancellations and the dirty conditions of the trains and stations.
Mr Cuomo said he had ordered Joseph Lhota, the new chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs the subway, to provide a reorganisation plan for the agency within 30 days, to “design an organisation that performs a function”.
The New York Times said that Mr Lhota must also review the agency’s capital plan within 60 days. Mr Cuomo pledged to direct an addition $1bn for capital improvements.
Mr Cuomo likened the recent transit problems to a “heart attack” that happened after years of cholesterol buildup. Two days ago, around three dozen people were injured when an A train derailed at 125th St.
Officials said it appeared to have been caused by an improperly stored piece of rail and two track maintenance supervisors have now suspended without pay.
Reports said that one passenger who had been on the train, has said she is planning to sue the MTA $5m, saying the authority has been “careless, reckless and negligent” in overseeing the subway.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments