The Second Avenue Subway stations that opened nearly a decade ago are still far from fully functional, according to new plans announced by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
In an effort to finally put the finishing touches on these stations, which have been plagued with delays and budget overruns since their opening in 2017, MTA officials have issued a request for proposals. The work includes installing guardrails, emergency exit lighting, safety railings, as well as critical mechanical, electrical, and waterproofing measures.
The delay comes at the expense of other subway projects, according to experts who argue that the completion of these stations came at the cost of diverting resources away from more pressing issues in the rest of the system.
One of the key figures behind the Second Avenue Subway was former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who pushed the MTA to finish the project despite warnings about potential costs and delays.
While the new work is an addendum to this storied construction project, it's still unclear how much more money will be needed to complete the stations. The total cost of these upgrades is estimated to be up to $50 million.
Philip Plotch, a senior fellow at the Eno Center for Transportation who has written about the Second Avenue Subway project in his book "Last Subway," argues that Cuomo pressured the MTA to divert resources from other projects in order to meet the 2017 deadline. As a result, he claims that the rest of the system suffered from deferred maintenance.
Since its opening, the Second Avenue Subway has faced numerous issues, including a so-called "Summer of Hell" when service meltdowns became regular occurrences. Plotch says that Cuomo's pressure for a quick completion came at the expense of resources needed to support other parts of the subway system.
The new work is part of a larger $7.7 billion extension of the Second Avenue Subway into East Harlem, which will add three new stations to the neighborhood. While previous plans had aimed to extend the line all the way down to lower Manhattan, this vision has been put on hold in recent years.
Other ongoing projects that are struggling with similar issues include the Grand Central Madison station, which was opened last year while still under construction and features empty retail spaces due to a lack of gas hookups. The MTA recently issued another request for contractors to complete "miscellaneous" work at this location as well.
In an effort to finally put the finishing touches on these stations, which have been plagued with delays and budget overruns since their opening in 2017, MTA officials have issued a request for proposals. The work includes installing guardrails, emergency exit lighting, safety railings, as well as critical mechanical, electrical, and waterproofing measures.
The delay comes at the expense of other subway projects, according to experts who argue that the completion of these stations came at the cost of diverting resources away from more pressing issues in the rest of the system.
One of the key figures behind the Second Avenue Subway was former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who pushed the MTA to finish the project despite warnings about potential costs and delays.
While the new work is an addendum to this storied construction project, it's still unclear how much more money will be needed to complete the stations. The total cost of these upgrades is estimated to be up to $50 million.
Philip Plotch, a senior fellow at the Eno Center for Transportation who has written about the Second Avenue Subway project in his book "Last Subway," argues that Cuomo pressured the MTA to divert resources from other projects in order to meet the 2017 deadline. As a result, he claims that the rest of the system suffered from deferred maintenance.
Since its opening, the Second Avenue Subway has faced numerous issues, including a so-called "Summer of Hell" when service meltdowns became regular occurrences. Plotch says that Cuomo's pressure for a quick completion came at the expense of resources needed to support other parts of the subway system.
The new work is part of a larger $7.7 billion extension of the Second Avenue Subway into East Harlem, which will add three new stations to the neighborhood. While previous plans had aimed to extend the line all the way down to lower Manhattan, this vision has been put on hold in recent years.
Other ongoing projects that are struggling with similar issues include the Grand Central Madison station, which was opened last year while still under construction and features empty retail spaces due to a lack of gas hookups. The MTA recently issued another request for contractors to complete "miscellaneous" work at this location as well.
. I mean, it's been nearly a decade since they opened and you'd think that would be enough time to get everything sorted out. But nope, the MTA just wants to throw more money at the problem without actually fixing anything 
. And let's be real, Andrew Cuomo was probably pushing for those delays and cost overruns from the start. The guy was always about getting things done, even if it meant putting other projects on the backburner 
.
. I mean, where's the evidence that this extra $50 million is going to make a real difference? It's just more money down the drain in my book 
. And what about the impact on other projects like Grand Central Madison? Do we really need another delay and cost overrun 
?
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I'm kinda surprised they're still working on the Second Avenue Subway after all these years... like, what's the holdup? 
And what about the rest of the subway system? Like, we need that maintenance done ASAP too 
. I guess when you're under pressure to finish something on time... 
I wish they'd just be upfront about how much it's gonna cost and not keep us guessing like this 
.
. Guess you can't hurry great infrastructure 
.
I'm not surprised about the delays on the Second Avenue Subway... think about it, they were rushed through in 2017 and already had some major issues 
... I remember people complaining about trains breaking down left and right 
. Maybe they should've taken a deep breath and spent more time on the planning phase instead of rushing into things 
.
. The Grand Central Madison station is another example of this - what's going on with those empty retail spaces?! 
At least that one was supposed to be done at the same time as opening, not after 
Not buying it. 
, but $50 million more is just crazy 
. Now we're just waiting to see how much more money is needed... $50 million might not be enough 