on June 12th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Over the last week or so, there seems to have been at least 1 story a day about the sad state of finances at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Today is no different as a report has come out which pours even more salt on the wound. According to the report, the MTA has paid out over $1.1 billion dollars in claims over the last decade. William Neuman of the New York Times City Room Blog has more:
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has paid out more than $1.1 billion in claims for personal injury and property damage over the last 12 years, according to a new report [pdf] by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
The claims include $285,046 paid by the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad to riders who ripped their pants or other items of clothing on the armrests in the M7 train cars. The armrests are notorious among riders on the two railroads because their design makes them uniquely suited to snag on clothing, especially pants pockets. The two railroads received a total of more than 1,400 claims for torn clothing last year, significantly more than the two previous years, when about 800 claims were filed annually.
The report said that overall, the two commuter railroads and New York City Transit received a total of 86,875 claims of all types from 1996 to 2007. Since 1996, 85 cases have been settled for $1 million or more, at a total cost of $233 million, or a fifth of all claims paid.
Over the period covered by the study claims have generally amounted to less than $100 million a year. Last year they reached $144 million because of the settlement of some unusually large claims. The authority’s annual operating budget is more than $10 billion.
The Newsday had their own angle on the report as they showcase how out of the $1.1 billion in claims, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is responsible for a spending record of $52.9 million dollars. Here is their story:
A spike in the number of claims by passengers injured in gap accidents led in large part to the Long Island Rail Road paying out a record $52.9 million in property and injury claims last year, according to a report released Thursday by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
The four-page report, which also cites an increase in claims from passengers who tore pants pockets on armrests of the railroad’s 836 M-7 cars, says the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has paid out $1.1 billion in property and injury claims since 1996.
Newsday published a series of stories in early 2007 highlighting a large number of gap injuries and the LIRR’s previously lax efforts to make it safer.
The LIRR said earlier this year it will have spent about $46 million on gap remediation — including past work to shift platforms, current work to attach boards to station platforms and future work to install metal plates at the base of each car door — by 2012.
LIRR spokesman Joe Calderone said they are also addressing the armrest problems and plans to install shorter armrests on trains that don’t snag pockets.
“Gap awareness, due to extensive publicity, reached an all-time high in 2007, which may have contributed to an increase in claims,” he said. “Customer and employee safety remains the LIRR’s No. 1 priority. In fact, the LIRR recently received a national safety award for most improved employee accident rate after showing a 13 percent decrease in our employee accident rate. We urge customers and employees to be aware of their surroundings and take responsibility for their own safety by paying close attention when exiting and entering trains.”
Last year the number of claims filed against the LIRR peaked at 1,936 — a twofold increase over 2003, the report said. The amount of claims paid out similarly jumped from $21 million in 2006 to the $52.9 million last year.
In 2006, however, the LIRR ranked third on a comparison of the impact such judgments and claims have upon riders’ wallets on the nation’s largest commuter rails. Chicago’s system ranked first with 27 cents per commuter trip, followed by Metro-North at 25 cents and then the LIRR with 19 cents.
The report also says the estimated future liability of claims filed but not yet paid by the MTA totaled $1.2 billion last year, a 38 percent increase since 2001.
“Given this trend, the annual cost to settle judgments and claims is likely to remain a significant budget expense,” the report said. “The State Comptroller recommends that the MTA step up its efforts to mitigate safety hazards to workers and commuters.”
After reading the story on Newsday, I decided to check out the 55 comments that were left in response to the story as of this writing. All I can say is wow & not in a good way! It is pretty sad how just about every comment left was blaming Newsday of all people for the money paid out in claims mostly stemming from lawsuits about gap incidents. Here are some of the idiotic comments that were left
- “WRONG. The number of claims was led in large part by the hysterical reporting by Newsday of injuries that were entirely beyond the control of the LIRR. It doesn’t matter how small the gap is, some moron will fall into it and Newsday will blame the LIRR.”
- “And thank you Newsday for making us all nauseatingly aware of the gap and for giving all these idiots the idea to sue for not watching where they are going!”
- ” As for the resulting fare hikes to pay these caims off…Thank NEWSDAY for further degrading the quality of life on LI”
- “Claims paid to morons who don’t look where they walk? This is lunacy-they should fight these lawsuits and the offenders, if they lose, should be dropped in the gap where they belong..”
- ” Thanks Newsday. Thanks 2nd rate Law Schools.”
- “i would like to take this time to personally thank newsday for taking a story, blowing it out of proportion and winning a few awards while contributing to fare increases to pay for lawsuits. next fare increase should be paid for by newsday”
- “And here is the latest scam on the LIRR and we all fall victim to that. People of the “rap” variety get on the train without a ticket. When the conductor comes to check tickets they say, “no ticket” and then have some lame excuse or vague threat in response. The conductor let’s it ride because they don’t want a scene or worse, a racial controversy that hits the papers.”
- ” Newsday should pay every single cent of those judgements.”
Here is the link to the story so you can read the comments that were left.
Here is the link to the full report (pdf) from New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli
xoxo Transit Blogger
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on June 12th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
A short while ago, the MTA’s Metro-North division issued a press release to announce an Open House. The Open House which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 was setup to discuss the “downtown revitalization and transit-oriented development project at the Harrison Station”. Here is the full press release courtesy of the MTA
The Town/Village of Harrison and MTA Metro-North Railroad will host a public Open House to discuss a proposed downtown revitalization and transit-oriented development project at the Harrison Station. The Open House will be held on Wednesday, June 25, 2008, at Veteran’s Memorial Building at 216 Halstead Avenue, from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM.
This is an opportunity for the public to review and comment on the “It’s Happening in Harrison” conceptual proposal. Display stations and exhibits will be set up and town officials, railroad representatives and planning consultants will be on hand to discuss the concept and answer questions.
This project is a key component of Harrison’s downtown revitalization and economic development initiatives. It is a joint effort by the Town and Metro-North and involves redevelopment of the commuter parking lots on Halstead Avenue and major improvements to station access and parking capacity. The proposal includes potential residential, retail and municipal uses, pedestrian plazas and a parking garage as well as streetscape improvements.
“There have been plans for this site for the past 20 years at least but nothing actually got built,” said Harrison Mayor Joan Walsh. “Now we have a real opportunity, something that will bring people downtown and that will benefit the entire town. I am very pleased with the ideas that we are discussing.”
“It’s Happening in Harrison” is a proposal that demonstrates Metro-North’s continuing commitment to sustainability and Smart Growth, as set forth by the MTA’s Blue Ribbon Sustainability Commission,” said Metro-North President Peter A. Cannito. “Such proposals demonstrate Metro-North’s commitment to improving the quality of life and economic health of the region.”
“Transit-oriented development is one of the most important long-term initiatives that the region can pursue to reduce its carbon footprint, which is why I am glad that the members of the blue-ribbon Commission on Sustainability and the MTA have prioritized it,” said Elliot G. Sander, Executive Director and CEO of the MTA. “The Commission has urged the MTA agencies to work collaboratively with communities throughout our 5,000-square-mile territory to cluster residential and commercial development – green development – within walking distance of mass transit. That kind of collaboration between the MTA and communities interested in TOD could have profound implications for the amount of energy our region consumes.”
The Harrison project is the second transit-oriented development being co-sponsored by Metro-North. Last year, the “Be in Beacon” project was launched at the Beacon train station.
The goals of the “It’s Happening in Harrison” project are to:
– implement a successful downtown revitalization and transit oriented development project, which improves Metro-North station access and increases commuter and downtown parking capacity;
– develop an attractive and appealing downtown central business district with a distinctive character, high quality urban and architectural design, and pedestrian and urban amenities, such as local shops and restaurants;
– provide the opportunity for a mixed use development with a diverse base of retail establishments and residential and other uses; and
– create a comprehensive parking management system that successfully meets the demand for long and short term parking in the central business district.
The Town of Harrison and Metro-North want to ensure that the development plan is formulated with maximum public participation and input. Comments and suggestions by those who come to the Open House will be used to refine the project and develop a plan that best serves the Town of Harrison and Metro-North customers.
No formal presentation is scheduled and residents can arrive anytime between 4:30 and 7:30 PM.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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on June 12th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
The MTA just posted a service alert within the last 2 minutes regarding 
train service. Here is the alert:
Due to someone requiring medical assistance at the Delancey Street Station, trains are running on the 
line in both directions between the Jay Street-Borough Hall Station and the West 4th Street-Washington Square Station.
Please expect delays in train service at this time.
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on June 12th, 2008 at 7:59 am
As you may have noticed, I have made some changes to the site. Most changes were on the back end to make the site run better however one major change was done with readers in mind. As you may notice in the left sidebar, you have a list of every train in the system along with some information. The information you see is the latest scheduled diversions which cover every day of the week. The data will be updated every Friday.
Be on the look out for more features to be added soon that will make Transit Blogger your best place for all things mass transit!
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on June 12th, 2008 at 5:35 am
You are not seeing things folks, at the current pace, the MTA will have a budget gap of anywhere between $500 & $700 million dollars. This is up drastically from the $220 million dollar figure projected last December. The news came from MTA CEO Elliot G. Sander who was speaking at a hearing in Albany yesterday that was chaired by Assemblyman Richard Brodsky.
Some of the comments Mr. Sander shared during his speech are telling. Here are a couple of samples
- “financial basket case” was used to describe the MTA
- “If it’s not resolved, if it’s not dealt with, the MTA can be characterized as going over a cliff”
- “If we do not have funding … then the only recourse the MTA has is to increase fares, engage in service cutbacks and cutting staff.”
If comments like these are not telling of the dire state of the MTA’s finances, I don’t know what is. As usual we got the usual lip service from Brodsky who chimed in by saying the MTA is in a “political fight” for what little money is available. He wants the agency to be more aggressive in seeking the funds it needs.
I am not one to defend the MTA but lets get real here, be more aggressive? The new regime has pretty much put their cards on the table about their financial situation. What else does Brodsky want? He is coming across as someone who wants to see someone grovel for what they need. Seriously, this is not the time for pettiness. While the MTA has made tons of mistakes, the only way we could see if the new leadership can move things from the status quo is to give them the money they need. So Brodsky, were you lying when you said all the MTA had to do was ask for the money they need or will you come through? The ball is clearly in your court, don’t turn it over!
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