An audit conducted by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli has shed light on the pressing need for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to bolster their preparations against extreme weather events. The detailed examination, which looked into several MTA agencies including Bridges & Tunnels (B&T), NYC Transit Department of Buses (Transit Bus), and MTA Bus Company (MTA Bus), pinpointed deficits in the maintenance and inspection of crucial resiliency equipment and a failure to adhere strictly to weather alert procedures, as reported by the New York State Comptroller's office yesterday.
"These plans are only as good as their execution," DiNapoli stated, highlighting the gap between the MTA's theoretical strategies and their practical implementation. Despite the agency's funding and execution of projects aimed to adapt its systems for climate change resilience, the audit unveiled the need to more thoroughly perform systemwide risk assessments, a recommendation stemming from the MTA's own Blue Ribbon Commission on Sustainability, according to the New York State Comptroller's office. As it stands, some individual assessments were conducted, yet B&T officials did not entertain the necessity for a comprehensive review, contrary to prior guidelines.
Recalling the devastation of Superstorm Sandy in 2012, the report underscored the approximately $5 billion in damages to various MTA assets, including the severe impact on the Queens Midtown Tunnel, the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel, and six bus depots, prompting subsequent protective measures. Despite these preceding initiatives, the audit disclosed that B&T and Bus Operations lacked the regular, documented inspections and necessary upkeep to ensure mitigation infrastructure remains effective against future meteorological threats.
For example, at two B&T tunnels featuring 12 flood doors, auditors discovered a lack of inspection records. During site visits, they noted damaged gasket seals on some doors, which could potentially compromise their integrity. Similarly, at six bus depots, auditors encountered insufficiently conducted inspections, with a stark disparity between the expected and actual documented checks of equipment necessary for snow removal and flood protection. It was intended for such reviews to happen regularly, but the audit noted them to frequently not take place as required, nor were they consistently recorded.
Regarding the adherence to weather-related procedures, the comptroller's audit inspected responses to 10 instances of extreme weather conditions, discovering that set protocols were irregularly followed. Even on occasions like July 10, 2020, when Tropical Storm Fay brought notable rainfall and wind to JFK Airport, there was a noted absence of action consistent with weather alert criteria. However, MTA officials have taken note of these findings, stipulating in response to the comptroller's audit that efforts will be made to ensure weather alerts will be issued moving forward.
The audit wrapped up with 13 recommendations calling upon B&T and Bus Operations to update their risk assessments periodically, to maintain and inspect equipment in timely manners, and to formulate procedures that encompass the gamut of weather events, including those not typically encountered such as tornadoes or flash floods. These aimed to fortify the MTA's readiness for extreme weather incidents, an increasingly pertinent issue as climate patterns continue to shift. While the MTA has concurred with some of these recommendations, the overall response implies a recognition of the need for actionable improvements within their operational frameworks.
