As public transit systems across the country age, electrical contractors working in this sector are increasingly encountering electrical equipment failures due to aging infrastructure. Some of these failures can be catastrophic, endangering workers and passengers alike. As more municipalities face the financial challenge of maintaining or replacing outdated systems, the importance of working with public transit authorities to keep equipment up to date and in good working order has never been clearer.

New York City’s subway system is powered by an antiquated electrical system, resulting in frequent failures. A nearly 100-year-old electrical substation in Brooklyn recently experienced an explosion, leaving passengers stranded for hours.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority carries 4 to 5 million people each day, yet one-third of the subway substations are in “poor or marginal condition” and in dire need of replacement after decades of deferred maintenance. Because of the fragility of the power grid, even minor issues can cause lengthy delays, while major breakdowns can result in failures spread across multiple stations. Additionally, substation failures impact the grid, disrupting power distribution to other consumers.  

But not only is the power system strained, many of the equipment manufacturers are out of business, making it difficult to locate replacement parts in order to perform much-needed repairs and updates.

MTA officials claim that 77 out of 224 substations are in “poor or marginal condition,” but the state legislature is perplexed over how to fund $65 billion in upgrades (including $3 billion specifically for electrical infrastructure) needed to overhaul the system and keep the trains running safely without raising taxes. MTA warns that without considerable investments to update the system, explosions and other failures will become more frequent.

The problem isn’t confined to New York. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrorail power systems in Washington, D.C., have also experienced multiple and ongoing failures. An audit conducted by the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission uncovered water intrusion in power rooms, use of torque wrenches that are out of calibration and other safety concerns. However, WMATA implemented preventive maintenance instructions and other measures to address these issues.

Common problems that are seen across the board include:

• Failure to perform routine maintenance of electrical equipment
• Failure to follow guidelines and procedures while performing routine maintenance, resulting in damage
• Failure to maintain documentation of electrical systems that are essential for supporting tasks like lock-out/tag-out
• While upgrading aging electrical equipment allows for safer and scalable power to meet growing demand, escalating energy costs and changing code requirements can inhibit upgrades.

A starting point may be getting an OSHA-required arc flash risk assessment to identify which electrical system improvements are necessary to improve safety and reliability. Regular equipment condition inspections and maintenance assessments are additional important steps in keeping electrical systems current, safe and in good working order.