Objective

To determine the extent of implementation of the nine recommendations included in our initial audit report, Risk Assessment and Implementation of Measures to Address Extreme Weather Conditions (2021-S-27).

About the Program

In the 14 years since Superstorm Sandy, weather predicting models have indicated that, with rising sea levels, the range and depth of storm surge will increase across New York City. With the sea level rise, future storms will flood more property. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) – New York City Transit (Transit) has experienced flash flooding due to heavy rain, which is harder to predict in terms of timing and location of impact. Coastal flooding caused by storm surge can cause severe corrosion of Transit's infrastructure and equipment. Protective measures need to be designed to function while still running services.

In September 2007, the Chair of the MTA appointed a Blue Ribbon Commission on Sustainability and the MTA (Blue Ribbon Commission) charged with making sustainability-related recommendations to the MTA and its agencies. In April 2009, the MTA issued the Blue Ribbon Commission's Final Report on Sustainability and the MTA (Report), making 93 recommendations, including the development of a climate change adaptation master plan and 11 recommendations specifically related to climate adaptation to prepare for rising sea levels, storms, and severe weather events.

According to the MTA's website, the facilities of Transit’s system are an irreplaceable public asset. To restore, improve, and expand this asset, the MTA committed $68.4 billion in capital program funding between 2025 and 2029, including $47.8 billion in major projects and expansion throughout this period.

Inspection and maintenance of Transit’s on- and off-site facilities and equipment is critical to ensure the system is prepared for future extreme weather events. Consequently, Transit is required to conduct inspections of its storm surge mitigation equipment prior to hurricane season and in advance of an expected severe weather event. In addition, Transit developed several weather plans that can be activated for extreme weather-related conditions and detailed procedures to be followed in the lead-up to a storm event and following its impact.

The objectives of our initial audit report, issued on September 29, 2023, were to determine whether Transit identified potential damage to its system and developed plans to mitigate the effect of extreme weather conditions and flooding. We also determined whether the MTA tested/updated the plans and inspected and maintained the equipment to ensure they can be deployed when needed. Our audit covered the period from April 2009 to August 2022. The audit found that as of the date our report was issued, September 2023, the MTA had not implemented one of the most important recommendations of the 2009 Report—the development of the climate change adaptation master plan. Our review of a sample of 23 of 221 capital projects intended to correct or prevent damage found that projects were often incomplete in scope of work, not finished on time or within budget, or insufficiently documented. Just two of six critical stations that Transit indicated should have been made more watertight and resistant to potential flooding were completed in one project we reviewed. The audit also found that Transit did not sufficiently document inspections of individual pieces of equipment. Instead, it reported more broadly by subway stations or by rooms in off-site facilities that were inspected. While Transit has developed winter, hurricane, rain, and extreme heat plans, we found that these plans were inconsistently activated, with no documentation explaining the rationale for decision making. In our sample of 18 weather events, plans were not activated for six events that included tropical storms, hurricanes, or coastal flooding.

The objective of our follow-up was to assess the extent of implementation, as of July 15, 2026, of the nine recommendations included in our initial audit report.

Key Findings

MTA officials made progress in addressing the problems we identified in the initial audit report. Of the initial report’s nine audit recommendations, five were implemented, two were partially implemented, and two were not implemented.

Key Recommendation

MTA officials are requested, but not required, to provide information about any actions planned to address the unresolved issues discussed in this follow-up within 30 days of the report’s issuance.