PlanNYC: Fulton Street Transit Center News

Potential Changes May Be Made to World Trade Transit Hub

2008-08-27 00:00:00

In a project that has been going over costs, some changes may be made to the interior of the new transit hub at the World Trade Center in order to lower costs. Since the original design featured a large expanse with no support beams some are proposing other alternatives which may be less labor intensive and therefore cheaper to complete in a timely fashion.

MTA Commits to �Elegant� Entrance for Fulton St Transit Hub

2008-08-03 00:00:00

The MTA�s Capital Construction Co. President Michael Horodniceanu announced that the MTA would deliver on its commitment to build an �elegant� entrance for the Fulton Street Transit Hub. Horodniceanu noted that the plans might change somewhat, but that the defining features of the original designs, like an above-ground structure providing natural light into the transit mezzanine and ample retail, would be included in the new designs. The current budget for the transit hub is $1.2 billion, of which the MTA has secured about 900 million mostly federally funded dollars. As of yet, no completion date has been set for the project.

Former WTC Area Business Owners Want Payments From MTA

2008-04-10 00:00:00

Many business owners who were forced out of their properties near the World Trade Center site to make way for the Fulton Street Transit Center are frustrated with the treatment they have received from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The business owners� properties were seized via eminent domain hearings about two years ago and they were promised relocation settlements; according to an MTA spokesperson, 25 business owners have yet to be paid. The plans for the glass-domed station have now been all but scrapped due to lack of funding and the site may become just an open plaza.

Schick Proposes New Location for WTC Performing Arts Center

2008-04-10 00:00:00

Avi Schick, the chief executive of the Empire State Development Corporation and chairman of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, has suggested a new plan for the location of the performing arts center intended for the World Trade Center site. Schick has recommended that the center be constructed on top of the Fulton Street subway station, suggesting that the change would cut costs and time. Schick�s proposal would be a departure from the previous plan to have retail above the station. The City�s cultural affairs commissioner, Kate Levin, has told the State that they will review the plans and respond within 30 days. Opponents of Schick�s plan worry that changing the plans may cause further delays in development of the transit center. There are also concerns about the noise and vibrations from the transit center disrupting performances.

MTA Defends Work at Fulton Street Transit Hub

2008-04-10 00:00:00

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) said that progress is being made on work underground at the Fulton Transit Center and has recently decided to break up the plans in order to complete the transit hub. At a City Council hearing, the MTA acknowledged the idea of relocating a performing arts center above the transit center. The MTA hinted that they would like to keep the original design as intact as possible. However, new plans for the transit hub are expected in the next month or so from the MTA and then work must be done to figure out how to cover the budget shortfalls.

$20 Billion in Development At Risk Due to Slowing Economy

2008-03-31 00:00:00

Due to the slowing economy, over $20 billion in development projects in the City could be scaled back, significantly delayed or even killed. The affected projects include Moynihan Station, Fulton Station, Atlantic Yards, Coney Island and the World Trade Center redevelopment. According to Robert Yaro, president of the Regional Plan Association, �We�re not going to throw in the towel on any of these projects, but less dramatic and less expensive designs may be needed.�

MTA Assures Something Will Be Built at Fulton Station

2008-03-07 00:00:00

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) hinted that some sort of building will arise at the Fulton Street Transit Hub, although it remains unclear what that building will look like. Local officials and displaced business owners are distrusting of the MTA�s promises that something will be built. The MTA has assured those involved that work progresses on the underground improvements needed at Fulton. The MTA has said the new outdoor structure will be more than just a plaza but will not be the original design planned.

MTA Projects Over Budget and Behind Schedule

2008-02-27 00:00:00

Because of rising construction costs, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will be $1.5 billion over budget in its four big construction projects: the 2nd Avenue Subway, East Side Access, the Fulton Street Transit Center and rebuilding the South Ferry terminal. Because of the budget problems, both the 2nd Ave. Subway and the East Side Access project have been delayed. They were both scheduled to open in 2013, but MTA now projects that they will open in 2015. Although the MTA�s five-year capital rebuilding program, which includes all these projects, may be cut back, the MTA does expect to pass the current plan along to legislators.

MTA Prepares New Capital Plan; Project Delays Persist

2008-02-27 00:00:00

Rising construction costs and $9 billion gap in the MTA�s capital plan are causing delays in several capital projects, including the 2nd Avenue subway line, the East Side Access project, and the Fulton Street Transit Center. In response, the agency has drafted a new capital plan that includes $4.5 million in bonds from the proposed congestion pricing plan and will expand the budget from $21.3 to $29.5 billion.

Community Board 1 Wants Original Plans for Fulton Station

2008-02-12 00:00:00

At a meeting yesterday with Community Board 1 and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), members of the board told the MTA to continue with its original plans for the Fulton Street Station. The board cited the use of eminent domain on roughly 145 businesses and the inconvenience that the residents of downtown Manhattan have had to deal with during the construction period as reason to continue to forward with the project. The Downtown Alliance is asking the MTA to consider a public/private partnership to get the project done if the MTA can not complete it on its own.

Public Plaza A Possibility for Fulton Transit Center

2008-01-31 00:00:00

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is considering its options for the above ground area surrounding the Fulton Street Transit Center including a public plaza or park. The MTA is also considering selling its air rights over the transit center. This could be problematic since the land was acquired through eminent domain. The MTA will use the next month to evaluate the station plans and lower the estimated costs. Officials have continued to assure the public that underground work will precede as initially planned.

MTA Spent $25 Million On Fulton Plans

2008-01-30 00:00:00

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that it can only afford to complete the underground portion of the Fulton Street Transit Center. The transit hub is expected to be completed in 2010 at a cost of $930 million. The MTA had previously spent $25 million for the designs of a grand pavilion above ground which they no longer can afford to build, and will spend the next month trying to determine what they can afford to build in its place. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver blamed the agency for failing to deliver on its promises.

Displaced Fulton Center Business Owners Feel Slighted by MTA

2008-01-29 00:00:00

Yesterday the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that once again it is scaling back efforts to build a new state-of-the-art transit center downtown. While the MTA says that they would have needed to acquire all of the businesses regardless if they built a grand entranceway, which was part of the plan that got scrapped yesterday, some business owners are left speculating if they were moved unnecessarily. In a separate debate, some business owners who were relocated by the MTA through eminent domain are demanding greater compensation for the value of their stores and the cost of moving. The MTA is currently negotiating with these business owners.

MTA Reevaluates Fulton Street Transit Center Plans

2008-01-28 00:00:00

After cost overruns and major construction delays, MTA will reevaluate its plans for the Fulton Street Transit Center. The Transit Center, which will connect 12 subway lines, was originally expected to be completed in 2007 but that has been pushed back to late 2009. Potential new plans might scale down design elements of the proposed large domed shopping center, and build a more modest �public plaza.�

Further Delays for Fulton Transit Center

2008-01-16 00:00:00

The expected completion date of the Fulton Transit Center has been pushed back again, to as late as 2010. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) rejected the only bid on the project because it was too overbudget. It is now planning to divide the contract into several projects to draw several bidders and reduce costs. The original plans are also being scaled down. The president of the MTA�s Capital Construction Co. will present a plan of action to MTA board members this month.