Comments on: On the precipice of a construction funding problem http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/26/on-the-precipice-of-a-construction-funding-problem/ A New York City Subway Blog Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:57:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Alon Levy http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/26/on-the-precipice-of-a-construction-funding-problem/#comment-27871 Alon Levy Wed, 27 Feb 2008 02:49:07 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/26/on-the-precipice-of-a-construction-funding-problem/#comment-27871 <i>Who says pork-barrel politics is bad?</i> The $93 billion New York metro bleeds to the rest of the country every year does. New York State has two Senators to direct pork to its 19 million people. Montana has two Senators to direct pork to its 1 million people. Mix in the fact that unlike Iowa or Ohio, New York has no special political value, and you have the federal government doling out city money to corn farms and obsolete factories. Who says pork-barrel politics is bad?

The $93 billion New York metro bleeds to the rest of the country every year does. New York State has two Senators to direct pork to its 19 million people. Montana has two Senators to direct pork to its 1 million people. Mix in the fact that unlike Iowa or Ohio, New York has no special political value, and you have the federal government doling out city money to corn farms and obsolete factories.

]]> By: Marc Shepherd http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/26/on-the-precipice-of-a-construction-funding-problem/#comment-27591 Marc Shepherd Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:42:22 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/26/on-the-precipice-of-a-construction-funding-problem/#comment-27591 I think Secret Conductor needs a history lesson. The problems of the subway aren't due to 1970s mistakes, but to mistakes in the 1930s, '40s, '50s and '60s — the period when neglect and under-funding were at their worst. The idea that congestion pricing would leave Second Avenue with "almost no traffic" is a pipe dream. I think Secret Conductor needs a history lesson. The problems of the subway aren’t due to 1970s mistakes, but to mistakes in the 1930s, ’40s, ’50s and ’60s — the period when neglect and under-funding were at their worst.

The idea that congestion pricing would leave Second Avenue with “almost no traffic” is a pipe dream.

]]> By: The Secret Conductor http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/26/on-the-precipice-of-a-construction-funding-problem/#comment-27560 The Secret Conductor Tue, 26 Feb 2008 09:27:48 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/26/on-the-precipice-of-a-construction-funding-problem/#comment-27560 I dare say that maybe waiting will be helpful. If all the construction costs are at all times highs then maybe waiting for the recession to really kick in will allow the MTA and the City to pay for the materials and other necessities. I think the second ave subway should be built, but it is not as important as the 7 line extension (with its 2 stops). here me out as to why: simply put, if the congestion pricing comes into play, buses would easily move huge numbers of people up and down 2 avenue because their would be almost no traffic. Also, the 7 line with its 2 stops will set up the west side of 34 street to be a mecca of convention, hotels, condos, and sport arenas. The tax money alone would pay for the extension after 20 years Well, that my opinion (it is also the reason why the Nets WILL move to brooklyn and Ratner WILL get his project built... billions and billions of dollars in yearly tax revenue from the condos, businesses and a huge tourist attraction in the biggest media market on the planet... and possibly Lebron James too?) NYC needs its subways system more than ever. I never seen in my lifetime how improvements in service actually effect prices of homes above ground and population growth like it does today. We need the funding to turn the 1970's mistakes into a 21 century machine that will LITERALLY make NY more profitable, livable, sociable and workable. We need these improvements and we need them before those 1.2 million people start getting born/moving in. the trains are crowded now, imagine more people in the mix, the effects on business and overall lifestyle of NYers. I dare say that maybe waiting will be helpful. If all the construction costs are at all times highs then maybe waiting for the recession to really kick in will allow the MTA and the City to pay for the materials and other necessities.

I think the second ave subway should be built, but it is not as important as the 7 line extension (with its 2 stops). here me out as to why: simply put, if the congestion pricing comes into play, buses would easily move huge numbers of people up and down 2 avenue because their would be almost no traffic. Also, the 7 line with its 2 stops will set up the west side of 34 street to be a mecca of convention, hotels, condos, and sport arenas. The tax money alone would pay for the extension after 20 years

Well, that my opinion (it is also the reason why the Nets WILL move to brooklyn and Ratner WILL get his project built… billions and billions of dollars in yearly tax revenue from the condos, businesses and a huge tourist attraction in the biggest media market on the planet… and possibly Lebron James too?)

NYC needs its subways system more than ever. I never seen in my lifetime how improvements in service actually effect prices of homes above ground and population growth like it does today. We need the funding to turn the 1970’s mistakes into a 21 century machine that will LITERALLY make NY more profitable, livable, sociable and workable. We need these improvements and we need them before those 1.2 million people start getting born/moving in. the trains are crowded now, imagine more people in the mix, the effects on business and overall lifestyle of NYers.

]]> By: Kevin http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/26/on-the-precipice-of-a-construction-funding-problem/#comment-27547 Kevin Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:56:37 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/26/on-the-precipice-of-a-construction-funding-problem/#comment-27547 Although construction costs are rising significantly, I think a good chunk of the SAS is being federally funded by the DOT and some earmarks brought back by local politicians. Who says pork-barrel politics is bad? Anyways, I think the MTA will have sufficient money to complete Phase I of the project (though maybe not by 2014). As for the rest of the line, who knows at this point. Although construction costs are rising significantly, I think a good chunk of the SAS is being federally funded by the DOT and some earmarks brought back by local politicians. Who says pork-barrel politics is bad? Anyways, I think the MTA will have sufficient money to complete Phase I of the project (though maybe not by 2014). As for the rest of the line, who knows at this point.

]]> By: peter knox http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/26/on-the-precipice-of-a-construction-funding-problem/#comment-27546 peter knox Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:29:53 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/26/on-the-precipice-of-a-construction-funding-problem/#comment-27546 The MTA has not budged from the 3.8B price tag they put on the 2nd Ave. Subway back in 2002. When will some responsible public official or journalist find out how much the 30 block stubway is actually going to cost? And don't be gulled. There is no chance, none, that the MTA will build any more than 30 blocks in the lifetimes of anyone over 40. This is a one shot deal. And even this puny 30 block thing won't get built for another 8 years at least. Remember they have four stations and 30 blocks of subway to build, and yet after one year they are only halfway through moving the utilities. It is a farce that is being ignored for some reason. Why? The MTA has not budged from the 3.8B price tag they put on the 2nd Ave. Subway back in 2002. When will some responsible public official or journalist find out how much the 30 block stubway is actually going to cost? And don’t be gulled. There is no chance, none, that the MTA will build any more than 30 blocks in the lifetimes of anyone over 40. This is a one shot deal. And even this puny 30 block thing won’t get built for another 8 years at least. Remember they have four stations and 30 blocks of subway to build, and yet after one year they are only halfway through moving the utilities. It is a farce that is being ignored for some reason. Why?

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