LowPro Prevents Subway System Flooding During Major NYC Storm

Find out how the MTA prevented subway flooding across NYC subway systems using the LowPro 15/10 during a major storm that threatened to bring the city to a standstill.

The Challenge

A major storm during the coldest month of the year in NYC threatened to cause severe widespread flooding across the state. The New York City Department of Emergency and Management estimated around 2 to 3 inches heavy rainfall, with gusts of winds of up to 60 miles per hour – bringing NYC to a standstill.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FFA) reported two major airports, LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International, were halted to a stop with hundreds of flights delayed or cancelled. The storm suspended services on the New York City Ferry across two major routes due to high winds, with The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island both closing early. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) issued a ban on two NYC bridges for some vehicles, motorists and pedestrians in accordance with the Mayors flash flood emergency plan.

The Brief

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) pre-positioned crews across subway lines for fast response to any issues caused by the storm, and set in place measures to prevent flooding on subway platforms by clearing out subway drains within the station ahead of the storm. They tested all the drains, flushing out any water to ensure they were clear to avoid an accumulations of rain underground.

The MTA also wanted to address the issue of keeping water out of the vented grates to prevent commuters from getting rained on whilst waiting on the platforms below.

How the LowPro 15/10 Trench Cover System Helped

The solution was simple, placing dozens of the LowPro 15/10 Trench Covers on top of some of the most affected underground stations across NYC, including the Borough Hall subway station in Brooklyn.

As well as being ADA complaint, the LowPro 15/10 is a durable, lightweight, composite trench cover – best for withstanding the weight of passing traffic and vehicles of up to 7700lbs across a 36” trench . The anti-slip design made it ideal for pedestrians walking or cycling above the station vents during the adverse storm. The quick installation process that required no bolts due to the rubber edges, allowed the MTA to act fast ahead of the storm to ensure safety was paramount.

How Oxford Plastics Can Help?

For over 35 years, Oxford Plastics have been revolutionising innovative safety products for use across a variety of industries. Find out more about the LowPro 15/10 can help you, including full product specifications.

Discover more of our LowPro range now or browse our full product range here. For more information, contact a member of our helpful team today.