'Leakage' of MTA subway keys sparks security concerns

Transit officials said Monday they have known for years that copies of special subway access keys - given only to cops and emergency service personnel - were winding up in the wrong hands but said the problem didn't pose a major security risk.

But that response drew a sharp rebuke from city politicians who blasted the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for ignoring possible risks that terrorists could exploit the situation.

"The MTA is living in an alternate universe, concerned more about fare beaters than terrorists we know are plotting," said City Councilman Peter Vallone (D-Astoria).

Vallone and others were reacting to a report in the Daily News that found that copies of the keys had made their way into the hands of criminals and could be purchased for as little as $27. The keys are normally used to allow authorized MTA personnel, police and firefighters to open special gates in subway stations to gain access to the platforms and tracks.

At a meeting Monday of the New York City Transit Committee of the MTA, Chief Raymond Diaz, head of the transit police bureau of the NYPD, said cops had been aware of the problem for years and had made about 60 arrests.

A spokesman for the NYPD said that people who are in unauthorized possession of the keys can be charged with criminal possession of stolen property or possession of burglars tools. If they are seen letting people in through the gates the suspects could also be charged with petit larceny, said the spokesman.

Diaz acknowledged that the key problem seemed to be more related to fare evasion than terrorism.

"Keys don't let you into any place that isn't public," said NYC Transit spokesman Charles Seaton.

MTA president Thomas Pendergast said that the problem was one of "leakage" of the keys to unauthorized persons. As a result, the agency was going to do an audit to determine how many keys had been distributed. If there are too many circulating, Pendergast said the MTA might replace the cylinders in the gates.

Vallone said rather than replace the gate locks the MTA should consider using just turnstiles with special access for emergency service personnel and cops. He also called on the police to prosecute the "magical morons" who were selling the keys.