The MTA may fight off future storms through tunnel plugs and floodwall for subway entrances paid for by the feds, Governor Cuomo said Thursday after announcing a new tourism campaign for Sandy-devastated areas.
The authority and the governor’s administration are currently negotiating $3.5 billion program that is expected to be authorized by the federal government in coming days, according to sources.
The MTA is looking into whether floodwall doors for its subway entrances, as well as plugs in its tunnels, could work in New York City’s transit system to fight off flood waters.
“Mother Nature always wins, but the odds will be different next time,” said Cuomo.
To prepare against the storm, the MTA has awarded contracts to architectural and engineering firms to create a more resilient system.
The firms have looked at other cities around the world to see how they cope with extreme weather, according to the MTA.
The new tourism campaign features six commemorative MetroCards with an “I Love NY” logo on front, and images on the back of neighborhoods hit hardest by Sunday – such as Howard Beach, Coney Island, and the Rockaways.
They are described in the campaign as ‘NY Rising’ communities.
Riders will have the opportunity to buy the cards on the one-year anniversary of Sandy. The MTA has created 300,000.
“Superstorm Sandy brought our state and our transit network to their knees a year ago, but we not only survived, we have thrived and come back stronger than ever,” said MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast.
The campaign is also launching four commercials that will be aired statewide – showcasing how the state has come back from Sandy and urging people to visit its attractions, such as wineries on Long Island and Coney Island’s Wonder Wheel.