NJ Transit Ignored Its Own ‘Sandy' Plan

New Jersey Transit had a hurricane plan to move its trains to higher ground before Superstorm Sandy hit -- why they didn't follow that plan remains a mystery.

It's not clear why the agency moved locomotives and rail cars to low-lying rail yards in Kearny and Hoboken, instead of higher ground. A third of the agency's fleet - 70 locomotives and 273 rail cars - were damaged by flooding from the storm. The cost of the damage is more than $120 million.

The Record newspaper obtained a copy of the 3 1/2-page plan that was prepared four months before Sandy after filing a public-records suit.

The plan calls for moving railcars and locomotives 'from flood-prone areas to higher ground" and lists more than a half-dozen locations.

Kearny Yard and Hoboken were not listed.

The transit company has been criticized publicly for its decision to move their trains to low-lying areas as the storm approached, especially since both weather reports and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie had warned the public of power that was expected behind the storm, according to NorthJersey.com.

An NJ Transit spokesman declined to answer questions about why the equipment was moved to those locations.

 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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