Comments on: Underneath 2nd Ave., a TBM struggles to move forward

By: Second Ave. Subway drilling sagas :: Second Ave. Sagas

Second Ave. Subway drilling sagas :: Second Ave. Sagas — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:03:15 +0000

[...] is continuing apace. When we last checked in on Adi, the TBM drilling out the subway tubes, it had reached only 90th St. and was drilling an average of just 14 feet a day. In August, however, the MTA was able to pick up [...]

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:43:34 +0000

That shouldn’t made a difference. The TBM’s for the 7 Ext. and SAS are the same diameter. The TA wants their newly constructed parts to be built for B Division specifications.

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:48:48 +0000

Maybe it’s time to name names. Skanska is at the center of Second Avenue Subway mess, the World Trade Center excavation/preparation (almost 10 years to dig a hole in the ground), East Side Access, the downtown PATH station. Our city is being held hostage to one company. Sure, the MTA gives a contract here or there to someone else. Why put Skanska in the critical path of the future of this city? Especially with the track record it has.

But the problem isn’t just Skanska. It’s too easy to blame contractors. It’s at the MTA, the folks responsible for using time and money in a responsible manners. There’s needs assessment, architects, design, city planning many other aspects to take into account. There are many ingredients, and we need someone at MTA who will wrestle this thing, knowing that Skanska is in the critical path.

In the future, we should give major contracts to other companies, and not Skanska. Let them finish two of these projects and then, and after an audit, maybe we should consider them again.

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:53:58 +0000

All transit operators have debt. JR East has debt, Tokyo Metro has debt, Korail has debt. Those companies separate interest from operating expenses, so their main financial performance metric is profitability after depreciation and interest.

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:44:12 +0000

The top construction managers in the world are not New Yorkers. They are Madrileños. Therefore, New York’s political class will not even think of hiring them.

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:41:43 +0000

The 7 extension work isn’t doing well at all. It’s more expensive per-km than any subway line outside New York; it only looks good because it’s slightly less expensive than SAS.

By: Justin Samuels

Justin Samuels — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:40:47 +0000

The Fulton Street Complex and the East Side Access are not good examples, as they too are behind schedule. This simply happens with most major contruction projects. Look at the World Trade Center reconstruction.

By: Justin Samuels

Justin Samuels — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:39:39 +0000

People also weren’t following the 7 line work as much, so if it has technical difficulties, we wouldn’t know. The Fulton Street Complex, has had major difficulties, yet we finally see some major progress in it as some contracts have been finished. The East Side Access, btw, is also behind schedule.

By: Justin Samuels

Justin Samuels — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:35:52 +0000

Since when has occurring too much debt stopped any government agency from issuing more debt, and I’m even speaking of the federal government itself! With that said, as debt has to be paid off, eventually they have to do things to increase the money available to service the debt. That includes using technology to lay off employees (bye, bye token booth clerks), bye, bye redundant bus routes (this has already happened), and certain other cuts will be made as well.

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:57:20 +0000

This project gets more and more depressing. This project is typical of badly run projects everywhere. Bad management, bad plan, bad execution.

The only way to fix this thing is to hire the top construction managers in the world, and give them the ability to change the plan, and hold people accountable. If we have to go to cut and cover in some areas, go to cut and cover. If the plan we have is the best plan, then great. Manage it better. Let world class pros run this thing.

Threaten the contractors with lawsuits if they don’t perform the work they are suppose to do. Get the underground portion of the project working 24/7, which it is not right now. Get the station locations excavated, because at some point the tunnel is going to be dug, and they need to be ready. We can armchair quarterback this thing forever.

Of course, the MTA isn’t going to do much, if anything. It’s really up to whatever leverage the Mayor has to try to influence what’s happening. It may not be desirable or possible for him. If we do nothing, then all that’s left to do is scratch our heads, weep, whatever. It will take about a decade (or longer) to build 2 miles of subway. These people are scoundrals.