Brad Lander press release regarding 4th Avenue & 9th Street Subway

He’s right!

COUNCILMEMBER LANDER RELEASES STATEMENT

ON 4^TH AVENUE-9^TH STREET SUBWAY STATION RENOVATIONS

Brooklyn, N.Y.: Council Member Brad Lander (District 39) released the following statement today:

“The MTA’s large-scale rehabilitation of the Culver Viaduct is a vital investment for our communities. Unfortunately, delays, poor communication by the MTA, and cost overruns have also made it a real headache.”

“The project—which includes modernizing the signals and rebuilding the structure supporting the F and G trains, upgrading the Smith-9th Street station, and restoring the 4thAvenue-9th Street station—was first announced in 2007. In the spring of 2013, we celebrated when the Smith-9th Street Station was reopened, after being closed for two years (far longer than projected). We were told that project completion was imminent.”

“Since then, both progress and information from the MTA has been sparse (and the cost has more than doubled). The 4th Avenue-9th Street Station has been “under construction” for several years, with few signs of progress. It is our understanding that the contractor defaulted in 2013, ultimately pushing out the project completion date until this summer. However, the summer is coming to an end, the scaffolding remains, and the MTA has failed to provide any public information about their plans going forward.”

“Late last week, notice was posted that the MTA will begin more construction at the intersection of 4th Avenue and 9th Street. Starting September 1, the northbound R train entrance on the northeast corner will be closed for three months, to replace the rundown staircase there. Once that work is completed, the MTA will close the southbound R train entrance on the northwest corner and replace that staircase.”

“While I am glad that the MTA is making necessary investments in our public infrastructure, I am disappointed that the delays plaguing the Culver Viaduct Rehabilitation will now cause more commuters to regularly traverse a construction zone. I am also frustrated by the MTA’s failure to provide timely public information about this much-delayed project. I urge the MTA to inform the surrounding community about the construction plan going forward and meet that timeline.