search supported by:
E-Pledge
July 06, 2008 | 73°F haze

News

Comptroller Speaks Up About MTA Construction Delays

by Beth Fertig



NEW YORK, NY February 02, 2007 —The city's fiscal watchdog says subway riders will have to wait 20 more years before the system's aging signals and tunnel lights are completely overhauled. WNYC's Beth Fertig has more.

The MTA's top priority is to keep its trains and buses in what it calls a "state of good repair." But Comptroller Bill Thompson says vast sections of the infrastructure still have a long way to go. For example, more than a third of the fans which remove smoke from subway tunnels in a fire are not in a state of good repair and won't get there until the year 2028. Tunnel lighting, stations and subway signals are also waiting for modernizations.

Thompson claims the city's transit system is in far worse shape than the commuter rails. He says that's because New York City Transit only gets 75% of MTA capital funds even though it has more than 90% of the riders. The comptroller is pushing for a greater share now that there's a new governor and a new MTA head. The authority says it will study his report. For WNYC, I'm Beth Fertig.



Web tools supported by
Print friendly format
supported by
Listen Live
FM 93.9 Windows 20k
MP3 32k 128k
On Air: Evening Music
AM 820 Windows 20k
MP3 32k
On Air: The No Show
Shopping Online?
Start your Amazon shopping on WNYC.org and a portion of your total purchase goes to WNYC.


Audio Search

Search current and archival WNYC broadcasts. More

Newsroom
Latest Newscast
More
Top Stories
Top Stories
World News
Most Emailed