MTA New York Metropolis Transit President Demetrius Crichlow with MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber at a Dec. 19, 2024 press convention on the 14th Road station on the 1/2/3 strains in Greenwich Village.
Marc A. Hermann / MTA
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With the coldest temperatures of the season about to hit the Metropolis, winterizing the subway system is precedence primary.
It’s a workforce effort to maintain hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers transferring by way of deep freezes, which is why I’d wish to highlight just a few of the Subways Division’s 30,000 staff who come to work day-after-day, in all types of climate, to guard your commute.
Trains can’t transfer if the rails are froze and switches are frozen. To maintain service operating easily, observe upkeep groups – just like the one led by Normal Superintendent Iftakar Yakatally — are on the job 24/7 retaining the system secure, working each gasoline and electric-powered heaters in essential sections of observe to forestall ice buildup.
We even have superpowered snow-throwing trains able to go on elevated strains, in addition to de-icing automobiles with particular scraping “shoes” to take away any frost accumulation. These sneakers are added to our income fleet at any time when an enormous storm is within the forecast. Leaders like Normal Superintendent Niall Maguire and Supervisor Brandon Velasquez oversee these efforts, with operators like Dennis Marino and Jason Desatnick on the wheel.
Switches and alerts are particularly weak within the bitter chilly. They’re managed by supervisors like Henry Corbin and Patrick Soodeen, who hold these essential programs in good situation. I began my profession as a sign maintainer, so this sort of work – which is essential however hardly ever seen by the general public — is near my coronary heart.
New Yorkers are extra acquainted with our preparations at subway stations. Supervisor Angel Lugo’s workforce is expert at dashing salt and sand to stairs and elevated platforms so clients can safely board with out worry of slipping, whereas cleaners like Fabio Oberosler hold passages clear with snowblowers and chipping away cussed blocks of ice.
All these actions are ruled by a complete chilly climate plan, spearheaded by leaders like Erika Shaub and Robert Turner. Each winter we refine and ideal this plan to be prepared for each eventuality. It’s no simple activity contemplating there are 842 miles of observe together with rail yards, greater than 6,000 subway automobiles, and 472 stations to safeguard, however the men and women of New York Metropolis Transit at all times ship.
Whenever you full your journey safely this winter, know that hundreds of devoted staff labored arduous to make sure that you reliably bought the place you wanted to go journey after journey.
Demetrius Crichlow is MTA New York Metropolis Transit president.
