Comments on: SAS over budget, two years behind schedule http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/27/sas-over-budget-two-years-behind-schedule/ A New York City Subway Blog Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:51:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog » Blog Archive » Rising costs shelve third Second Ave. Subway track at 72nd http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/27/sas-over-budget-two-years-behind-schedule/#comment-37926 Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog » Blog Archive » Rising costs shelve third Second Ave. Subway track at 72nd Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:40:56 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/27/sas-over-budget-two-years-behind-schedule/#comment-37926 [...] and cutting various services, the Second Ave. Subway is facing the same fiscal problems. Already over budget and behind schedule, the Second Ave. Subway is now facing the dreaded project modification axe as [...] [...] and cutting various services, the Second Ave. Subway is facing the same fiscal problems. Already over budget and behind schedule, the Second Ave. Subway is now facing the dreaded project modification axe as [...]

]]> By: Ben http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/27/sas-over-budget-two-years-behind-schedule/#comment-33262 Ben Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:10:46 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/27/sas-over-budget-two-years-behind-schedule/#comment-33262 If this was ancient Rome, I would have assumed a whole lot of people who were lolling about got one hell of a whipping from somebody somewhere, and when the whipping was done, they got another whipping. A little over a month ago, our pitiful handful of workers grew in force to a battalion, and the larger bunch is energized in a way previously unknown to this project. There's almost continuous activity on every block from 91st Street to 96th Street; on the roadway, in the roadway, down the roadways that connect to the eastern portion of Second Avenue. The entire manner of the project has changed. When before there was a small crew working millimeter by millimeter on discrete portions, now there are workers everywhere with many more machines, and many machines not seen before on this project in an all out offensive to move the utilities (sewage, water mains, telephone, cable tv, natural gas, et al) out of the way of what will be the tunnel boring machine (TBM), and attendant subway station. Of course, when you move fast, there are casualties. Noise, dirt, even getting into our buildings and places of work can be difficult because of sudden obstructions, or even the loss of entrances for a period altogether. I don't know what it was like to live in Robert Moses's day, but we are powerless to influence the machine at work. In a way this is refreshing. There's serious action now. To the uninformed eye, it appears they've done on the eastern side of Second Avenue in 5 weeks, what took about 6 months to do equivalent work on the western side of the street. There is truth in what Deep Sleeprived says, there is a loss of serenity in these parts. On the other hand, there is progress. If this was ancient Rome, I would have assumed a whole lot of people who were lolling about got one hell of a whipping from somebody somewhere, and when the whipping was done, they got another whipping. A little over a month ago, our pitiful handful of workers grew in force to a battalion, and the larger bunch is energized in a way previously unknown to this project. There’s almost continuous activity on every block from 91st Street to 96th Street; on the roadway, in the roadway, down the roadways that connect to the eastern portion of Second Avenue. The entire manner of the project has changed. When before there was a small crew working millimeter by millimeter on discrete portions, now there are workers everywhere with many more machines, and many machines not seen before on this project in an all out offensive to move the utilities (sewage, water mains, telephone, cable tv, natural gas, et al) out of the way of what will be the tunnel boring machine (TBM), and attendant subway station. Of course, when you move fast, there are casualties. Noise, dirt, even getting into our buildings and places of work can be difficult because of sudden obstructions, or even the loss of entrances for a period altogether. I don’t know what it was like to live in Robert Moses’s day, but we are powerless to influence the machine at work. In a way this is refreshing. There’s serious action now. To the uninformed eye, it appears they’ve done on the eastern side of Second Avenue in 5 weeks, what took about 6 months to do equivalent work on the western side of the street. There is truth in what Deep Sleeprived says, there is a loss of serenity in these parts. On the other hand, there is progress.

]]> By: Deep Sleeprived http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/27/sas-over-budget-two-years-behind-schedule/#comment-32281 Deep Sleeprived Fri, 04 Apr 2008 06:48:58 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/27/sas-over-budget-two-years-behind-schedule/#comment-32281 I'm close to Ben , in the magical land called the "TBM Launch Box" - sounds like a shiny space-station type place doesn't it? That's exactly right, come on over to 93rd and 2nd to take a look. We should sell tickets for people to come visit perhaps. I was woken again tonight by a truck racing its engine for 30 minutes in support of some "utility" activity or other. My children toss and turn in bed - clearly unable to get the rest that they need. I am helpless, powerless, clueless. Should I call the city services at 311 and lodge a complaint? Contemplating the scripted responses from the real people there, and the predictable inaction that will ensue, I pause. "It is important to add your voice, stand and be counted", a little voice goes off in my head. So another complaint is lodged. This one will be forwaded to the local precinct for non-emergency response, I am told. What is your story? Will you make your voice count? I’m close to Ben , in the magical land called the “TBM Launch Box” – sounds like a shiny space-station type place doesn’t it? That’s exactly right, come on over to 93rd and 2nd to take a look. We should sell tickets for people to come visit perhaps.

I was woken again tonight by a truck racing its engine for 30 minutes in support of some “utility” activity or other. My children toss and turn in bed – clearly unable to get the rest that they need. I am helpless, powerless, clueless. Should I call the city services at 311 and lodge a complaint? Contemplating the scripted responses from the real people there, and the predictable inaction that will ensue, I pause. “It is important to add your voice, stand and be counted”, a little voice goes off in my head. So another complaint is lodged. This one will be forwaded to the local precinct for non-emergency response, I am told.

What is your story? Will you make your voice count?

]]> By: Ben http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/27/sas-over-budget-two-years-behind-schedule/#comment-28476 Ben Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:54:15 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/27/sas-over-budget-two-years-behind-schedule/#comment-28476 I live on Second Avenue between 91st and 92nd. The digging is right outside my front door. It's true that on most days and nights (the project hours are 7am-10pm) essentially a skeleton crew is at work. For the last year, 25 guys or fewer are moving pieces around on a project that spans a quarter mile from 96th to 91st. They barely exert themselves, and on some days only a couple of guys are visible on the site. There have been some exceptional days, like when Congresswoman Maloney visited, then dozens, maybe 200 workers appeared, the whole expanse was filled with busy bees building the subway of the future until the next day when the crew shrunk again to the usual 25 or maybe even fewer. The work itself fascinates neighbors brought together by the machine in our front yard. We've seen the same holes dug, then filled with concrete, then dug again, then filled with concrete and dug again. From a taxpayer's, or an engineering, or a sociological point of view, it fascinates. No doubt they are progressing, since every shovelful of dirt advances the project towards the ultimate goal, and one day, if given unlimited time and money, the subway could be completed by these very people. I live on Second Avenue between 91st and 92nd. The digging is right outside my front door. It’s true that on most days and nights (the project hours are 7am-10pm) essentially a skeleton crew is at work. For the last year, 25 guys or fewer are moving pieces around on a project that spans a quarter mile from 96th to 91st. They barely exert themselves, and on some days only a couple of guys are visible on the site. There have been some exceptional days, like when Congresswoman Maloney visited, then dozens, maybe 200 workers appeared, the whole expanse was filled with busy bees building the subway of the future until the next day when the crew shrunk again to the usual 25 or maybe even fewer. The work itself fascinates neighbors brought together by the machine in our front yard. We’ve seen the same holes dug, then filled with concrete, then dug again, then filled with concrete and dug again. From a taxpayer’s, or an engineering, or a sociological point of view, it fascinates. No doubt they are progressing, since every shovelful of dirt advances the project towards the ultimate goal, and one day, if given unlimited time and money, the subway could be completed by these very people.

]]> By: Benjamin http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/27/sas-over-budget-two-years-behind-schedule/#comment-28436 Benjamin Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:40:35 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/27/sas-over-budget-two-years-behind-schedule/#comment-28436 Peter Knox, Susan, etc., know what they are talking about, from personal experience. Of course the Second Avenue line is important, but so are additonal lines if 9 million or so are expected to live in the Five Boroughs. Experience shows, unfortunately, that things drag out or become too expensive or can't be funded and thus never happen, time and time again. And judging from Susan's and others' comments, it seems the work site itself is not managed properly or safely. At taxpayer expense! Of course people are skeptical! Peter Knox, Susan, etc., know what they are talking about, from personal experience. Of course the Second Avenue line is important, but so are additonal lines if 9 million or so are expected to live in the Five Boroughs. Experience shows, unfortunately, that things drag out or become too expensive or can’t be funded and thus never happen, time and time again. And judging from Susan’s and others’ comments, it seems the work site itself is not managed properly or safely. At taxpayer expense!
Of course people are skeptical!

]]> By: Alon Levy http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/27/sas-over-budget-two-years-behind-schedule/#comment-28231 Alon Levy Thu, 28 Feb 2008 05:06:41 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/27/sas-over-budget-two-years-behind-schedule/#comment-28231 I could say the same about my workplace. The building overlooks the east side of Broadway between 117th and 118th. Around 119th there's intensive construction, so the street narrows from three and a half lanes to two or one. So I have to deal with the noise of both the construction and the cars that honk in the jams. And I don't even get two additional subway tracks for the inconvenience. I could say the same about my workplace. The building overlooks the east side of Broadway between 117th and 118th. Around 119th there’s intensive construction, so the street narrows from three and a half lanes to two or one. So I have to deal with the noise of both the construction and the cars that honk in the jams.

And I don’t even get two additional subway tracks for the inconvenience.

]]> By: Susan http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/27/sas-over-budget-two-years-behind-schedule/#comment-28227 Susan Thu, 28 Feb 2008 04:50:27 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/27/sas-over-budget-two-years-behind-schedule/#comment-28227 For those of you who are not suffering the inconvenience, the filth, the dirty air and the horrible, head-splitting construction noise from 7am to 10 pm and later, please know that Peter Knox is telling the truth about the work site conditions. There should be supervisors on site as well as surprise visits by supervisors and politicians. The biggest surprise and laugh around here is that each work shift seems to break ground at the beginning of their shift, fill it in at the end of the shift or end of day with either dirt, asphalt or cement, and the next shift or the next day, the first hour of the shift spends it reopening the "cut". There is so much NYC money going to waste while these workers who mostly seem to live outside the city or state are making very substantial pay! Quality of life has disappeared in this neighborhood! Tell us again about that 15 minute crowded subway ride! Wait till this construction moves closer to your corner! For those of you who are not suffering the inconvenience, the filth, the dirty air and the horrible, head-splitting construction noise from 7am to 10 pm and later, please know that Peter Knox is telling the truth about the work site conditions. There should be supervisors on site as well as surprise visits by supervisors and politicians. The biggest surprise and laugh around here is that each work shift seems to break ground at the beginning of their shift, fill it in at the end of the shift or end of day with either dirt, asphalt or cement, and the next shift or the next day, the first hour of the shift spends it reopening the “cut”. There is so much NYC money going to waste while these workers who mostly seem to live outside the city or state are making very substantial pay! Quality of life has disappeared in this neighborhood! Tell us again about that 15 minute crowded subway ride! Wait till this construction moves closer to your corner!

]]> By: The Boss http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/27/sas-over-budget-two-years-behind-schedule/#comment-28219 The Boss Thu, 28 Feb 2008 02:50:40 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/27/sas-over-budget-two-years-behind-schedule/#comment-28219 No wonder transit is New York City is so bad. Now, it'll take 7 years to finish 1 portion of a subway line that New Yorker have been asking for more than 75 years, all because everyone and their brother is dipping their hands into the cookie jar. The Lexington subway is already crowed everyday of the week and now commuters up and down the line have to wait 7 year to get a "Q" line extension up and running. This is ridiculous and stupid. No wonder transit is New York City is so bad. Now, it’ll take 7 years to finish 1 portion of a subway line that New Yorker have been asking for more than 75 years, all because everyone and their brother is dipping their hands into the cookie jar. The Lexington subway is already crowed everyday of the week and now commuters up and down the line have to wait 7 year to get a “Q” line extension up and running.

This is ridiculous and stupid.

]]> By: Marc Shepherd http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/27/sas-over-budget-two-years-behind-schedule/#comment-28189 Marc Shepherd Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:26:42 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/27/sas-over-budget-two-years-behind-schedule/#comment-28189 <em>Can we at least stop the nonsense that a complete Second Avenue Subway will ever be built? Because it won’t be.</em> Every project in history had at least one skeptic. If you go around in life predicting that nothing will be built, naturally you will be correct sometimes, but it doesn't mean you had any actual insight into the situation. Can we at least stop the nonsense that a complete Second Avenue Subway will ever be built? Because it won’t be.

Every project in history had at least one skeptic. If you go around in life predicting that nothing will be built, naturally you will be correct sometimes, but it doesn’t mean you had any actual insight into the situation.

]]> By: Gary http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/27/sas-over-budget-two-years-behind-schedule/#comment-28186 Gary Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:20:43 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2008/02/27/sas-over-budget-two-years-behind-schedule/#comment-28186 Shorter Peter Knox: You kids get off my lawn! Shorter Peter Knox:
You kids get off my lawn!

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