Home Asides Event: Problem Solvers tackles post-Sandy Fix & Fortify on Jan. 27

Event: Problem Solvers tackles post-Sandy Fix & Fortify on Jan. 27

by Benjamin Kabak

While we’re busy here discussing rail access to LaGuardia and the future of the MetroCard, on Tuesday, January 27, join me in person for the return of my “Problem Solvers” Q-and-A series at the Transit Museum for a discussion on the MTA’s Fix & Fortify program. I’ll be interviewing John O’Grady, an engineer with over 25 years’ experience at the MTA and in capital construction who currently serves as a vice president for infrastructure and facilities. The talk will focus on Sandy recovery efforts.

It’s hard to believe the storm swept through well over two years ago, and as we know, the MTA’s challenges are immense. The new South Ferry station, totaled by the storm surge, isn’t expected to reopen until mid-2017 or even early 2018, according to the latest MTA materials, and although the Montague St. Tunnel has reopened following 14 months’ of repairs, the MTA has to address saltwater damage in many of the other East River Tunnels. During the talk next week, we’ll discuss the work that went into the Montague Tube repairs and the way the MTA is managing the project. We’ll touch on some flood-remediation efforts and the MTA’s attempts at ensuring the next big storm isn’t nearly as disruptive or destructive to the subway system.

The festivities start at 6:30 p.m. at the Transit Museum in Downtown Brooklyn. As the Museum would like to better support its programming, the event is no longer free and carries with it a modest $10 charge (though museum members still get in for free). As a bonus, though, at 7:30 p.m., the Museum will put Sandy artifacts on display and discuss the process of retrieving and cataloging these items. Most of the public saw only the photos, but the destruction wrought by the storm was substantial. Pick up your tickets right here, and hopefully, I’ll see you next week.

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6 comments

Phillip Roncoroni January 22, 2015 - 1:19 pm

Shouldn’t it be free for members, and $10 for non-members? That would potentially prod me into a membership, depending on amount of talks per year and membership cost.

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Benjamin Kabak January 22, 2015 - 1:37 pm

This is a good point. I’ll raise it with the Museum.

Reply
Benjamin Kabak January 22, 2015 - 6:13 pm

Phillip: As a follow-up, it is free for non-members. The checkout system is a little wonky, but member pay nothing for these events.

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Phillip Roncoroni January 23, 2015 - 9:22 am

Thanks for the follow-up.

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Simon January 26, 2015 - 9:20 am

It’s free for non-members too?

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Larry Littlefield January 24, 2015 - 3:22 pm

Perhaps someone might ask…

1) When is the last time an MTA Capital Plan has expired without a new one being enacted.

2) Why current and future New Yorkers will be forced to pay for the past 20 years of MTA Capital Plans (in debt service) and the next 20 years of MTA Capital Plans (in taxes or fares) while those who cash in and move to Florida didn’t pay at all, and

3) What will happen if capital spending just stops? Does that mean all those “reimbursable operating expenditures” and the people the represent simply disappear?

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