Former MTA Worker Sues Over Subway Safety
Anyone who has ever taken a ride on the NYC Subway has seen those huge station gates that sit on hundreds of staircases throughout the system. These same station gates are at the center of a lawsuit brought against the MTA by a former worker who is suing over the lack of subway safety.
The former worker, Peter T. Nichik is suing the agency as he claims they did not provide him enough chains & padlocks for the gates as well as station safety issues being under reported. He claims to have been suspended & subsequently demoted after blowing the whistle. Erik Ortiz of AMNY has more:
A former MTA superintendent claims the subways are unsafe and emergency evacuations are potentially dangerous because station gates can be compromised.
Peter T. Nichik, who had worked in the Division of Station Operations and is a 25-year MTA veteran, filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Brooklyn saying that the agency didn’t give him enough chains and padlocks for gates and that safety conditions in the field were being “underreported.”
Nichik said he complained in 2007 to his bosses that certain station gates were simply left open instead of being padlocked in the open position. That gives the opportunity for anyone to lock the gates themselves creating a “very dangerous and potentially lethal event in an emergency situation,” such as a terrorist attack or explosion, the suit says, according to the New York Post.
Nichik’s attorney said her client wants a federal judge to order the MTA to improve security. He also is seeking back wages and pension benefits as a result of his subsequent suspension and demotion for his whistle-blowing efforts.
Click here for the complete report.
After reading the report, I immediately found myself wanting more information from both sides. Could I believe an agency would punish a whistle blower? Sure, it has happened a lot & will always unfortunately. On the flip side though, would blowing the whistle on a common sense issue really lead to a suspension & demotion? Did he commit other actions that justified the MTA’s actions?
xoxo Transit Blogger
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Service Diversions 11-15-10
I have just updated the Service Diversions page by removing all of the work that just wrapped up by 5 AM this morning. The latest information for the upcoming week & beyond in some cases is at the forefront.
Throughout the week, I will make minor updates on the page itself (no entries about it) by removing work already completed. The next complete update will be by late Thursday night or Friday morning (unless the diversions are not sent out until after).
As always, I suggest you print out a copy of the diversions to have with you while riding. You may also use any phone or electronic device to access the mobile friendly version of Transit Blogger. Have a safe week!
xoxo Transit Blogger
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Service Diversions 11-13-10
I apologize for not moving the weekend diversions up by 12:01. I just walked in the door after a night of playing pool with the guys. As always, it was a blast. Anyhow, the diversions that wrapped up by 11:59 PM last night have been removed.
The next update will be 5:01 AM Monday when all of the weekend’s diversions have wrapped up. As always, have a wonderful & safe weekend.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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Service Diversions 11-12-10
I just updated the Service Diversions page with the latest planned diversions for the upcoming weekend, following week, & beyond in some cases.
The next update will be at 12:01 AM Saturday where the diversions scheduled to wrap up by 11:59 PM tonight are removed. As always, have a wonderful & safe weekend.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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Bus Routes & Stops Restored To Fulton Mall
Yesterday afternoon, MTA NYC Transit announced that bus routes & stops were restored to Brooklyn’s Fulton Mall. Here are the complete details courtesy of the press release I received:
NYC DOT has announced the completion of the Fulton Mall Project in Downtown Brooklyn. Therefore, effective Monday, November 15, the B25, B26, B38 B52, B54 and B65 bus routes and bus stops on Fulton Mall and Fulton Street will be restored.
Westbound on Fulton Mall:
• Between Gallatin Place and Hoyt Street (B25, B38, B52)
• Between Elm Place and Bond Street (B25, B38, B52)
• Between Hanover Place and Flatbush Avenue (B25, B38, B52)
Westbound on Fulton Street:
• Between Rockwell Place and Ashland Place (B25, B38, B52)
• Between St. Felix Street and Lafayette Avenue (B25, B38, B52)
Eastbound on Fulton Mall:
• Between Red Hook Lane and Smith Street (B26, B54)
• Between Gallatin Place and Hoyt Street (B26, B54)
• Between Elm Place and Bond Street (B26, B54)
• Between Hanover Place and Flatbush Avenue (B26, B54)
All temporary stops will be discontinued.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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