In 2012, Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on New York City, causing extensive damage to the subway system and leaving millions of daily riders stranded. In response, the city invested a staggering $7.6 billion dollars into flood-proofing the subway in an effort to prevent future disasters. However, despite these efforts, the subway still faces flooding issues.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is now planning to spend an additional billion dollars on new measures to combat flooding from both tropical storms and heavy rainfall. WSJ Pro Perfected spoke with an MTA engineer to get insight into how the city is working to improve subway flooding and keep the four million daily riders moving.
The engineer discussed various strategies being implemented by the MTA, including both active storm surge protections and passive storm flood protections. While active storm surge protections involve measures such as deploying floodgates and inflatable plugs to keep water out of subway stations, passive storm flood protections focus on redesigning station entrances and integrating flood barriers into construction.
Additionally, the MTA is pursuing larger projects to address subway flooding, such as elevating subway ventilation grates and installing pumps to remove water from the tracks more efficiently.
Despite the challenges posed by Hurricane Sandy and the ongoing threat of flooding, the MTA remains committed to ensuring the safety and functionality of the New York City subway system. With continued investments in flood-proofing measures, the city hopes to minimize disruptions and keep commuters moving smoothly through the bustling metropolis.
Watch the video by The Wall Street Journal
Video “Why $7.6B of Hurricane-Proofing Didn’t Stop This Subway From Flooding | WSJ Pro Perfected” was uploaded on 08/01/2024 to Youtube Channel The Wall Street Journal