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Flooded Tunnels May Keep City’s Subway Network Closed for Several Days Flooded Tunnels May Keep City’s Subway Network Closed for Several Days
(about 2 hours later)
It spans 468 stations and over 600 miles of track, pulsing through four of New York City’s five boroughs as the great uniter of the area. Everyone pays the same fare. Everyone has a preferred line. Everyone curses its fussy weekend service.It spans 468 stations and over 600 miles of track, pulsing through four of New York City’s five boroughs as the great uniter of the area. Everyone pays the same fare. Everyone has a preferred line. Everyone curses its fussy weekend service.
And almost everyone uses the subway. Until it goes dark.And almost everyone uses the subway. Until it goes dark.
On Tuesday, as officials discovered the breadth of tunnel flooding from an enormous hurricane, New Yorkers were warned that the bulk of the muscular subway network could be lost for “a good four or five days,” Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said.On Tuesday, as officials discovered the breadth of tunnel flooding from an enormous hurricane, New Yorkers were warned that the bulk of the muscular subway network could be lost for “a good four or five days,” Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said.
As the remnants of Hurricane Sandy left the city on Tuesday, transit officials surveyed the damage to the system, which they shut down on Sunday night as a precaution. What they found was an unprecedented assault: flooded tunnels, battered stations and switches and signals likely damaged.As the remnants of Hurricane Sandy left the city on Tuesday, transit officials surveyed the damage to the system, which they shut down on Sunday night as a precaution. What they found was an unprecedented assault: flooded tunnels, battered stations and switches and signals likely damaged.
“The New York City subway system is 108 years old,” Joseph J. Lhota, the chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, said. “It has never faced a disaster as devastating as what we experienced last night.”“The New York City subway system is 108 years old,” Joseph J. Lhota, the chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, said. “It has never faced a disaster as devastating as what we experienced last night.”
Seven subway tunnels beneath the East River, many of which provide critical connections between Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, were flooded, Mr. Lhota said. The South Ferry station at the southern tip of Manhattan was filled “track to ceiling” with water, the authority said.Seven subway tunnels beneath the East River, many of which provide critical connections between Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, were flooded, Mr. Lhota said. The South Ferry station at the southern tip of Manhattan was filled “track to ceiling” with water, the authority said.
Limited bus service returned on Tuesday afternoon, and a full schedule was expected for Wednesday. Mr. Lhota suggested that if subway service could be partially restored in less-affected areas of the system — the Manhattan and Brooklyn legs of the No. 4 train, for instance, but not the tunnel that connects them — buses may be rerouted to complement functioning stretches.Limited bus service returned on Tuesday afternoon, and a full schedule was expected for Wednesday. Mr. Lhota suggested that if subway service could be partially restored in less-affected areas of the system — the Manhattan and Brooklyn legs of the No. 4 train, for instance, but not the tunnel that connects them — buses may be rerouted to complement functioning stretches.
“You don’t have to run a line from end to end,” Mr. Lhota said in an interview. “You can do intermediate terminals or stop-off points.”“You don’t have to run a line from end to end,” Mr. Lhota said in an interview. “You can do intermediate terminals or stop-off points.”
But the transportation agency offered no estimate as to when even part of the subway system might return.But the transportation agency offered no estimate as to when even part of the subway system might return.
The Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road commuter train lines were also devastated, suffering power losses as fallen trees and other debris littered the system. In Ossining, N.Y., a 40-foot boat had been tossed along the tracks used by the Hudson line of Metro-North.The Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road commuter train lines were also devastated, suffering power losses as fallen trees and other debris littered the system. In Ossining, N.Y., a 40-foot boat had been tossed along the tracks used by the Hudson line of Metro-North.
In New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie said he expected PATH trains to be unavailable for at least seven to 10 days. New Jersey Transit has also suspended operations.In New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie said he expected PATH trains to be unavailable for at least seven to 10 days. New Jersey Transit has also suspended operations.
The authority’s two tunnels, the Brooklyn-Battery and Queens-Midtown, remained closed through Wednesday afternoon, though most of the city’s other major crossings, including the Robert F. Kennedy, Verrazano-Narrows, Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, were reopened throughout the day. The Lincoln Tunnel was never closed. The authority’s two tunnels, the Brooklyn-Battery and Queens-Midtown, remained closed through Tuesday afternoon, though most of the city’s other major crossings, including the Robert F. Kennedy, Verrazano-Narrows, Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, were reopened throughout the day. The Lincoln Tunnel was never closed.
The subway shutdown, though, provided an extension of last year’s grim reminder during Tropical Storm Irene: the system, which runs 24 hours a day, can indeed go dark. Last summer, the transportation authority undertook a systemwide shutdown of the subways as the tropical storm approached.The subway shutdown, though, provided an extension of last year’s grim reminder during Tropical Storm Irene: the system, which runs 24 hours a day, can indeed go dark. Last summer, the transportation authority undertook a systemwide shutdown of the subways as the tropical storm approached.
But while that shutdown began at noon on a Saturday, with service restoration beginning by early Monday, Hurricane Sandy’s sweep across the region has ensured that at least one business week, if not more, will be upended.But while that shutdown began at noon on a Saturday, with service restoration beginning by early Monday, Hurricane Sandy’s sweep across the region has ensured that at least one business week, if not more, will be upended.
Last year, riders could take comfort in knowing that the shutdown was voluntary. This storm prompted a willful suspension of service, but then ensured that the system would remain down well after it passed.Last year, riders could take comfort in knowing that the shutdown was voluntary. This storm prompted a willful suspension of service, but then ensured that the system would remain down well after it passed.
On Monday, the authority said that pumping water out of flooded tunnels could take anywhere from 14 hours to more than 4 days. After that task is complete, the authority will still need to address any damage to its electronic signaling system or switches, which were susceptible to saltwater corrosion.On Monday, the authority said that pumping water out of flooded tunnels could take anywhere from 14 hours to more than 4 days. After that task is complete, the authority will still need to address any damage to its electronic signaling system or switches, which were susceptible to saltwater corrosion.
Mr. Lhota said he was not aware of any permanent damage to the system.Mr. Lhota said he was not aware of any permanent damage to the system.
A team of specialists from the Army Corps of Engineers was summoned to clear the system. It is the first time that the team — based in Rock Island, Ill., and made up of two mechanical engineers and two hydrologists — has been asked to help clear water outside of New Orleans since it was created after Hurricane Katrina.A team of specialists from the Army Corps of Engineers was summoned to clear the system. It is the first time that the team — based in Rock Island, Ill., and made up of two mechanical engineers and two hydrologists — has been asked to help clear water outside of New Orleans since it was created after Hurricane Katrina.
At the Clark Street station in Brooklyn Heights, several transit workers said they had tried to walk through the No. 2 train tunnel to Wall Street in the early afternoon but had to turn back because it was still full of water.At the Clark Street station in Brooklyn Heights, several transit workers said they had tried to walk through the No. 2 train tunnel to Wall Street in the early afternoon but had to turn back because it was still full of water.
Residents in the neighborhood walked into the station periodically and asked police officers when the trains would be running.Residents in the neighborhood walked into the station periodically and asked police officers when the trains would be running.
“They’re saying a week,” one of the officers told a man in sweat pants and a Windbreaker.“They’re saying a week,” one of the officers told a man in sweat pants and a Windbreaker.
“A week — oh, oh, oh!” said the man, Lee Breuer, one of the founders of the Mabou Mines theater company. He said he did not need to get anywhere immediately; his appointment at an unemployment office on Monday was canceled, and he was told to come back when the trains were running again.“A week — oh, oh, oh!” said the man, Lee Breuer, one of the founders of the Mabou Mines theater company. He said he did not need to get anywhere immediately; his appointment at an unemployment office on Monday was canceled, and he was told to come back when the trains were running again.