Podcast Summary: Bloomberg Talks
Episode: MTA CEO Janno Lieber Talks NYC Blizzard
Date: February 23, 2026
Host: Bloomberg
Guest: Janno Lieber, MTA Chair
Reporter: Paul Sweeney
Overview
This episode of Bloomberg Talks centers on how the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is managing New York City’s transit system during a historic blizzard. MTA Chair Janno Lieber joins live from the crisis center to explain operational challenges, emergency responses, and the impact on commuters and transit workers. The conversation touches on the unique difficulties of running mass transit in extreme weather conditions and offers insights into both strategic planning and frontline adaptation.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
Snowstorm Operations and Challenges
- Current Status of Transit (01:48–02:33)
- Full subway service is running, albeit with reduced frequency.
- Buses are operating, adapting to the same challenges as any vehicle in snow.
- Metro-North commuter rail is on a reduced schedule.
- The Long Island Railroad (LIRR) is suspended due to severe conditions on Long Island.
“It’s no secret that Long Island is getting hammered and that wasn’t a safe place to operate.”
— Janno Lieber [01:48]
Impact of Wind and Drifting Snow
- Wind as a Key Factor (02:33–03:34)
- Drifting snow is a critical operational problem, especially in open-cut subway sections and rail yards, where wind piles up snow and can cover the power-conducting third rail.
- Visibility issues for buses and trains make wind, not just snow, a decisive element for restoring service, especially on LIRR.
“The drifting on the commuter railroads sometimes will cover the third rail, our source of power.”
— Janno Lieber [02:51]
Restoration of Services after Storm
- Resumption Philosophy and Process (03:34–04:40)
- The MTA prioritizes an orderly shutdown and resumption of service, always aiming for safety first.
- Special focus is placed on clearing tracks and especially train yards to ensure sufficient rolling stock can be operated after storms.
“We did an orderly shutdown last night at about 1am—the goal is always to get everybody home. … Safety first, you know, and taking account of where the snow accumulations and the drifting may have impacted on service.”
— Janno Lieber [03:45]
MTA Workforce: The Unsung Heroes
- Critical Personnel Response (04:48–05:44)
- MTA has 70,000 employees, many of whom are expected to report to work even when the general public is advised to stay home.
- Many workers sleep overnight at key facilities (bus garages, command centers) to keep the system running.
- New York Governor Kathy Hochul called to acknowledge the workforce’s efforts.
“It’s part of the deal when you sign up to work for the MTA, that you may have to come in under extreme circumstances when the rest of the world is being told to stay home. Our workers are being told to come in, and they do.”
— Janno Lieber [04:59]
Snowstorm Costs and Metrics
- Storm-Related Financials (05:44–06:32)
- The MTA doesn’t have a specific cost-per-inch-of-snow metric, unlike the Department of Sanitation.
- Lieber acknowledges the need for frequent analytics but is stumped by the $1.8 million per inch figure cited for snow removal.
“You’ve given me a new metric to study, but right now, I have no idea what to say to you.”
— Janno Lieber [06:06]
Preparedness and Climate Change
- System Resilience and Cumulative Effects (06:32–07:36)
- Experience with recent storms has enhanced MTA preparedness.
- Each storm is a separate challenge but offers lessons for future response.
- MTA’s planning now covers a range of climate change impacts—torrential rain, rising sea levels, and more—not just snow.
“In the era of climate change, we’re dealing with all kinds of extreme weather events… but those are issues for the MTA as well.”
— Janno Lieber [06:50]
Anticipating the Morning After
- Bus Stop Access and Sanitation’s Role (07:36–08:50)
- Department of Sanitation clears bus stops; Parks employees and street-hired shovelers supplement this effort.
- Goal is to avoid situations where passengers must climb over high snowbanks to board buses.
“Our friends at the department of sanitation are clearing not just the streets, but the bus stops...so that our bus people who depend on buses will be able to get on and off them without having to climb over a four-foot mine of snow.”
— Janno Lieber [07:45]
Buses: Old-School Adaptation
- How Buses Brave the Storm (08:50–09:33)
- Every bus gets chains on its tires before the storm, and articulated buses are taken out of service due to instability in slick conditions.
- Improved weather forecasting now enables better prep.
“It's old fashioned stuff...we put chains on the tires of every bus...forecasting is getting better and better. We chain the entire fleet and we take all the articulated buses...out of service.”
— Janno Lieber [09:06]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Part of the deal working for the MTA…is that you may have to come in under extreme circumstances when the rest of the world is being told to stay home.”
— Janno Lieber [04:59] - “You’ve given me a new metric to study, but right now, I have no idea what to say to you.”
— Janno Lieber responding to the cost-per-inch-of-snow question [06:06] - “In the era of climate change, we’re dealing with all kinds of extreme weather events…right now, we’re forgetting about torrential rainfall and rising sea levels, but those are issues for the MTA as well.”
— Janno Lieber [06:50] - “Old fashioned stuff…we put chains on every tire.”
— Janno Lieber describing bus preparation [09:06]
Important Segment Timestamps
- 01:48–02:33 – MTA’s operational status amid the blizzard
- 02:51–03:34 – The impact of wind and drifting snow
- 03:45–04:40 – Shutdown and resumption approach for LIRR
- 04:59–05:44 – MTA workforce response
- 06:06 – Financial metrics for snowstorm costs
- 06:50 – Preparedness and climate change considerations
- 07:45 – Addressing bus stop accessibility after a blizzard
- 09:06 – How buses are prepared with chains and fleet adjustments
Conclusion
Janno Lieber’s appearance on Bloomberg Talks provides an inside look at the MTA’s all-hands-on-deck philosophy for crisis management during severe winter storms. The episode underscores not only the operational challenges and innovations involved in running North America’s largest mass transit system, but also the dedication of its workforce and the role of adaptive strategies amid a changing climate. Lieber’s frankness, detailed explanations, and appreciation for frontline workers make this a practical and insightful listen for New Yorkers and transit watchers alike.