Event: 12/5 Problem Solvers on MTA’s storm preparedness

Hot on the heels of this morning’s panel about social media and transit information amidst Sandy, I’m thrilled to announce my next Problem Solvers Q-and-A session in conjunction with the Transit Museum. Scheduled for next Wednesday, December 5 at 6:30 p.m., next month’s event will tackle storm preparedness efforts from an infrastructure perspective. Joining me will be two MTA officials, and we will be discussing the transit system’s preparation for and response to the storm and how the city needs to prepare for future natural disasters.

My guests at next Wednesday’s event are James Ferrara, the president of MTA Bridges & Tunnels, and Thomas Abdallah, Transit’s Chief Environmental Engineer. Ferrara has been with the MTA since 1977 and will discuss how his division dealt with the storm. The MTA tunnels suffered tremendous flooding and will require future mitigation work. Abdallah is a voice for sustainability within Transit, and he led the effort in the late 1990s to put forward the MTA’s Environmental Management System plan. Abdallah will address the short- and long-term challenges and goals facing the MTA.

The Fine Print: Problem Solvers takes place on Wednesday, December 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Transit Museum in Downtown Brooklyn. It is located in the old Court St. station with an entrance at the corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn St. The event is free with doors at 6 for those who want to check out the museum and its awesome collection of vintage rolling stock. You can RSVP here. Hope to see you there.