Comments on: Foreshadowing a Second Ave. demise

By: Park replacement costs skyrocket | River Avenue Blues

Park replacement costs skyrocket | River Avenue Blues — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:30:31 +0000

[...] countless other city projects. Along Second Ave., the long-awaited Second Ave. Subway has run into countless delays and budget problems, the Atlantic Yards and Hudson Yards projects are a mess, and even the Fulton St. Hub, part of the [...]

By: A Train Through the Core of the Apple » trainjotting.com

A Train Through the Core of the Apple » trainjotting.com — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:49:10 +0000

[...] to imagine something of this magnitude coming together in any economy, much less a miserable one. Full-scale rail projects in Manhattan can sometimes take almost a century to come together, if they come together at [...]

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 05:22:39 +0000

Shanghai built its subway system during a period of sustained 12% annual growth. When the economy is growing so fast, the government needs to spend less to maintain the present quality of life, so it has more money for capital projects. Even then, Shanghai’s subway system is growing unusually quickly even by Chinese standards; the growth of the Beijing subway is a lot more modest.

In addition, China, especially Shanghai, is extremely gung-ho about impressive infrastructure projects, regardless of how useful they are, or how well they can be maintained or how much sense they make. For example, the transfers in Shanghai are terrible, requiring hundreds of meters of walking between lines. The only places in New York that have such difficult transfers are the Port Authority/Times Square connection, the 6th/7th Avenue connection at 14th, and the Ely/Court Square transfer.

By: Benjamin Kabak

Benjamin Kabak — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 05:07:48 +0000

This was rather random….

By: herenthere

herenthere — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 05:07:14 +0000

How about I sue the people who are suing the MTA for stupidity and costing us more money.

By: rhywun

rhywun — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 22:58:28 +0000

Aren’t they required to provide access to these shops during construction? Or are the owners using the usual “carriage trade” complaint? (That is, pretending that all their business comes from drivers.)

By: Benjamin Kabak

Benjamin Kabak — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 22:17:22 +0000

There are currently a few key amendments being drawn up that would ensure more money for capital projects and more money for operations costs in the stimulus. The Streetsblog Network has seen a few back and forths about them today, and if I have some time, I’ll try to update the status of the stimulus as it would impact New York.

They’re going to need more funds than just that though to see this entire project through.

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 22:08:18 +0000

Of the $9B in the house stimulus – here is how it breaks out – doesnt seem so rosy for MTA capital projects:

Transit ($9 billion total): $1 billion for Capital Investment Grants for new commuter rail or other light rail systems to increase public use of mass transit and to speed projects already in construction.

$2 billion to modernize existing transit systems, including renovations to stations, security systems, computers, equipment, structures, signals, and communications. Funds will be distributed through the existing formula.

$6 billion to purchase buses and equipment needed to increase public transportation and improve intermodal and transit facilities.
#

By: Marc

Marc — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:56:43 +0000

Crain’s has a great slide show – showing the mess that is construction
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/secondavesubway

By: Johnny

Johnny — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:26:26 +0000

The current version of the House stimulus package has an extra $9 billion for capital projects for mass transit. It would go out according to the existing formulas, which would mean $1.5-2.0 billion extra for MTA capital projects. Thats at least a pretty good help.