SUBWAY PROGRESS REPORT
By Dan Rivoli
Posted by Our Town on October 1, 2009 · View Comments
After a string of delays, tenant evacuations and a slew of businesses smarting from construction, Rep. Carolyn Maloney said the long-awaited Second Avenue subway project gets a B-.
Maloney released a Second Avenue subway report card that analyzed several aspects of construction, such as economic benefit to the city (A+), communication with the public (B+) and adhering to the construction timetable (C).
“Up until now, subway construction has been marred by missed deadlines, cost overruns and a harsh impact on local businesses,” Maloney said in a statement. “There is much room for improvement, but also there are also signs that the project is now starting to gain momentum.”
Elected officials say the new subway line, expected to be completed by 2017, is desperately needed to relieve overcrowding on the Lexington Avenue line. But the report card notes that the MTA needs to improve planning, after failing to take into account buildings that would be damaged by construction.
Construction near East 92nd Street is stalled as the MTA waits for the owner of 1766 and 1768 Second Ave., Sackman Enterprises, to finish shoring up both buildings. On June 30, the city’s Department of Buildings put a vacate order in the property. Until the building is up to code, the MTA cannot receive permits to do blasting for the launch box.
The MTA also needs to better mitigate the construction’s toll on businesses, the report card suggests, though it praises efforts like the “Shop Second Avenue” campaign.
“The longer the construction lasts, the greater the impact will be on local residents and businesses, which is why this project needs to be completed without further delay,” said Council Member Dan Garodnick, in a statement.
Separately, Borough President Scott Stringer made a formal request to the MTA’s inspector general to investigate the project’s cost overrun, delays and contracts.
