Passenger Trains > Outside analysis of NJ Transit and Sandy storm

The NJ.com site summarizes an outside analysis of the NJ Transit response to super storm Sandy. The 2012 storm caused millions of dollars in damages and has left some equipment still awaiting repairs, more than a year after the flooding.

This isn't a "whose head should be cut off" report, but rather a review of what happened, and how things could have been done better. Combining the emergency operations center and the public relations staff in one place to reduce incorrect or redundant information. Using already functioning and very effective state weather and disaster tracking facilities as a primary source. Identifying and using high ground storage and layover yards. Several of these have already been put into place. NJT has engaged companies to look at surge modeling, for example. And is looking at relocating the rail operations center.

<http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/12/review_of_nj_transits_response_to_sandy_finds_need_for_better_coordination_more_places_to_store_trai.html#incart_river_default&gt;

The article notes that the storm was unprecedented, and NJT management was unprepared for the range of impacts suffered across the system. While nice to say, that ignores other agencies in the immediate area, subject to the same storm, did much better in their reactions. PATH, NYC Subway, LIRR, Amtrak, etc

The report itself is linked in the article.

Just like the GW Bridge scandal, Gov Christie refuses to hold anyone's feet to the fire for NJ Transit's Sandy fiasco.
No one will pay except the taxpayers and patrons of NJ Transit.

rfprr

rfprr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just like the GW Bridge scandal, Gov Christie
> refuses to hold anyone's feet to the fire for NJ
> Transit's Sandy fiasco.
> No one will pay except the taxpayers and patrons
> of NJ Transit.
>
> rfprr

In fairness, he's fired two top managers at the Port Authority (Baroni and Wiedelt?). The #3 and #7 / #8 guys in the place.

But you're right that nobody's been fired at NJ Transit for the Sandy storm. My take, which I mentioned here at the time, is that just about everyone at NJ Transit's executive level has a political patron. From both parties. And, the deal was - if we need to chop heads, we'll chop heads on both sides of the aisle.

Joe Bober, the NJ Transit police chief who harassed railfans and physically harassed his female subordinates, was a protege of John Wisnieski, the powerful chairman of the assembly transportation committee. Bober really had to screw up big time, in public, before they could cut him loose. With a settlement...