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MTA hires STV to design subway power upgrades

MTA hires STV to design subway power upgrades

Built World

A $28 million contract covers 10 substations and 12 circuit breaker houses, after a 2024 transformer explosion exposed maintenance gaps.

Yesterday: Engineering News-Record reports $28 million STV contract

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

A transformer exploded at Brooklyn's State Street substation in December 2024, stranding more than 4,000 riders for two hours. A subsequent audit found that 19% of required substation maintenance checks across the system were never performed that year.

On November 4, 2026, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority signed a $28 million contract with engineering firm STV to design repairs at 10 substations and 12 circuit breaker houses. The work is part of a $2.996 billion plan to modernize the traction power system that converts utility electricity into the voltage subway trains use.

Why it matters

Only 64% of the subway's 224 power substations were in good repair in 2025; failures cause an average of 34 train delays each.

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Key Indicators

$28M
STV design contract
Covers 10 substations and 12 circuit breaker houses across four boroughs.
22
Facilities in scope
10 substations and 12 circuit breaker houses serving almost every subway line.
64%
Substations in good repair
Of 224 substations serving the subway in 2025, per the MTA.
19%
Missed maintenance checks
Share of required substation checks not performed in 2024, per the MTA Inspector General.
$2.996B
Traction power capital plan
MTA's 2025-2029 budget for subway traction power projects.
190
Substations needing renewal
Per the MTA's 20-year needs assessment, with about 300 major components awaiting repair.

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People Involved

MG
Marcos Díaz González
Regional transportation president at STV
Leading the design contract for 22 power facilities
 Demetrius Crichlow
Demetrius Crichlow
President of NYC Transit
Overseeing maintenance reforms and power upgrades
DC
Daniel G. Cort
MTA Inspector General
Monitoring NYC Transit's progress on audit recommendations

Organizations Involved

Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Transit agency
Awarded the $28 million design contract to STV

The public agency that runs New York City's subway, buses, and commuter railroads.
MTA Construction & Development
MTA Construction & Development
MTA subsidiary
Selected STV as general engineering consultant

The MTA subsidiary that manages capital construction and design contracts.
STV
STV
Engineering firm
Leading design for 22 power facilities

An engineering, architectural, and planning firm that designs transportation infrastructure.
OI
MTA Office of the Inspector General
Oversight agency
Monitoring NYC Transit's maintenance reforms

An independent office that audits MTA operations.
NYC Transit
NYC Transit
MTA subsidiary
Operating the subway and maintaining the power system

The MTA subsidiary that operates the subway and buses.

Timeline

December 2024 November 2026

5 events Latest: Yesterday
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Engineering News-Record reports $28 million STV contract

    Latest Contract

    The MTA signed the design agreement, with early engineering drawings expected by 2029.

  2. STV announces MTA selected it for 22-facility design work

    Contract award

    STV will manage design for 10 substations and 12 circuit breaker houses across four boroughs.

  3. Inspector General audit finds missed maintenance checks

    Audit

    The audit found 19% of required substation checks were never performed in 2024 and fire alarm trouble signals were routinely ignored.

  4. MTA issues RFP for wayside power consultant

    Procurement

    The 60-month contract covers design, procurement support, and construction phase services for the 2025-2029 program.

  5. Transformer explodes at Brooklyn's State Street substation

    Infrastructure failure

    The blast stranded more than 4,000 riders for two hours. A split in hidden copper tubing let water leak into synthetic oil.

Scenarios

1

STV completes design drawings for all 22 facilities by 2029

Likely Resolves by End of 2029

Discussed by: MTA and STV project schedules

STV's contract calls for early engineering drawings by 2029, setting up construction contracts. If the design phase stays on schedule, the MTA can begin awarding construction work for the 10 substations and 12 circuit breaker houses.

2

MTA funds a reversible traction power pilot

Possible Resolves by End of 2028

Discussed by: STV and MTA planning documents

STV is studying whether reversible traction power systems can capture regenerative braking energy that currently dissipates as heat. A positive cost-benefit analysis could lead the MTA to fund a pilot installation, but the technology is uncommon in the U.S.

3

Inspector General finds maintenance completion still below target

Possible Resolves by Q3 2027

Discussed by: MTA Office of the Inspector General

The OIG found maintenance completion improved to 90% in 2025 but gaps remained, including 40% of required assignments unfinished at State Street between April and November 2025. A follow-up audit could show whether reforms stuck.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

October 2012

Hurricane Sandy (2012)

Storm surge from Hurricane Sandy flooded subway tunnels and power facilities across New York City, including substations and circuit breaker houses. Saltwater damaged electrical equipment and knocked out service on several lines.

Then

The MTA began years of repairs to flooded power facilities.

Now

The storm accelerated a push to harden power infrastructure, but much of the equipment remained beyond its useful life.

Why this matters now

The current design program continues repairs to facilities exposed to Sandy-era flooding and aging equipment.

December 2024

State Street substation explosion (2024)

A transformer at Brooklyn's State Street substation exploded after water leaked into synthetic oil through a split in hidden copper tubing. The blast stranded more than 4,000 riders for two hours.

Then

NYC Transit found similar water infiltration in three other transformers from the same manufacturer.

Now

The MTA Inspector General audited the maintenance program, finding missed inspections and ignored alarms, and NYC Transit restructured its Power Division.

Why this matters now

The explosion triggered the audit and the push to modernize aging power equipment, including the STV design contract.

Sources

(8)
+2
Engineering News-Record STV CivMetrics Gothamist MTA Office of the Inspector General Starbridge RITD LLC Gothamist