The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) released the following statement from New York City Transit Senior Vice President Sally Librera following this morning’s water main break on 103rd Street and Central Park West in Manhattan: 

“At approximately 7:50 a.m., New York City Transit crews were alerted to a water condition on the tracks and that a city-owned water main erupted at 103rd Street and Central Park West on the  lines. Service was immediately suspended on the ,  and  lines from 59 Street to 125 Street. The level of water rose above the third rail, making conditions dangerous to operate trains. Power was removed from all tracks south of 86 Street to north of 116 Street.  

New York City Transit rapidly responded by deploying resources in the Infrastructure, Track and Signals Departments, as well as pumping equipment and supplies to the scene. Water flowed north to the 108th Street pump station where pumps activated and pushed water out to the city sewer system, but water inflow continued to exceed pumping capacity at the location.   

At approximately 9 a.m., the water main was shut off by the city Department of Environmental Protection. New York City Transit continues to work to dewater the tracks and asses any impact to signals and other systems. We are in the process of examining four stop machines, a substation at 99th Street, and all third rail cables.  

This is the second time this week our customers have been denied service for too lengthy a period because of a major city water main break that flooded our system. We hope this latest incident will spur quicker shut-off response times by the city and a review of its aging system in hopes of avoiding similar situations moving forward.  

At this time, New York City Transit is directing all customers to use the Seventh Avenue  line. 

We will continue to provide updates and information as they become available.”