How will you spend your Thanksgiving break?
After the devastating events of Sept. 11, 2001, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority vowed to take measures to increase security in and around subway stations, tunnels and major bridges. The massive security project was originally due for completion in August 2008, but now, nearly two years later, the project remains incomplete.
Although a number of upgrades have been made — including construction of large concrete planks to bolster tunnels, placement of bollards in front of high-risk facilities and installation of several thousand cameras — a large portion of the project has been stalled. The main reason being an ongoing legal dispute between the MTA and defense-security agency Lockheed Martin.
The two agreed in a contract to install a number of more sophisticated imaging devices, including surveillance cameras and electronic motion sensors capable of detecting items left unattended on station platforms. But disputes between the companies developed and Lockheed Martin filed a lawsuit against the MTA in early 2009.
In its suit, the company cited scheduling conflicts and a lack of cooperation and asked a federal judge to terminate its contract with MTA. The suit totals over $138 million.
Lockheed Martin issued the following statement: "We have conducted an orderly shutdown of the project in accordance with our contract. We initiated legal action as a last resort, an action rarely taken by Lockheed Martin, and it is only being taken after having exhausted all efforts to resolve the issues with the MTA."
Meanwhile, MTA has issued its own complaints about the reliability and functionality of the system and has countersued.
"I can let you know that basically Lockheed Martin sued the MTA at the end of April 2009 and we are obviously denying those allegations they put forward in their lawsuit," MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan said. "We have countersued alleging Lockheed Martin failed to perform as per the contract."
The dispute leaves the future of security improvements in limbo, which has concerned some students.
"Security at night would help, especially on outside lanes," Gallatin sophomore Ken Knight said. "I saw a passenger punching a homeless guy the last time I was on [the J Line]."
LSP sophomore Michael Ting said that although security has gotten better, it could still be improved.
"It has gotten better. Before Sept. 11, it was pretty crappy," Ting said. "I would feel much safer if they tightened [security] late at night, like past 10 or 11 p.m., because I have definitely seen some cases of groping and theft in the past."
A subway official in the 8th Street-NYU station, who chose to remain anonymous, did not voice major concerns over a lack of security in her subway station.
"People can basically take care of themselves," the MTA official said. "I think just seeing the same clerk and the same familiar faces even late at night will allow customers to feel safe and secure."
Donovan assured MTA riders that despite the lawsuit, they will continue their project upgrading their security.
"We will compete the project," Donovan said.
