Disaster worst in transit system's history - New York News | NYC Breaking News

Disaster worst in transit system's history

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This photo provided by MTA Bridges and Tunnels shows floodwaters from Sandy entering the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel (former Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel), which was closed on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012. (MTA Bridges and Tunnels) This photo provided by MTA Bridges and Tunnels shows floodwaters from Sandy entering the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel (former Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel), which was closed on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012. (MTA Bridges and Tunnels)
Sandbags block the entrance to the closed South Ferry/Whitehall Street subway station in Battery Park, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, in New York.(AP Photo/Louis Lanzano) Sandbags block the entrance to the closed South Ferry/Whitehall Street subway station in Battery Park, Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, in New York.(AP Photo/Louis Lanzano)
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The New York City transit system remained closed on Tuesday and when it could reopen remained in question after Sandy flooded tunnels, brought trees down over tracks and ripped out power lines.

"The New York City subway system is 108 years old, but it has never faced a disaster as devastating as what we experienced last night," MTA chairman Joseph J. Lhota said in a statement. "Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on our entire transportation system, in every borough and county of the region. It has brought down trees, ripped out power and inundated tunnels, rail yards and bus depots."

Lhota said Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on in the entire transportation system, in every borough and county of the region.

As of Monday night, seven subway tunnels under the East River were flooded.

Metro-North Railroad lost power from 59th Street to Croton-Harmon on the Hudson Line and to New Haven on the New Haven Line.

The Long Island Rail Road evacuated its West Side Yards and suffered flooding in one East River tunnel.

Six bus garages were disabled by high water.

The MTA was still in the process of assessing the damage and had no timeline for putting the system back on-line.

Lhota said that the system might be brought back part-by-part as they could get things running.

He said, "Our employees have shown remarkable dedication over the past few days, and I thank them on behalf of every New Yorker. In 108 years, our employees have never faced a challenge like the one that confronts us now. All of us at the MTA are committed to restoring the system as quickly as we can to help bring New York back to normal."

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