Trump admin threatens MTA funding over ‘flawed’ safety reports after 2023 worker death
Federal Transit Administration chief Marc Molinaro has accused the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) of neglecting its own safety protocols in the wake of a tragic incident in 2023 where a worker was fatally struck by a train, as well as another incident in 2024 where a worker survived being hit by a train. Molinaro, a former New York GOP congressman, has called on the agency to submit a third safety and risk assessment, citing flaws in the previous reports and threatening to cut funding if the MTA does not address the “escalating risk trends” adequately.
In a statement to The Post, Molinaro expressed his concern over the MTA’s failure to enhance safety measures following serious accidents, including the death of transit worker Hilarion Joseph, who was tragically killed by a train near the 34th Street-Herald Square station in November 2023. Despite holding a safety refresher for work crew members after Joseph’s death, the MTA experienced another close-call incident in June 2024 when a flagger was struck by a train in downtown Brooklyn but survived with severe head trauma.
An audit by the Federal Transit Administration revealed that employees of the New York City Transit (NYCT), a division of the MTA responsible for operating the city’s subways and buses, reported 38 potential near-misses in 2023, a significant increase from previous years. The FTA began demanding a comprehensive risk assessment of NYCT’s Roadway Worker Protection (RWP) program under the Biden administration. Despite submitting two safety risk assessments, the reports were found lacking in incorporating recent near-miss data, proper risk calculations, and overall risk classification.
Molinaro emphasized the importance of implementing safety measures effectively, pointing out recurring violations of critical RWP safety rules within NYCT. He warned NYCT President Demetrius Crichlow that failure to submit a satisfactory report would be viewed as a pattern of serious safety violations. The MTA has been given one final chance to rectify the issues raised by the FTA, with potential enforcement actions including directing NYCT to use federal financial assistance to address safety deficiencies, withholding financial assistance, and issuing restrictions or prohibitions as necessary.
The MTA has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter. The safety of workers in New York City’s transit system remains a top priority, and it is imperative that all necessary measures are taken to ensure their well-being and prevent future accidents.
