MTA Signs 2nd Ave Contract - Really!
A: Finally! I was beginning to feel like this would never happen, AGAIN! Actually, the contract signing comes one week ahead of schedule and brings to reality the dream that was dreampt, delayed, forgotten, and then revitalized. Groundbreaking ceremony set for April.
According to AM New York:
The $337 million contract with S3 Tunnel Constructors, a joint venture of the firms Skanska USA Civil Northeast, Schiavone Construction and J.F. Shea, came in about $3 million more than expected. The MTA must also pay about $54 million more than forecast in real estate acquisition costs.According to 1010 Wins:Phase one of the line's construction, which costs $3.83 billion and should be done by 2013, will create three stations on 96th 86th and 72nd streets. It will then connect to the Q train at 63rd Street.
The MTA said this is the first of six construction contracts for Phase I of the project to be awarded. The remaining contracts include the 96th Street Station, the 86th Street Station, the 72nd Street Station, the 63rd Street/Lexington Avenue Station Rehabilitation, and the Systems contract which includes the track, power, signals and communications work.Groundbreaking is expected for April as construction will begin between 92nd & 95th streets on 2nd avenue where a hole will be dug to install a tunnel boring machine.
Some of my previous posts on the 2nd Avenue Subway project:
2nd Ave Subway: Only Weeks Away
2nd Ave Subway Work Set To Start
And lets not forget my predictions for during construction and after completion:
What To Expect During Build: Streets to be completely demolished during the boring process and tunnel build. Local businesses on 2nd Avenue will have a rough time and will most likely go out of business temporarily with some type of city support program kicking into effect. A few years of loud noises, construction barriers, air pollution, and big time machines will make it hard for sellers directly on 2nd avenue to get top dollar early after construction begins.
What To Expect Upon Subway Completion: A spike in real estate values for properties surrounding this brand new, technologically superior subway line to ease congestion on NYC's eastside. Buying a property that is discounted because it is too far East right now is probably a very wise idea when the subway construction begins; York Avenue & East End Avenue are my sleeper picks for 8-10 years down the road when subway is complete. All of a sudden these homes are not so far from the subway!
Comments (3)
Now the question is going to be whether this is going to be the first line that is catching up with other subway systems (London, Paris), or wil it be obsolete and stuck in the 70s like the rest of teh New York subway?
Will it have:
- Quiet train cars (inside and outside)
- Indicators of when the next 2 trains will be arriving (exact within +/- 1 minute)
- Reliable handicap access
- Unobstructed platforms
- Platforms protected from the environment
- etc
All of which have been available for 10-20 years in London or Paris....
Posted by Marmotton | March 22, 2007 8:56 AM
Its a great question! I have to believe this system was scrutinized for security issues, escape capabilities, practicality with platforms/access, and smoothness of performance.
But these are all assumtpions. I'll try to contact the MTA to find out more about this. I can say that the subways in Prague, about 30+ years old, are far and away much better than what we have here. But since our system is over 100 years old, I have to believe that your questions were addressed in this project.
Posted by Noah | March 22, 2007 9:07 AM
Booyah! I knew it would start when I left!
Posted by spaceboy | March 22, 2007 3:11 PM