New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority Hurricane Sandy: Lessons Learned Presented by Judy Walker March 20, 2013
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Metropolitan Transportation Authority 1
Weather-Related Emergencies Challenges Weather Forecasts Timing of storms Varying impacts across MTA region Difficulty of our employees reporting for work Protection of system Service adjustments and resumption of full service Risks of stranded trains Political will to support disruption to City/Region Metropolitan Transportation Authority 2
Pre-Sandy Evacuation Map Hurricane Planning 3
Hurricane Planning Transportation Strategy Maintain near normal service during rush hour Supplement where needed Fares in evacuation zones Pets Curtailment of service Metropolitan Transportation Authority 4
Hurricane Plans Shutdown Decision Executive Decision Based on Zero Hour Arrival of Tropical Storm Force Winds Determined by OEM Evacuation to Be Completed Prior to Shutdown Minimum of 8 Hours Required Metropolitan Transportation Authority 5
Preparations Metropolitan Transportation Authority 6
Preparation Metropolitan Transportation Authority 7
Preparations Metropolitan Transportation Authority 8
Ferries Ferries Fire Island Staten Island Metropolitan Transportation Authority 9
Communications Metropolitan Transportation Authority 10
Communications Metropolitan Transportation Authority Fill in Agency Name on Master 11
Major Sandy Impacts All subway and bus service suspended MTA Bridges and Tunnels 7 bridges and two tunnels were all closed by Monday evening 8 subway under-river tubes were flooded Both automobile tunnels were flooded 12 subway stations were severely damaged Rail yards, shops, depots, barns were flooded The basement of MTA s office building at 2 Broadway flooded, damaging IT equipment and telecommunications equipment 4 of LIRR s East River Tunnels were flooded Over 60 miles of right-of-way along the Harlem and Hudson Rivers were impacted by storm surge Catenary wires were brought down on both RRs Metropolitan Transportation Authority 12
Damage Metropolitan Transportation Authority 13
Damage Metropolitan Transportation Authority 14
Damage Metropolitan Transportation Authority 15
Damage Metropolitan Transportation Authority 16
Sandy caused major flood damage across the system but minimal damage to rolling stock, and no customer or employee injuries. NOT EXHAUSTIVE 8 stations with major flood damage Whitehall St- South Ferry, 148 th St, 207 th St, Dyckman St, Beach 116 th St, 86 th St Sea Beach, Coney Island Staten Island Railway major flood damage at workshop and St. George Terminal 8 flooded under-river tubes New York City Transit Numerous other locations with moderate flooding and wind damage including Downed trees Roof / canopy / siding damage Communication / signal systems damage Train yards and bus depot with significant flood damage Rockaways track washout 17
Recovery Buses began operating just 7 hours after the storm, full service just 9 hours later Bus bridge replace subways across East River Lack of power in Lower Manhattan precluded operation of subway service Gridlock! By November 4 service was restored to 5 of the 8 flooded tubes, and a 6 th was added the next day. Some commuter trains were in operation within a day after the storm Full Service on MRT s Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven mail lines was restored by Nov. 3 LIRR restored limited service on its 4 busiest branches by November 2 QMT opened one lane Nov. 11, HLCT opened one lane the following day Metropolitan Transportation Authority 18
Communications During Recovery 2 days after storm end 5 days after storm Today 10 days after storm Metropolitan Transportation Authority 19
Recovery Metropolitan Transportation Authority 20
Recovery Metropolitan Transportation Authority 21
Recovery Long-Term Impacts A-Line South Ferry Station Shortened Useful Life of Components Metropolitan Transportation Authority 22
Mitigation Strategies Tunnels Plugs Water-tight doors Better protection for electronic components Pumps More, bigger, and redundant pumps Metropolitan Transportation Authority 23
Mitigation Strategies Generators Protect Fuel tanks Sidewalk Vents Vent Plants Metropolitan Transportation Authority 24
Metropolitan Transportation Authority 25