MTA Suing City Over Fire That Damaged Metro-North Tracks In East Harlem
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is planning to sue the City of New York over a major fire under the Metro-North Railroad in East Harlem this past spring.
As WCBS 880's Stephanie Colombini reported, the MTA filed a notice of claim accusing the city of carelessness, recklessness and negligence for allowing gasoline to be stored at the Urban Garden Center beneath the tracks, where the fire broke out.
PHOTOS: Fire Under Metro-North Tracks In East Harlem
Investigators said the May 17 fire started when fuel was spilled on a hot generator while it was being refilled at the garden center, under the tracks on Park Avenue near 118th Street.
The blaze, which has since been ruled an accident, caused structural damage to a steel supporting column and three adjacent horizontal steel girders.
The fire also forced the suspension of service, and delays persisted for days afterward.
The Mayor's office said shortly after the fire that the Urban Garden Center did not have the proper permits to store large amounts of flammable material in the area.
According to the notice, the MTA is looking to recover from the city the cost of repairs to the damaged viaduct and lost revenues from the fire.
A mayoral spokesman said the city set up an inspection regimen after the fire that continues to review properties near railroad structures for safety hazards.
