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When I came to NYC from the farmlands of the Midwest, I was astounded by New Yorkers' use of phrases such as: "Highway flooding in all the usual places...." Why build a "highway" in such a way that it is under water when it rains?

I see that the original subway system was designed by people with mining experience. They understood that keeping the tracks dry was essential. Each opening is (was) built with the goal of keeping rain water out. Repeat; keep the water out. And of course, pumps to get the water out, if it does get in.

I also see lots of places where water runs into the subway system every time there is a small amount of water up above. Why? My guess is fractured concrete, clutter & debris in the vent shafts, and overall neglect.

I have pointed to surface water dripping down from an air vent onto the area af the third rail which created intermittent sparking. The MTA employee said he would report it. Months later, the insulators holding the third rail in place were replaced, but the water was still coming in.

At the bottom of the steps going into every station, the drains are clogged with gum/candy wrappers, cigarette buts, and discarded walkman batteries.

The system floods because the preventive measures (which are already in place) are not maintained.

Interesting comments posted. From frustration to anger and dismay at the way MTA works and or does not work.
What I have not seen is that there is mo discussion on what should be done to resolve such issues. The easy solution is to state that there needs to be an increase in capital spending.
What I find amazing is that every public/private enterprise and the people who work for them i.e. US PEOPLE are constantly finding ways to come up with schemes to milk one organization or the other in the name of providing value.
Somewhere along the way in this country we have lost our basic values of DOING THE RIGHT THING.
Lack of any scruples and a pathetic, inept, incompetent and constant need to be acknowledged for just showing seem to be the basis of our current society.
We can blame the MTA and have a Consulting firm conduct a study to find a solution and set in motion a plan to implement only to find that in a few years the solution is not fully in line with the CORE Competencies of the MTA and thus another re-engineering study shall be carried out and so on and so forth.
Nobody ever cares about having a Fiduciary responsibility to the Society at large and we seem to be digging a bigger hole day by day.
If we want changes to be made we have to ask ourselves how serious we are about how we conduct ourselves in this society. Seems the Lutheran Work ethic that seemed to have existed since the country was founded has disappeared from the last three generations.
Capital is not the only reason why we have such a woefully sad infrastructure.
The Professor should also look into the work ethic of the people who get transported around this city and country.