Exclusive: 7 On Your Side uncovers disturbing data about subway system
NEW YORK, New York (WABC) -- Every time you swipe your MetroCard and get on an MTA train, are you putting your life at risk?
Just a day after Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency for the MTA, Eyewitness News obtained disturbing data about the New York City's subway system.
The federal data shows that accidents and fatalities have skyrocketed during the last 10 years, and it could reveal a stressed subway system that is becoming not only increasingly unreliable, but more dangerous to ride. From 2007-2011, there were 274 train accidents, causing more than $25,000 in damage. The number of accidents nearly doubled to 467 subway accidents from 2012-2016.
Fatalities on the subway also jumped from eight in the 5-year period from 2007-2011, to 17 fatalities in the last 5 years.
The huge jump in accidents and fatalities also indicates a lack of maintaining of infrastructure and equipment.
The MTA is disputing these numbers from the Federal Transportation Agency. The MTA claims their accident and derailment numbers "are miniscule considering our trains complete more than 5.1 million trips a year. " In a written statement, Kevin Ortiz, MTA Spokesperson said the federal accident "data includes individuals and customers struck by trains which is not indicative of our maintenance efforts or infrastructure."
Jamison Dague of Infrastructure Studies at the Citizens Budget Commission, said it is not a matter of money, but rather the challenge to make necessary upgrades to a subway system that operates around the clock.
There is some good news in the data. Subway derailments are down from 14 in the first-half of the ten year period to just six in the last 5 years.
Earlier this week, 34 people were hurt when an A train derailed at the 125th Street station in Harlem. The accident was blamed on an an improperly secured piece of replacement rail that was stored on the tracks. MTA officials said two supervisors have been suspended while officials investigate the incident.
Related: After derailment, MTA still in violation of own safety regulations
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