Subway Fail: How The New York Metro Got This Bad

Despite having a stable budget for 25 years, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has let New York City’s subways decay to a dangerous state. The upper management of the agency is getting paid inflated salaries, while workers are living on next to nothing, and riders are paying high costs for tickets in unsafe and outdated trains. More riders, less tracks, and less repairs equal a serious disaster waiting to happen. How did it get this bad?

“The problems plaguing the subway … were years in the making, and they might have been avoided if decision makers had put the interests of train riders and daily operations ahead of flashy projects and financial gimmicks."

A report on long-term research by the New York Times delves into the story behind the mayhem and the neglect. You guessed it: mismanagement of funds leading to massive debt, which the MTA pays 17 percent of its annual budget just to cover. Add lack of transparency to the public, and the agency has been able to shirk accountability for poor decisions.

The details of the story may not be glamorous, but they are worth reading for anyone who wants to understand the day-to-day (mal)functioning of city and state governments—and how seemingly small, boring decisions can have repercussions for millions of commuters. According to a spokesperson for Governor Andrew Cuomo:

“A camel is a horse designed by committee, and the M.T.A. is a train service run by committee,” Ms. Lever said.