The Second Ave Subway (SAS) project

[philvia]

BRT is a short term fix for a long term problem.

[herenthere]

Originally Posted by philvia

BRT is a short term fix for a long term problem.

It might be a short term fix, but it's a helluva cheaper one than building a new subway line, especially in NYC. But not all BRT is worthless: the new SBS Bx12 from the Bronx is working well with high praise.

True, a bus will never beat a train running under normal speeds. And trust me, as a railfan, there is no doubt I would prefer a subway over a bus. The Lexington Ave. Line is the most crowded line during rush hours and is frequently delayed because of it is over-capacity. Having anything running parallel service would help relieve this line.

Why BRT could save more money in the long run:

* No foundation/settlement issues during construction-something that, especially with the legacy of Manhattan buildings, is constantly in the news.
* There is no need to power lights in the tunnels or stations, street lights are already present
* Signaling powering and maintenance is provided by DOT, initial build costs are cheap
* Track flooding, a major problem, creates the need for higher maintenance costs for pumps, leak prevention, etc.
* No need for powering fans for ventilation-BRT is out in the open
* Today's MTA buses are "Clean Air Hybrid-Electric Buses": quiet and a lot less polluting. New buses are also handicapped accessible with planks that fold out onto the street. Eliminates the need for installing costly elevators, especially since they breakdown all the time and take forever to repair.
* Opens the way for a shared and protected bike lane
* Space is not an issue: 2nd Ave is 4 lanes (+2 for parking), and the point of building mass transit is to discourage driving = less pollution

[philvia]

who cares if it's cheaper than building a subway line? it's inevitable anyways so why spend money on BOTH brt and subway? i really dont even know why there is a BRT debate in a u/c subway thread

[JohnFlint1985]

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr

[napkcirtap]

what is the status of construction in the ues under 2nd av?

[cardiel]

Originally Posted by napkcirtap

what is the status of construction in the ues under 2nd av?

also what parts of the tunnel are complete ,if anyone knows?

[JohnFlint1985]

Originally Posted by cardiel

also what parts of the tunnel are complete ,if anyone knows?

as of right now the work is going under approximately 10 streets from 96 to 86. Nothing is complete as of today - but this is the work in progress.

[cardiel]

Originally Posted by JohnFlint1985

as of right now the work is going under approximately 10 streets from 96 to 86. Nothing is complete as of today - but this is the work in progress.

By the way thanks for those beautiful pictures of NY and NJ you always post , looking forward to seeing more!