New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) recently reopened the Greenpoint tunnel between Brooklyn and Queens and the Montague tunnel between Brooklyn and Manhattan (both heavily damaged by Superstorm Sandy) after extensive reconstruction and restoration efforts to return the structures to pre-hurricane conditions. The projects are part of the MTA’s Fix & Fortify initiative to “flood-proof” the subway system. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, at left in top photo, and MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast, right, joined other guests at the Whitehall Street Station to mark the restoration of the Montague tunnel. The Greenpoint tube, bottom photo, was flooded with 3 million gallons of salt water, totally submerging tracks and equipment. Of the MTA’s 14 underwater tunnels, 9 were severely damaged. FTA has allocated nearly $3.8 billion to the MTA for repair, resiliency, and disaster relief work.

Top photo courtesy of MTA Patrick Cashin
Bottom photo courtesy of MTA Marc A. Hermann