MTA Moving Slowly on Security?

Given the loud and constant din about security concerns over the past few years, you'd think that public agencies would have already raced to assess their security risks and patch up post-9/11 terror vulnerabilities. Not so with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, evidently, which, according to Marcus Baram's piece in this week's Observer, has only spent $25 to 30 million of the $591 million it has budgeted for security.

Gothamist certainly wouldn't advise the agency to start buying into specious get-safe-quick proposals, but it does seem odd that so much money is just lying around waiting to be spent while the subway system seems to have a big target painted on it. Spokesman Tom Kelly says that the MTA is holding back to make "the right choices" rather than throwing money at "every cockamamie scheme" people pitch to improve security.

As in every issue regarding transportation, Queens Councilman John Liu (chair of the Transportation Committee) was outraged. He was shocked (shocked!) to hear that so little progress had been made to make the MTA more secure. Liu's press releases often carry an air of profound and overdramatic indignation, no matter what the issue. Kelly, who reportedly sat and shook his head throughout most of Mr. Liu’s questions and comments during the recent City Council hearing on the issue, responds in the piece that he resents politicians' implication that the agency isn't worried enough about safety.

“Not only do we use the system, but our families do," says Kelly to Baram. "And you know that [politicians] would be the first ones to criticize us if these steps prove to be unwise”

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

March 24, 2005 12:33 PM

Comments [rss]

honey

get a fu#king decent PA system in every station. that may not prevent an attack, but as anyone who read 102 minutes knows, inadequate communication in the aftermath of an attack can really bring up the death toll. a working PA system, with back ups located in secure areas, could save many lives when an attack occurs.

dirtgirl

S.D. - no contract yet. same goes for fire & teachers unions.

and to gothamist, you definitely have john liu pegged!

S.D.

Maybe they thought the Photo-Ban was a good start?

Or not...

Playing Devils advocate: I wonder what steps they Could actually take to improve security? Short of maning every platform with Police, what can be done (last week's Rape of a blind woman tragically demonstrated that video Camera's Aren't nearly enough.)

Slightly off topic, Do the Police actually have a contract with the City yet?

danny

**Paying cops more in overtime to watch the platform wont happen.

**token booth clerks protect civilians from crime.(so dont take them out of commission)

**

**cameras and all equipment wont happen, MTA wont pay up

PLAIN AND SIMPLE: A terrorist attack will happen and we are vunerable. Its only a matter of time.

P.S. Brian you was wandering in the tracks? for what? God you must have no life....

Brian Van Nieuwenhoven

I don't want to take easy potshots at incompetent gov't agencies, so I'll just express my opinion on what I think would be a good course of action - likely not to be followed, but regardless:

* The MTA should focus their efforts on facility security. If necessary, eliminate token booths and clerks to free up resources for equipment survelliance and protective measures. The subway is ridiculously vulnerable to sabotage - if an idiot like me can wander at any time of night onto the tracks unseen (and, at times, I have explored a bit), imagine what a motivated terrorist can do.

* The NYPD should patrol platforms more often not only for citizen safety, but as a first line of survelliance defense for equipment and facilities.

In other words, let the MTA watch the tracks, let the cops watch the platforms. If they think a token clerk is going to be able to stop a murder or a terrorist attack, they're insane - they need better access restrictions and survelliance measures beyond that, whether they need a booth clerk or not.