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Lessons from the December storm

Lessons from the December storm. Board Meeting January 26, 2011. 4. Storm chronology – major storm affecting entire region. 4. Successfully managing storms has 4 phases. 1. Track storm forecasts Continuously assess storm impact and response required Update and disseminate alert levels

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Lessons from the December storm

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  1. Lessons from the December storm Board MeetingJanuary 26, 2011

  2. 4 Storm chronology – major storm affecting entire region

  3. 4 Successfully managing storms has 4 phases 1 • Track storm forecasts • Continuously assess storm impact and response required • Update and disseminate alert levels • Formulate plan for operation and recovery Storm tracking and readiness 2 Mobilization • Pre-position equipment • Call in staff • Activate situation rooms, as required • Issue customer advisories 3 Execution • Fight snow/ice/water • Endeavor to maintain service while being mindful of customer/employee safety and impacts on equipment • Be prepared to switch from service delivery to curtailment/suspension strategy • Care for stranded customers and employees • Provide up-to-date service information 4 • Restore normal service • Provide up-to-date service information • Assure storm equipment is ready for next storm Recovery Effective coordination with OEM’s and other external agencies required throughout

  4. 4 MNR successfully adapted to quickly changing conditions but had some issues with delayed and disabled trains and restoring service Positives Issues 1 Storm tracking and readiness • Early meeting of Emergency Management Task Force 2 Mobilization • Situation room activated early • Equipment and employee pre-deployment 3 Execution • Rapid observation-based decision to suspend service reduced duration of service outage and recovery time • Detailed and consistent messages delivered through all channels • Delayed and disabled trains in the Bronx and Westchester 4 Recovery • Imbalance of service supply and rider demand on Tuesday left some customers waiting on platforms • Negative effects on New Haven Line fleet availability • Advance creation and deployment of recovery service plans • Successful execution of recovery service plans in the face of rapidly changing conditions

  5. 4 LIRR’s pro-active suspension of service and early mobilization avoided stuck trains but some communication and recovery issues Positives Issues 1 Storm tracking and readiness • Level 4 (highest level) staffing activated on Dec 24 even though storm at Level 1 due to forecast volatility 2 Mobilization • Situation room activated early • Clear pre-storm communications regarding potential service interruption • Employee availability not optimal 3 Execution • Pro-active suspension of service avoided stuck trains • ‘Comfort trains’ successfully deployed • Clear and timely communications • Only limited service available • Inability to keep Jamaica switches functioning 4 Recovery • Only limited service available Tuesday • Platform communication systems crashed • Did not clearly communicate train times for limited service operated during recovery period (on platforms in particular) • Effective staged restoration of service

  6. 4 Subways’ inability to quickly adapt to deteriorating conditions led to stuck trains and under-estimation of stranded customer issues Positives Issues 1 Storm tracking and readiness • Frequent planning conference calls to monitor changing storm forecasts • Internal alert level not formally upgraded until storm well underway 2 • Several aspects of Plan IV activated – underground train storage; deployment of storm fighting equipment system-wide • No formal implementation of Plan IV • Situation room not activated Mobilization 3 • Large portion of network delivered un-interrupted service • Clear and consistent communications • Inadequate central coordination of field actions • Not curtailing/suspending service led to stuck trains, stranded customers and slow recovery • No robust plan to care for customers on stuck trains • Insufficient number of experienced managers on duty Execution 4 • Prioritized recovery strategy • Clear and consistent communications Recovery • Not understanding implications of providing full service before and during storm

  7. 4 Buses’/Paratransit’s not quickly curtailing service led to large numbers of stuck vehicles. Monday service updates were untimely. Positives Issues 1 Storm tracking and readiness • Highest internal alert level not activated 2 Mobilization • Pre-storm mobilization of personnel and snow-fighting equipment • Night and articulated buses equipped with chains as planned • Situation room not activated 3 Execution • Poor coordination with non-MTA transport modes left some riders stranded • Not curtailing/suspending service led to increased numbers of stuck vehicles, stranded customers and slow recovery • Insufficient route-level detail in service interruption communications • Held back some service that could not be operated effectively 4 Recovery • Route-specific service detail eventually communicated • Bus radio system crashed

  8. 4 Bridges and Tunnels performed well Positives Issues 1 Storm tracking and readiness • Storm alerts issued and updated as forecast deteriorated 2 • Significant mobilization of staff despite holiday beginning early December 25 Mobilization 3 • No service interruptions • Successful sharing of equipment with Buses • GPS tracking of snow-fighting vehicles Execution 4 Recovery • Quickly assessed and assured serviceability of snow-fighting equipment immediately after storm

  9. 4 Learning and applying the lessons of the December storm • Immediate actions taken • Application to recent storms • In-depth review

  10. 4 Actions have already been taken to address the identified issues Actions completed since December storm 1 Storm tracking and readiness • MTA HQ disseminating incoming weather notifications across agencies • MTA HQ coordinating regular inter-agency calls to compare forecast information and approach and communications strategy 2 Mobilization • Situation rooms / incident command centers resourced and ready at operating and support agencies • Subways created a blizzard response ‘Plan V’ that includes specific service curtailment/suspension actions in response to high winds and high rates of snow accumulation • Pro-active cancellation of non-essential paratransit trips 3 Execution • Customer advocate role at all agencies • Coordinated effort by bus road operations and depot staff to assess service conditions route-by-route during storm and aftermath • Updated list of priority bus routes to be operated during curtailed service • Buses updated guidelines for applying chains and replacing articulated buses with standard-length buses to improve service resilience • Internal coordination procedures in place to provide route-specific bus service information through website 4 • LIRR developing limited service schedules for publication in advance • MNR established procedure to quickly add service (where possible) in response to customer demand during recovery period Recovery

  11. Actions were proven during recent storms • Incident centers activated at Bridges & Tunnels, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, NYC Transit and MTA Bus before the first snow fell • Near normal service for Subways and LIRR • Planned modifications to MNR service • No trains stuck for any significant period of time • No buses or paratransit vehicles stuck for any significant period of time • Full coordination with NYC OEM and regional OEM offices • Jan 7 – minor storm • Jan 11/12 – moderate storm in NYC; significant in MNR service area • Jan 21 – moderate storm

  12. 4 An in-depth review to be completed during the second quarter will identify additional actions that could improve response to all storms • Cross-agency effort led by MTA COO • Identify issues and solutions including: • Best practices in other systems around the world that contend with snow regularly • Review agencies’ internal assessments • Equipment and infrastructure vulnerabilities • Practices and rules that may inhibit effective storm mobilization or response • Equipment and technology that would make MTA agency response to storms more effective • Training and simulations that better prepare staff for infrequent events • Follow-up by Internal Audit to review relevant recommendations from previous storm reports and confirm implementation of agency-initiated actions • Generalizing from December snowstorm lessons to other weather-related events

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