MTA Has Failed To Fix Sprinkler System For Over 1 Year
Expenses for overtime couldn’t get much higher at the MTA’s East New York bus depot due to an ongoing problem with its failing fire suppression system. According to an internal report, continuous fire patrols mandated by fire codes have cost the MTA over $2.4 million in the past year.
The bus depot, a vast complex housing buses, maintenance and repair facilities, MTA offices, and subway repair shops, has been grappling with issues related to its sprinkler system for more than 20 months. Additionally, the fire alarm system has been malfunctioning since 2020, prompting an investigation by the state Department of Labor and resulting in citations from regulators. As a safety measure, the agency has been required to maintain a 24/7 fire watch, where employees patrol the facility to monitor potential hazards.
While MTA officials assert that the facility is safe, the continuous fire watch has led to significant overtime expenses for the staff involved. A document reveals that 19 employees at the depot have earned overtime pay exceeding their contractual salary cap of $175,479 in the 52 weeks leading up to the report’s creation. The total amount paid to these employees in excess of their base salaries amounts to $2.4 million.
Several employees at the depot have expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the fire watch and whether all shifts are adequately staffed. The fire watch, which initially involved maintainers such as electricians and facility repair staff, is now reportedly extended to include overtime hours from bus mechanics and cleaners, possibly involving over 30 people daily.
Despite ongoing repairs and efforts to address the issues, problems with the facility persist. Leaks in the pipes feeding the sprinkler systems from the city water main continue to be detected, and the repair of the fire alarm panels has been subject to delays and violations. The situation remains under close monitoring by the Transport Workers Union and other authorities to ensure safety measures are adequately implemented.
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