The 2nd Avenue Subway project has been quite the headache for New York City and the MTA.
Back in October, the funding for the line was cut by more than half, falling from $1.5 billion to $535 million.
In December, it was announced that the project will likely miss their December 2016 opening deadline. Just last week, we told you about how Con Ed and the MTA were fighting over funding.
Essentially, the 2nd Avenue Subway line seems to be the current bane of the MTA’s existence… that, and drunks releasing their bodily fluids on the trains, constant delays, insufficient technology, and subway sleepers (at least according to the NYPD).
Regardless of whether or not it’s the MTA’s most dire current struggle, it’s been rife with issues causing (need we even say it?) countless delays.
In an effort to meet the December 2016 deadline, the MTA is requesting the allocation of $66 million in order to speed up the progress of the 2nd Avenue Subway.
This plan, according to Second Avenue Sagas, will be brought up before the MTA board this week.
Why is the MTA suddenly so concerned with the looming deadline? It seems as if they're pretty dead set on delivering on the promise made by MTA Capital Construction President, Michael Horodniceanu that Phase 1 would be completed by the end of 2016.
According to the MTA's February 2016 Transit & Bus Committee Meeting documents, a "[failure] to enter into the proposed Acceleration Agreements... will increase the risk that Revenue Service will not commence until sometime in 2017."
[anad]
The MTA continued, stating that delays will "have a financial impact on construction management support costs as well as the operating budget and prolong crowded conditions on the Lexington Avenue line." No bueño.
So, the MTA will be proposing this extra $66 million in order to facilitate the accelerated process of four new stations.
Unfortunately, the same Independent Engineering Consultant who believed that the line will miss its deadline stated that major tests on the line have been postponed, and that new design and scope orders are still being issued, in spite of the looming deadline.
The Second Avenue Sagas went on to state that the MTA "just realized it is required to install 36 fire dampers at the 63rd Str. station and somehow just discovered that the tunnel from 57th St./7th Ave. to 63rd St./Lexington is in bad shape."
gerardoriveraphoto #nyc #secondavesubway #megaproject #construction #graphicdesign #graphicphotography #streetphotography #design #architecture #architecturaldesign #civilengineering #mta #nycsubway #subway #interiordesign #interiordecorating #designinteriores #art #arte #artist #artista #fineart #contemporaryart #follow #gerardoriveraphoto #greatphotopics
Are we really that surprised that the MTA just realized they need to update their tunnels and add fire dampers to their stations?
We shouldn't be considering they have selective hearing when it comes to subway inefficiencies, but we're still kind of shocked they're just realizing these issues.
In order to continue with the proposed December 2016 opening of the 2nd Avenue line, construction crews will work extended shifts and some weekends.
We don't think there are enough weekends in the year for the MTA to complete this line on time. Then again, stranger things have happened. We once arrived on time while riding the F train... so there's that.
Check out Drinking Coffee Could Reverse All of the Damage Booze Has Done to Your Liver.
[via Second Avenue Sagas] [Feature Image Courtesy Wired]