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First Phase Of 7 Line Extension Completed

Posted by
on December 21st, 2009 at 10:12 am

One of the major transit projects I’ve been the most critical about is the highly unnecessary 7 line extension. The major problem I had with the project was the exclusion of the only practical part of it, a Hell’s Kitchen stop. However this entry is not meant for more critical analysis of the project but instead the announcement of the 1st phase being completed. Here are the complete details courtesy of a just released MTA press release I received:

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert C. Lieber and Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman and CEO Jay H. Walder today announced the completion of the first phase of the Number 7 subway extension at the Hudson Yards in Manhattan. The second of two tunnel boring machines has reached the southern wall of the 34th Street Station cavern after mining a combined 2,900 feet from their starting point at 26th Street under 11th Avenue. The $2.1 billion project, funded by the City and managed by the MTA, will help transform the Hudson Yards vicinity into a vibrant 24-hour neighborhood, containing a mix of commercial, residential, retail, open space and recreational uses. In January of 2005, the City Council approved the Bloomberg Administration’s plan for re-zoning the Hudson Yards area, including the Eastern Rail Yards. Today, the City Council will vote on the plan for the Western Rail Yards, which would complete the public approvals process for the development of the area.

“It’s been a half century since City government expanded its subway system, but that drought will soon be at an end,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Too often, government falls victim to the temptation to abandon long-term infrastructure projects amidst short-term downturns, and that’s why big things never get done. The redevelopment of the Hudson Yards has been talked about for decades, but with the expansion of the number 7 line, its potential will finally be realized.”

“This week’s milestone is a clear indicator that the MTA is delivering on a major expansion project that will increase capacity within our transit system and generate economic growth in a vastly underserved area,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Jay H. Walder. “Much like our joint efforts to improve bus service throughout the city, this partnership between the city and MTA will benefit New Yorkers for generations to come.”

“With one of the largest development projects in recent decades on the horizon, the completion of the first phase of the Number 7 Line extension is an important step in making sure that our infrastructure keeps up with the pace of our city,” said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “Extending the 7 Line to 34 Street and 11th Avenue will not just open up the Hudson Yards, it will bring New York’s next great commercial and cultural center to life and make our sure that our City will continue to thrive.”

“Today’s announcement of the completion of the first phase of the Number 7 Line extension is a major milestone in the expansion of New York’s aged infrastructure,” said Rep. Jerrold Nadler. “For too long we have not made the necessary investments to update our transportation network. This project, which will open the economic potential of the Far West Side, is one of many such projects we need to do to prepare New York for continued growth. I look forward to the successful completion of this project and future investments in our infrastructure.”

“Committing to the expansion of our mass transportation system is only more important to the success of our city in these tough economic times,” said Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer. “Development projects like the 7 line expansion and the larger Hudson Yards Redevelopment will bring jobs to New York with real, tangible benefits for our residents. I want to thank Mayor Bloomberg and the MTA for making possible this milestone on the road to a new and vibrant West Side.”

The tunnel boring machines were launched last summer from the underground assembly chamber located at 26th Street. The first 300 feet of tunneling was complicated by a section of soft ground between 27th and 28th Streets that required a technique called “ground freeze” to reinforce the ground, allowing the machines to pass through as if it were solid rock. As the tunnel boring machines mine, they place pre-cast concrete lining rings along the excavated tunnel, making up the permanent liner of the finished tunnel. While the new service will terminate at the new 34th Street station, the tunnels continue to 25th Street to allow for the storage of trains.

One tunnel boring machine has already started mining north of the station cavern toward 42nd Street while the other is being pulled through the cavern and will begin mining in a few weeks. Tunneling north from 34th Street also presents unique challenges, as track will run under the 8th Avenue Subway, Amtrak/NJ TRANSIT tunnels, tunnels to the former New York Central Line, the Lincoln Tunnel and the Port Authority Bus Terminal and ramps. Excavation and underpinning of the 8th Avenue Subway line is underway to allow the new tunnels to tie into the existing 7 Line tail tracks at Times Square.

Tunneling will be completed in the Spring of 2010, when work will commence on station entrances and finishes, as well as support facilities such as ventilation and traction power substations. The new service will open in December in 2013 as scheduled.

Construction of the tunnels and the 34th Street Station cavern is being done by S3II Tunnel Constructors, a joint venture of J.F. Shea Construction, Inc., SKANSKA USA Civil Northeast, Inc., and Schiavone Construction Co., Inc. “The S3II joint venture is very proud to be part of this important project for the MTA and the City,” said Jim Marquardt, Project Director for S3II. The $1.14 billion contract for this work was awarded to S3II in December 2007.

The 7 Line Extension will introduce subway service to an emerging mixed-use community in Midtown West, fostering transit oriented development in one of Manhattan’s most underserved and underdeveloped areas. The City created two local development corporations, the Hudson Yards Infrastructure Corporation, which is contributing $2.1 billion to the project, and the Hudson Yards Development Corporation, which oversees planning and development in the Hudson Yards on behalf of the City.

Special Note: To download photos of the excavation breakthrough visit NYC.gov, and to see the video go to the NYC Mayor’s Office You Tube channel at www.youtube.com/mayorbloomberg. A video feed of the breakthrough will available at the Switch on CTY3 at 10:00 AM.

Ehh, sorry if I am not excited about this. Maybe when proof can be shown of how this project is more vital versus others behind the schedule or still in the pipe, I could get excited. I won’t be holding my breath, that is for sure.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Weekend Service Diversions Canceled

Posted by
on December 18th, 2009 at 4:57 pm

Normally, I would have updated the “Service Diversions” page with the latest scheduled diversions for the upcoming weekend & following week. However before I could even do that, the MTA announced that the scheduled diversions have been canceled due to the upcoming snow storm. Here are the complete details including the 2 closures that remain in play:

Due to the impending snow storm, all weekend work previously scheduled for Friday, December 18 through Monday, December 21 has been cancelled. Therefore, the ACDE and S (Rockaway Shuttle) will operate normally.

As a reminder, the Coney Island-bound Q platforms at Avenue H, Avenue M, Avenue U and Neck Road remain closed at all times until 2010. Also, Queens-bound service on the RW (and N during the late night hours) is restored at the Cortlandt Street station.

In addition, New York City Transit’s Nostalgia Shoppers’ Special will not operate this Sunday due to the cold weather operating plan in place in the subway system. However, weather permitting, the vintage train is scheduled to return to service next Sunday, December 27th.

As a reminder, these closures are still in force:

At all times until January 18, 2010, the Far Rockaway-bound platforms at Beach 67th, Beach 44th, and Beach 25th are closed for rehabilitation.

At all times until December 21, 2009, the Broad Channel-bound platforms at Beach 105th and Beach 90th Streets are closed for rehabilitation.

If at all possible, stay home during the storm. If you must travel, please avoid driving & stick with mass transit. I wish everyone the best possible travel in these conditions & complete safety.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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M72 Extended To 66th Street

Posted by
on December 18th, 2009 at 4:51 pm

Earlier today, MTA New York City Transit issued a press release to announce the extension of the M72 to 66th Street. Here are the complete details from the press release I received:

MTA NYC Transit announced that beginning Sunday, December 20, the westbound M72 will be rerouted to a new terminal on West 66th Street. Because of NYS DOT construction on West 72nd Street, the M72 has been on diversion via Riverside Boulevard, West 68th Street and Freedom Place at the western end of the route. Congested conditions on West 68th Street, however, now require the westbound M72 to be rerouted to West 66th Street.

The westbound M72 will take its existing diversion route on Riverside Boulevard to West 66th Street, then travel east on West 66th Street to the new terminal on West 66th Street between Riverside Boulevard and Freedom Place.

The eastbound M72 will begin from its new terminal on West 66th Street between Riverside Boulevard and Freedom Place, travel north on Freedom Place to its second stop at West 69th Street and then resume the regular route.

The only new M72 bus stop will be on West 66th Street, south curb, between Riverside Boulevard and Freedom Place. The service span, frequency, running time, and destination signs will remain unchanged.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Well I Am Back!

Posted by
on December 18th, 2009 at 4:46 pm

Well, I am back & ready to blog away for the always increasing readership of TransitBlogger.com I would like to take this time to apologize for not posting the last couple of weeks. I was tied up with a hectic move to a new residence. This was coupled with some server issues which I could not address with all that was happening.

Many things have happened over the last couple of weeks. I will try to talk about the main points over the weekend & be up to date by Monday.

Thanks again to everyone who reads the blog, I truly appreciate it!

xoxo Transit Blogger

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Tree Lighting Ceremony Affects Service

Posted by
on December 1st, 2009 at 6:41 pm

It is once again that time of year when the unofficial holiday season really kicks into gear with the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. As one should expect, service in & around the area will be affected due to the ceremony. Here is the official word on what service will be affected via a press release sent to me by the MTA:

Due to the tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center, several streets in the vicinity of the center (5th Avenue between 47th and 50th Streets) will be closed to traffic by the New York City Police Department on Wednesday, December 2, between approximately 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.

As a result, the following New York City Transit local and express bus routes, as well as routes belonging to MTA Bus, will either be rerouted and/or experience significant delays in service:

M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M27/M50, Q32, X10, X12/42, X14, X17C, X17J, X27/37, X28/38, X29, X30, BM1, BM2, BM3, BM4, BM5, BxM4c, BxM6, BxM7, BxM9 and BxM11

In addition, the 47th-50th Streets/Rockefeller Center station B D F V, as well as the 5th Avenue-53rd Street station E V may experience overcrowding and stairway closures.

xoxo Transit Blogger

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