Second Avenue Subway Inches Closer to Its Next Delayed Finish Date

A new congressional report card judging the progress of the Second Avenue Subway has given the project a B-minus, possibly the highest ratings ever handed out to the mythical subway line. The MTA immediately snatched the report card out Congress's hands and tried to get a signature on it before anyone noticed further problems, the agency expressing gratitude that Congress recognized the elements of the project that they are handling well. That "praise" includes the MTA being diligent in meeting with affected businesses, including the dozen that have closed along the route. Nonetheless Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, who headed the study said, "Up until now, the project has been marred by missed deadlines, cost overruns and a harsh impact on local businesses."

The other positive element in the report is that the MTA has reduced building condemnations to minimize displacement of residents. But today's Post says that there are two more buildings along 92nd Street that have now been discovered to be unexpectedly shaky and are delaying construction. One resident who had to be temporarily evacuated told them, "It was pretty awful living in a welfare hotel. We still don't have gas for our stoves and ovens."

The report card says that the project has been consistently delayed by problems such as these, some of which should have been identified by the MTA in advance. Because of this Maloney's reports says, and you may want to be sitting down for this, the projected date of completion may soon get pushed back a year to 2018.