MTA SAYS ITS READY FOR WINTER

Submitted by ub on

The snow is on it's way, make no mistake about it. This wintery mess is heading east and it is expected here sooner than most of our NYC commuters expect.

Meanwhile, members of the City Council's transportation committee grilled the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on its preparations for the snowy months ahead. Jimmy Vacca, Chairman of NYC Transportation Committee says the blizzard last year exposed major shortcomings in the MTA's snowstorm preparedness, and they have dutifully taken up the task of fixing these shortcomings over the past year.

" I am satisfied with what I saw today, though we need to see how the plan works in practice before judging it a success. I was very glad to see that steps were being taken to improve coordination, especially the appointment of an emergency coordinator and the creation of situation rooms to ensure that decisions aren’t being taken blindly in the field. I am also pleased to see that the MTA has upgraded their equipment and designated consumer advocates who can respond to the concerns of strap-hangers trapped on stuck trains. The storm season is fast approaching, and I hope we will have a chance to see a much improved response."

The MTA officials add that they are prepared to provide food and water to subway riders, who may find themselves trapped on trains during future blizzard conditions.