SAS Extension Costs Balloon To $77 Billion

[Dehumidifier]

Originally Posted by WRM20

You cannot compare construction today to construction in 1901, when the underground utilities were not nearly as complicated. Portions of the Second Avenue line are cut and cover, and it's still expensive. https://www.geoengineer.org/news/con...manhattan-area

I bet they didn't have to deal with so many NIMBYs back then also. I seem to recall a lot of turmoil over locating the entrances.

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by Dehumidifier

I bet they didn't have to deal with so many NIMBYs back then also. I seem to recall a lot of turmoil over locating the entrances.

Fewer NIMBYs in the early 1900's for sure, unlike now where people want a benefit with zero impact to themselves. Far fewer issues with property rights then as well.

[BlakeJones]

Originally Posted by Dehumidifier

I bet they didn't have to deal with so many NIMBYs back then also

NIMBY's is a big part of it, and the whole grift of red tape to address them

[Gantz]

Originally Posted by WRM20

The article says 7.7 billion, not 77 billion.

From the article
"The cost of the Second Avenue Subway extension to East Harlem has ballooned to $7.7 billion, an $800 million increase from previous estimates, according to documents published on Thursday by the Federal Transit Administration."

That is roughly $86,000 per inch.
Would be cool if they could line the tunnels with $100 bills submerged in translucent acrylic. Would probably be cheaper too.

[BugsyPal]

Originally Posted by Dehumidifier

I bet they didn't have to deal with so many NIMBYs back then also. I seem to recall a lot of turmoil over locating the entrances.

It was the "NIMBYs" that helped scuttle SAS as first proposed back in 1960's or so. Residents of Yorkville didn't want a subway because they feared changes it would bring to their sleepy part of UES. So they fought, even though SAS was supposed to be a done deal after Third and Second avenue Els were torn down.

In end because of all the time wasted battling NIMBYs and other events including city nearly or going bankrupt put the kibosh on further SAS plans. All that was done were the few sections of tunnel that would be used again when MTA finally started the project again decades later.

All this being said residents of Yorkville were right to be concerned. Much of what they feared would happen to Yorkville after SAS arrived has; increased crime, all sorts of skechty and suspect persons having easier access to area and so on.

Of course biggest worry that has come true is rapid gentrification and displacement as buildings are torn down for redevelopment into luxury housing.

Up and down Third, Second and even First avenues from 72nd to 96th tons of old buildings are coming down and new luxury housing going up. They've just cleared corner of 72nd and Second across from subway station (where church used to be) for another large luxury condo tower.

Not sure but think full block on First between 73rd and 74th is also being emptied out for redevelopment.

Back in day Second and First and certainly east to river was almost "no man's land" due to lack of easy access to subway. Now at least blocks around 72nd, 86th and 96th have become hot real estate wise because they are only one block away from SAS stops. Consider also each of those UES stations has two entrances/exits often about three blocks apart.

East 83rd and Second right across from SAS station is getting two new luxury housing buildings; one on SE and other across street on SW corner.


On East 82rd between Second and First they've torn down a handful of old houses and put up a new luxury condo building called "Manor 82". https://manor82.com