This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/25/nyregion/after-almost-a-century-second-avenue-subway-is-oh-so-close-to-arriving.html
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| After Almost a Century, the 2nd Avenue Subway Is Oh-So-Close to Arriving | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| It has occupied a special place in New York City’s imagination for nearly 100 years: an unfinished dream, a punch line for delays, a construction nightmare. Some New Yorkers wondered if they would ever live to see the day when it came to life. | It has occupied a special place in New York City’s imagination for nearly 100 years: an unfinished dream, a punch line for delays, a construction nightmare. Some New Yorkers wondered if they would ever live to see the day when it came to life. |
| After decades of failed efforts, the first segment of the Second Avenue subway line is scheduled to open in December, with three new stations on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. | After decades of failed efforts, the first segment of the Second Avenue subway line is scheduled to open in December, with three new stations on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. |
| The chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Thomas F. Prendergast, said in an interview on Friday that the line was set to open by the end of the year. It was important to show riders that “we live up to our promises,” he said. “We’re now within striking distance of having it done.” | The chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Thomas F. Prendergast, said in an interview on Friday that the line was set to open by the end of the year. It was important to show riders that “we live up to our promises,” he said. “We’re now within striking distance of having it done.” |
| Striking distance is one thing; up and running is another. There is plenty of work left to do, and workers are racing to make sure the line is ready on time. The new stations are nearly complete, and crews are operating trains on the tracks. But hurdles remain, including testing the fire alarm system as well as the escalators and elevators at the 72nd Street station. | Striking distance is one thing; up and running is another. There is plenty of work left to do, and workers are racing to make sure the line is ready on time. The new stations are nearly complete, and crews are operating trains on the tracks. But hurdles remain, including testing the fire alarm system as well as the escalators and elevators at the 72nd Street station. |
| The Second Avenue line has been on the drawing board since the 1920s and will be the most ambitious expansion of the subway system in a half-century. It will also be a critical milestone for the authority at a time when both New York’s population and the number of tourists flooding the city have reached record levels, placing enormous pressure on public transit. | The Second Avenue line has been on the drawing board since the 1920s and will be the most ambitious expansion of the subway system in a half-century. It will also be a critical milestone for the authority at a time when both New York’s population and the number of tourists flooding the city have reached record levels, placing enormous pressure on public transit. |
| The prolonged wait underscores the challenges transit systems across the United States face as they struggle to repair aging infrastructure while expanding to meet rising demand. Once a global leader, New York City’s subway has largely stayed the same size as other cities, particularly in Asia, have built large new systems. | The prolonged wait underscores the challenges transit systems across the United States face as they struggle to repair aging infrastructure while expanding to meet rising demand. Once a global leader, New York City’s subway has largely stayed the same size as other cities, particularly in Asia, have built large new systems. |
| On a recent morning, dozens of construction workers were busy outside the 72nd Street station, where some of them were installing panels on the side of a building. Bambi Kapp lives nearby and talks regularly with workers about how the project is coming along. Some have told her it will open in December. Others have said February. | On a recent morning, dozens of construction workers were busy outside the 72nd Street station, where some of them were installing panels on the side of a building. Bambi Kapp lives nearby and talks regularly with workers about how the project is coming along. Some have told her it will open in December. Others have said February. |
| “They’re optimistic, and clearly there’s progress,” Ms. Kapp said. | “They’re optimistic, and clearly there’s progress,” Ms. Kapp said. |
| Still, despite the excitement, the first segment is much shorter than once envisioned. It was supposed to run the length of Manhattan, taking some of the burden off the crowded Lexington Avenue line. For now, it is a nearly two-mile extension of the Q line. As such, Q trains will travel to the station at 63rd Street and Lexington Avenue before reaching new stations at 72nd, 86th and 96th Streets. Eventually, the line will extend north to 125th Street in East Harlem. | Still, despite the excitement, the first segment is much shorter than once envisioned. It was supposed to run the length of Manhattan, taking some of the burden off the crowded Lexington Avenue line. For now, it is a nearly two-mile extension of the Q line. As such, Q trains will travel to the station at 63rd Street and Lexington Avenue before reaching new stations at 72nd, 86th and 96th Streets. Eventually, the line will extend north to 125th Street in East Harlem. |
| Looking south, some people doubt that the line will ever reach Houston Street or Hanover Square in Lower Manhattan, as planned. (Extending it to the Bronx was also part of the original plan but it has not been for a long time.) In April, the authority restored financing for the second phase, to 125th Street, after leaders in East Harlem raised concerns over cuts that would have delayed it. | Looking south, some people doubt that the line will ever reach Houston Street or Hanover Square in Lower Manhattan, as planned. (Extending it to the Bronx was also part of the original plan but it has not been for a long time.) In April, the authority restored financing for the second phase, to 125th Street, after leaders in East Harlem raised concerns over cuts that would have delayed it. |
| For those who live on the Upper East Side, though, the subway may soon provide relief. A video emerged this month showing the first test trains running. At long last, construction-weary residents are shifting from skeptical to celebratory. | For those who live on the Upper East Side, though, the subway may soon provide relief. A video emerged this month showing the first test trains running. At long last, construction-weary residents are shifting from skeptical to celebratory. |
| “I think we should throw champagne on the cars like they do with yachts,” said Linda Orhun, a wellness consultant who lives on East 75th Street. But, she added: “Seeing is believing. It’s been a long haul.” | “I think we should throw champagne on the cars like they do with yachts,” said Linda Orhun, a wellness consultant who lives on East 75th Street. But, she added: “Seeing is believing. It’s been a long haul.” |
| Over the decades, the line had come to symbolize a fantasy just out of reach. Viewers of “Mad Men,” the popular AMC series, chuckled knowingly when a real estate agent in the 1960s told the character Peggy Olson that an apartment would “quadruple in value” when the Second Avenue line opened. | Over the decades, the line had come to symbolize a fantasy just out of reach. Viewers of “Mad Men,” the popular AMC series, chuckled knowingly when a real estate agent in the 1960s told the character Peggy Olson that an apartment would “quadruple in value” when the Second Avenue line opened. |
| The first part of the line, which cost about $4.4 billion, is expected to ease overcrowding as subway ridership in the city climbs to its highest level since 1948. Officials said it would initially carry about 200,000 daily riders, many of whom were likely to be relieved transplants from the Nos. 4, 5 and 6 lines at Lexington Avenue. | The first part of the line, which cost about $4.4 billion, is expected to ease overcrowding as subway ridership in the city climbs to its highest level since 1948. Officials said it would initially carry about 200,000 daily riders, many of whom were likely to be relieved transplants from the Nos. 4, 5 and 6 lines at Lexington Avenue. |
| The cycle of hope and despair began in 1929, when officials first announced plans for the line. The Great Depression soon ended the effort. Another push in the 1950s fizzled when financing for the subways was used to repair the existing system. In the 1970s, at least three groundbreakings heralded the line’s arrival, but plans were scrapped when a financial crisis nearly bankrupted the city. | The cycle of hope and despair began in 1929, when officials first announced plans for the line. The Great Depression soon ended the effort. Another push in the 1950s fizzled when financing for the subways was used to repair the existing system. In the 1970s, at least three groundbreakings heralded the line’s arrival, but plans were scrapped when a financial crisis nearly bankrupted the city. |
| The latest push began in the 1990s. The project won considerable support from Sheldon Silver, the powerful speaker of the New York Assembly who represented the Lower East Side before being convicted on corruption charges last year. The federal government promised more than $1 billion for the line, while the authority has covered much of the cost through its long-term capital plans. | The latest push began in the 1990s. The project won considerable support from Sheldon Silver, the powerful speaker of the New York Assembly who represented the Lower East Side before being convicted on corruption charges last year. The federal government promised more than $1 billion for the line, while the authority has covered much of the cost through its long-term capital plans. |
| In 2007, elected officials held another groundbreaking. Soon, a 200-ton tunnel-boring machine was churning beneath the city. The project had setbacks: Complaints about loud explosions prompted a ban on underground blasting after 7 p.m. And early on, the opening date was delayed until 2016, from 2013. | In 2007, elected officials held another groundbreaking. Soon, a 200-ton tunnel-boring machine was churning beneath the city. The project had setbacks: Complaints about loud explosions prompted a ban on underground blasting after 7 p.m. And early on, the opening date was delayed until 2016, from 2013. |
| At several recent transportation authority board meetings, Kent Haggas, an independent engineer for the project, has warned that the opening could be delayed again. In September, he said about 300 tests were still needed and workers had to speed up the rate at which they were finishing them. | At several recent transportation authority board meetings, Kent Haggas, an independent engineer for the project, has warned that the opening could be delayed again. In September, he said about 300 tests were still needed and workers had to speed up the rate at which they were finishing them. |
| “This is our No. 1 concern,” said Mr. Haggas, who is expected to provide a monthly update at a board meeting this week. | “This is our No. 1 concern,” said Mr. Haggas, who is expected to provide a monthly update at a board meeting this week. |
| The authority’s credibility is on the line — not just to meet the deadline, but also to deliver a high-quality project. The city’s first new subway station in a quarter-century opened last year at Hudson Yards on the Far West Side of Manhattan. Several months later, major leaks appeared. | The authority’s credibility is on the line — not just to meet the deadline, but also to deliver a high-quality project. The city’s first new subway station in a quarter-century opened last year at Hudson Yards on the Far West Side of Manhattan. Several months later, major leaks appeared. |
| Mr. Prendergast has not ruled out opening the new line, but temporarily bypassing 72nd Street if that station is not yet ready. After a board meeting last month, he said trains had temporarily bypassed stations after the bombing in Chelsea on Sept. 17. | Mr. Prendergast has not ruled out opening the new line, but temporarily bypassing 72nd Street if that station is not yet ready. After a board meeting last month, he said trains had temporarily bypassed stations after the bombing in Chelsea on Sept. 17. |
| Mr. Prendergast said last week that it was too early to discuss skipping stations and that he was focused on making sure they were all ready on time. “We haven’t given up on anything at this point,” he said. | Mr. Prendergast said last week that it was too early to discuss skipping stations and that he was focused on making sure they were all ready on time. “We haven’t given up on anything at this point,” he said. |
| Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York, who controls the authority, has pressed officials to meet the December deadline, Mr. Pendergast said. The governor meets with leaders at the agency each week to discuss the project and regularly visits different stations to monitor the contractors’ work, said James Allen, a spokesman for the governor, a Democrat. | Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York, who controls the authority, has pressed officials to meet the December deadline, Mr. Pendergast said. The governor meets with leaders at the agency each week to discuss the project and regularly visits different stations to monitor the contractors’ work, said James Allen, a spokesman for the governor, a Democrat. |
| Businesses and real estate agents on the Upper East Side are closely monitoring signs that an opening is near. Years of disruptions have frustrated residents and slowed the housing market along the subway’s corridor. | Businesses and real estate agents on the Upper East Side are closely monitoring signs that an opening is near. Years of disruptions have frustrated residents and slowed the housing market along the subway’s corridor. |
| In the shadow of the construction on 72nd Street, the Trend Diner advertises a “Hard Hat Special”: 10 percent off for subway workers. The restaurant’s manager, Nicanor Gonzalez, said business was rough and that he hoped it would improve once the construction clutter was gone. | In the shadow of the construction on 72nd Street, the Trend Diner advertises a “Hard Hat Special”: 10 percent off for subway workers. The restaurant’s manager, Nicanor Gonzalez, said business was rough and that he hoped it would improve once the construction clutter was gone. |
| “They say December — I don’t think so,” he said. “It doesn’t look like it’s ready.” | “They say December — I don’t think so,” he said. “It doesn’t look like it’s ready.” |
| Even if passengers do start coming through the turnstiles by then, it would be difficult to claim the line was on schedule after such a tortured history, said Joseph B. Raskin, a former New York City Transit employee and the author of a book on subway lines that were never built. | Even if passengers do start coming through the turnstiles by then, it would be difficult to claim the line was on schedule after such a tortured history, said Joseph B. Raskin, a former New York City Transit employee and the author of a book on subway lines that were never built. |
| “You can’t say it’s on time,” he said. “I guess you could say: Better late than never.” | “You can’t say it’s on time,” he said. “I guess you could say: Better late than never.” |