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Last 7 Train Extension Contract Work To Begin

Posted by
on September 14th, 2011 at 9:59 am

Just a few minutes ago, MTA New York City Transit announced that the last major contract for work on the 7 Train line extension will begin this month. Here are the complete details via the press release I received:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that work will begin this month on the last major contract needed to extend the 7 subway line to the Far West Side of Manhattan. The contract, signed in August for $513.7 million, was awarded to a joint venture of Skanska USA and the RailWorks Corp. The funding for this contract is being provided by the Hudson Yards Development Corporation.

Under this award, contractors will lay the tracks through the newly completed tunnels and build the signals that will guide trains along the new sections of track and the third rails that will power them. They will also build elevators and escalators at the new station, and the station’s systems for electrical power, lighting, plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and they will connect the new station and tunnels to utilities.

“This award marks a major milestone as we continue to make progress on the construction of the 7 extension project,” said Dr. Michael Horodniceanu, President of MTA Capital Construction. “With the award of this contract, we’re one step closer to opening up the Far West Side of Manhattan to major, transit-oriented economic growth.”

The contracting companies have committed to aggressive goals of hiring state-designated minority-owned subcontractors for 15% of work and women-owned subcontractors for an additional 5% of work.

The $2.1 billion project to extend the 7 train to the Far West Side of Manhattan, with a new station at 34th Street and Eleventh Avenue, is expected to open for service in December 2013

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Hylan Blvd Transportation Study

Posted by
on September 14th, 2011 at 9:55 am

Just a few minutes ago, MTA New York City Transit sent out word that tomorrow evening they will be teaming with the New York City Department of Transportation for a public meeting to discuss the Hylan Boulevard S79 SBS project. Here are the details via the press release I received:

MTA New York City Transit and the New York City Department of Transportation invite the public to a meeting on Thursday, September 15 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Renaissance conference center in the Grant City section of Staten Island.

The meeting will give residents on opportunity to learn about the Hylan Boulevard S79 SBS project, its operation and proposed bus stop locations. Participants will be able to view a draft plan for the corridor and talk with project team members. Attendees are encouraged to tell us about their concerns and issues regarding transit service, traffic conditions, pedestrian safety and curb use on Hylan Boulevard.

There will be a formal presentation beginning at 7:15 p.m. at the Regency Room of The Renaissance at 2131 Hylan Boulevard (at Bedford Avenue) in Staten Island. Visit the NYC DOT website at www.nyc.gov/brt for updated project information

Hopefully Staten Island readers of Transit Blogger can make it out for the meeting. If anyone does, please let me know how it goes.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Should The MTA Fix The Port Jervis Line?

Posted by
on September 13th, 2011 at 12:28 am

This is the interesting question posed by WNYC’s Jim O’Grady. As we know by now, the Port Jervis line had 14 miles of track washed away by Hurricane Irene. This has led to the MTA Metro-North to provide bus service at all stations along the line even though only approximately 2300 use it during the week. A sample of his report:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is getting ready to invest millions of dollars to repair the Port Jervis train line on the western side of the Hudson River. The authority is paying an engineering firm $500,000 to figure out how to repair damage from Tropical Storm Irene.

The Authority said 2,300 riders take the Port Jervis train through Orange County on an average weekday. That’s just a small portion of the thousands of riders who used to take the 37 bus lines in New York City that were cut last summer to save money.

MTA spokeswoman Marjorie Anders said the authority has no choice but to make the repairs to the Port Jervis line, and to run 55 buses among eight stations, seven days a week, until the line is fixed.

The storm washed out 14 miles of track, and Anders said there are no alternative transit options like there are in the five boroughs. “Compared to Brooklyn, Orange County’s choices are very limited,” she said.

Click here for the complete report.

I have to admit that the question posed is quite an interesting one. I can see both sides on the issue as on one hand, the amount of riders affected is extremely tiny compared to those who lost bus service due to the service cuts.

However on the flip side, those 2300 people are paying customers & deserve to have quality transportation options too. Also it can be said that comparing the service to the buses is apples vs oranges.

In the end, I do have to side with the decision to fix the line as it is true, Orange County has very limited transportation options. I speak from experience as I lived up there for a year & my only way to NYC was via bus if I chose not to hop in the car. Plus it is not like the MTA provides a ton of service on the line so it is not a money drain.

One aspect of the eventual repair work that caught my eye is the agency having to pay half a million to an outside agency to determine how best fix the line. Why is this necessary? Do they not have adequate people on staff that could form a team & decide what & how the repairs get done?

xoxo Transit Blogger

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TWU Attacks MTA For Alleged Health Cuts

Posted by
on September 12th, 2011 at 11:59 pm

In a story that just appeared on NY1 a short time ago, the TWU has attacked the MTA over alleged health care cuts. Tina Redwine has more:

Doug Kirchner retired from New York City Transit after 28 years driving a city bus. He said he recently had back surgery and got a nasty surprise.

“They paid the first part of the hospital bill. Now I got a letter last week. They’re taking that back. It’s almost $5,000,” said Kirchner. “They’re jerking me around.”

Representatives of the Transport Workers Union say the cash-strapped MTA saved $40 million by renegotiating its health insurance last year and finding new providers.

However, the union also said that in January, the agency went a step further and cut members’ health benefits, which is in violation of the union contract. Two weeks ago it filed a grievance.

“There are issues with prescriptions, issues with hospital stays. There is an across the board effort by the MTA to nickel and dime transit workers to death,” said John Samuelsen, president of the TWU.

One example, according to the union: a worker who had been paying a $2.50 co-pay for a cancer medicine now pays more than $2,000 a month because the drug’s not on a preferred drug list.

“If they attack our benefits, we’re gonna attack back,” said Samuelsen.

Click here for the complete report.

Stories like these are not new to me as I have heard complaints from workers past & present recently. If the agency truly did partake in illegal actions according to their current contract with the TWU, they should be held liable.

This alleged action by the MTA will only make things worse (if that is even possible) when it comes to upcoming negotiations. The relationship between the two sides has long been strained, why allegedly make things worse?

What we need is for both sides to work together & as a potentially powerful force, rally for more funding for the agency. The better our infrastructure, the better it is for them to raise revenue which can trickle down to union members. The biggest positive would be for the riders who deserve a better system.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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MTA Payroll Tax Case To Be Held In Nassau

Posted by
on September 12th, 2011 at 11:41 pm

The MTA Payroll Tax is one that has many detractors across the region, especially out here on Long Island where both counties joined others in a lawsuit to question the tax’s legality.

In what makes for an interesting turn before the case even begins is the ruling by an appellate division judge that the case remain being held in Nassau County. John Callegari of Long Island Business News has more:

A lawsuit challenging the legality of the MTA Payroll Tax will be heard in Nassau County, not Albany, the courts have ruled.

The lawsuit, filed by Nassau County, in conjunction with Suffolk and Westchester counties and various towns and villages, challenges the constitutionality of the MTA Payroll Tax, which taxes businesses in the New York metropolitan area for each employee on their payroll in order to supplement the Metropolitan Transit Authority. When the lawsuit was first filed in the Nassau, the New York State Attorney General’s office moved to change the venue to Albany, while Nassau County cross-moved to retain the venue on Long Island.

On Thursday, an appellate division judge denied the attorney general’s office’s motion and declared the lawsuit would proceed in Nassau.

Nassau County Attorney John Ciampoli said he will now be requesting the court for a conference date to get the suit underway.

However, a spokesperson for Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office said the ruling at the appellate division did nothing to prevent the action from being held in Albany. Instead, the ruling simply denied any action that would come out of a trial in Nassau County from moving forward until it was decided what was the proper venue.

Click here for the complete report.

This is an interesting decision to continue holding the trial in Nassau County. I would be concerned about potential bias since the county is one of the leaders & most vocal critics of the tax. Wouldn’t it be fair to have this case in a neutral territory? I sure think so & won’t be surprised to see it moved to one soon.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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