MTA Subway Maintenance (New York, Albany, York: 2014, crime, house)

[Dartman1]

Why are there so many defereed maintenance backlogs on the New York City Subway and is there any way to resolve them.

[nybklyn]

The bottom line is money. As long as there is unlimited amount of money, the repair can be done. I believe one of the reason the repair couldn’t be done on a timely manner was due to not increase of subway fare for a long time back then when it was only 5 cents per ride.

[BugsyPal]

Originally Posted by Dartman1

Why are there so many defereed maintenance backlogs on the New York City Subway and is there any way to resolve them.

Most if not large parts of the NYC subway system are old to ancient, operating in many cases with equipment installed early in last century if not before. Some things are so old they aren't even made any longer.


Neither the private companies, then the city who owned subway systems ever put required funds into maintenance and modernization. Then city went busted and things slid even further down the hellhole. It wasn't until NYCT was kicked upstairs to Albany and the MTA took over that vast sums were devoted to bringing things back.


While things are streets better than the 1970's or 1980's much work still needs to be done despite MTA's record spending on NYC subway system. It will take north of $15 *billion* to totally bring things up to anywhere near modern standards. The MTA's Plan To Fix The Subway Will Cost A Fortune. Doing Nothing Will Cost Even More: Gothamist


Since neither the MTA nor anyone else has that kind of money things are done in spurts as rolled out via various capital spending plans.


It's like owning an old house that is falling a part; a constant game of whack-a-mole. You prioritize what needs doing as money can be found to pay.

[Dartman1]

Originally Posted by BugsyPal

Most if not large parts of the NYC subway system are old to ancient, operating in many cases with equipment installed early in last century if not before. Some things are so old they aren't even made any longer.


Neither the private companies, then the city who owned subway systems ever put required funds into maintenance and modernization. Then city went busted and things slid even further down the hellhole. It wasn't until NYCT was kicked upstairs to Albany and the MTA took over that vast sums were devoted to bringing things back.


While things are streets better than the 1970's or 1980's much work still needs to be done despite MTA's record spending on NYC subway system. It will take north of $15 *billion* to totally bring things up to anywhere near modern standards. The MTA's Plan To Fix The Subway Will Cost A Fortune. Doing Nothing Will Cost Even More: Gothamist


Since neither the MTA nor anyone else has that kind of money things are done in spurts as rolled out via various capital spending plans.


It's like owning an old house that is falling a part; a constant game of whack-a-mole. You prioritize what needs doing as money can be found to pay.

What was the subway like when Giuliani was mayor.

[SeventhFloor]

Originally Posted by Dartman1

What was the subway like when Giuliani was mayor.

It was perfect, people used to eat off the floor it was so clean

[Dartman1]

Originally Posted by SeventhFloor

It was perfect, people used to eat off the floor it was so clean

What was maintenance like back then.

[BugsyPal]

Originally Posted by Dartman1

What was maintenance like back then.

Mayors of NYC have no direct influence nor supervisory powers over subway maintenance. The can groan and or complain to their appointees on MTA board, and or take up the issue with same themselves.


By the 1980's and into 1990's MTA had launched several major capital improvement programs that began to bring subway system back. This and first expansions since the system was largely built.


You can glean much here: https://www.pcac.org/wp-content/uplo...-Road-Back.pdf


Money was put into maintenance, repair and new equipment, etc...


What RG did do is launch crackdowns on various quality of life issues/crimes that made subways dirty and dangerous. Fare beating, panhandling, pick pockets, etc... along with overall crime was being dealt with for first time in a while. Still remember back in the day there were posters, radio/television spots and so forth advising people to cover up jewelry while riding NYC subways back then, Females and anyone else feeling insecure were advised to sit in the 5th (or whatever) car where the conductor was for safety.