Tunnel Security Not Good Enough

As I've been reporting since 7/7/2005, conditions in numerous underwater tunnels is woefully inadequate and security continues to be lacking despite the realization of these conditions for years.

Now comes word from a former MTA official that the subway system's security is, in a word, awful.

A former deputy director of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said yesterday that the agency has put riders at risk by not moving fast enough to secure underwater tunnels and other critical infrastructure.

Before taking his concerns public, the former MTA official, Nicholas Casale, wrote a letter to Mayor Bloomberg and the secretary of the federal Department of Transportation, Norman Mineta, in February, after the Chambers Street subway fire, warning them that the subway system was rife with "security breaches, mismanagement, corruption scandals, and missing money."

We know that the subway is impossible to perfectly secure, but improving the security and safety systems can be done to reduce the loss of life should an event occur. Those steps are not being taken fast enough.