Let There Be Light - and Connections - at Fulton Street

News flash: The way to get stuff done at the MTA is to play MTA types against each other. There NY Times summarizes the fate of the Fulton Street Transit Hub with the headline: Planners Clash Over Transit Hub, and Riders Win.

Forgetting the construction delays, last November, the MTA said that the massive project that was supposed to be about connecting most of the downtown subways might not be able to connect the E train to the R/W station because construction costs were so high. And one reason the costs were high was the glass oculus for the hub's roof which would filled the station with light. But that really upset the MTA board, who didn't understand why "discombobulate tens of thousands of passengers a day because you want to have a fancy roof." And even MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow said, "The E connector is going to get done and we are going to find the money."

Now it turns out that the MTA will cough up about $41 million to add to the $847 million in federal funds for the project so there can be a glass dome AND an E-connector. The Times article is full of interesting building and engineering explanations that it infinitely clear any subway-related construction is difficult ("switchback ramps"...building structures like a "reverse bathtub"...secant walls).

The MTA says the project will be completed by the end of 2008, so that really means the end of 2009. And if you want to sorta experience what the Fulton Street Transit Center in its A, C, E, J, M, Z, R, W, 2, 3, 4 and 5 accessible-glory will be like, check out this fun interactive from the NYTimes.com - it even has moving trains and straphangers!

Image from the NYTimes.com's interactive about the Fulton Street Transit Center

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on January 8, 2007 1:35 PM

Comments [rss]

Smenky

The graphic is pretty cool, but I'm confused about the benefit of the new station. To transfer from the 2 to the 4, you would have to cross a couple of platforms and underground tunnels. With the exception of rainy days and single tix purchases, this journey is likely more favorable above ground. I assume this connection currently can't be done, yeah?

It can be done; I do it almost everyday. It's not that inconvenient, though I feel bad for those with weak knees. There are a lot of stairs. The only new connections at Fulton would be the E and the R/W.

Smenky

The graphic is pretty cool, but I'm confused about the benefit of the new station. To transfer from the 2 to the 4, you would have to cross a couple of platforms and underground tunnels. With the exception of rainy days and single tix purchases, this journey is likely more favorable above ground. I assume this connection currently can't be done, yeah?

It can be done already. I do it almost every day. It's actually not that inconvenient. I just feel bad for those with bad knees due to all the stairs. The only thing that'd be new would being able to get to the E, and the R/W without having to go above ground.

xnan

clkbvtd

Brooklyn Book Worm

Who knew the TIMES was so cool?

More to the point, I am impressed with the MTA's efforts to untie this Gordian Knot of transit connections. It's not perfect, but it's sure better than what we've got. It will take some vigilance to make sure we don't get fobbed off with something cheap, and that the Marine Grill murals -- which it took Art in Transit interns an entire summer to reconstruct -- regain their prominence.

Former Denizen

can someone please explain to me how this is anymore convienent. besides a nice glass thing, this essentially looks just as annoying as it always was. thank god i dont live there anymore.

James

But where is the number 1 train in this scheme? I would expect the currently-closed Cortland Street station would be only steps away from the new Path Terminal.

Jon Graf

I can see why you would think that the station doesn't seem to offer much. Besides the station house itself, it will really be so nice to have the A/C mezzanine not be a crazy mix of ramps and stairs going all over the place. I think the main advantage of this project is that the mezzanine will be converted into a very long, yet pleasant corridor with different transit connections as you walk through it.

confused

The graphic is pretty cool, but I'm confused about the benefit of the new station. To transfer from the 2 to the 4, you would have to cross a couple of platforms and underground tunnels. With the exception of rainy days and single tix purchases, this journey is likely more favorable above ground. I assume this connection currently can't be done, yeah? The new station looks lovely, but the whole price tag seems a bit rich to change what exactly?

tien

i'm with peter. mta projects always get delayed.

Robert

I like the interactive image - especially how whenever the little guy stops, he starts reading a newspaper. Very fitting for the NYTimes!

Robert

I like the interactive image - especially how whenever the little guy stops, he starts reading a newspaper.

Peter

The MTA says the project will be completed by the end of 2008, so that really means the end of 2009.

Ha ha ha ha ha!

2012 if we're lucky. 2015 if we're not. And "never" is not outside the realm of (im)possibility.