What the L: Cuomo calls off full L-train shutdown

Gov. Cuomo announced today that the 15-month L-train shutdown that was to start in April to repair Sandy-damaged tubes is no longer necessary.

During an early-afternoon press conference, Cuomo, joined by a team of Cuomo-appointed tunnel experts (engineering academics with unknown insights into MTA project management), unveiled a new renovation method using a different design for repairs that would require night and weekend closures of one tube at a time.

Details of the plan have yet to be released.

Per ABC 7:

"It uses many new innovations that are new, frankly, to the rail industry in this country ... With this design, it will not be necessary to close the L train tunnel at all, which would be a phenomenal benefit to the people of New York City," he said.

Cuomo said he does not believe this design has been used in the United States before, though it has been implemented in Europe.

The governor said that commuters should not worry about the integrity of the tunnel: Major structural elements were not compromised. The MTA needs to fix the circuit breaker house and power cables that were damaged after the tubes flooded and were therefore exposed to salt water.

Per The Wall Street Journal:

Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials spent years weighing repair options, including shutting down one track at a time to maintain some service between Brooklyn and Manhattan.

In 2016, they opted for a full shutdown, reasoning that it could be completed in half the time and at less expense than a partial shutdown. Initially, they said that a full shutdown would be needed for 18 months, but that timeline was later shortened to 15 months.

Judlau Contracting Inc., which won a $477 million contract to repair the tunnel, was offered incentives to finish the work ahead of schedule and penalties of $400,000 for every day beyond the deadline that the project was delayed.

Mr. Cuomo’s decision to alter the project raises questions about how the contractor can now finish the work on time. It also raises questions about contingency plans that were being put in place by the MTA and New York City following years of planning.

The L-train prep work started in July 2017 on 14th Street between First Avenue and Avenue B. This past summer, residents learned that this corridor was not only the main construction zone leading up to the L-train closure, but also during the 15 months the MTA expected the trains to be offline between Bedford Avenue and Eight Avenue.

Meanwhile, some quickie reaction via Twitter...

My hot take is that I have no idea if this is a better L-tunnel plan than what was supposed to happen. Obviously needs a lot of dissection. What I do know is that Cuomo took interest in this far later than he should have.

— Ben Max (@TweetBenMax) January 3, 2019

Now riders will be majorly inconvenienced for 3-5 years instead of 15 months of a total shutdown...#Cuomo plan very light on details except that it's a "breakthrough"

— David Krulewitch (@MovingBlock) January 3, 2019

Cuomo halting the L train shut down at this point is like when you've finally adjusted to life after being dumped and you feel fine in your new life and then they text you "I've been thinking a lot about you." https://t.co/Thcyvn6Efx

— Mel Owens (@melowens) January 3, 2019

Waiting until the last minute to cancel the L train shutdown -- after three years of anxiety, & a lot of uproot -- just to be hailed the hero, is the single most Cuomo thing possible https://t.co/7YBEFv2QUO

— Rebecca Fishbein (@bfishbfish) January 3, 2019

So I guess now the L train will never get fixed? Who does that help?

— Ananda Ferrari Ossanai (@aanunduh) January 3, 2019

Instead of shutting down the L train for necessary repairs we're gonna keep it running but it will be on fire. Enjoy!

— The Masked Zinger™ (@TimDuffy) January 3, 2019

How much has it already cost New Yorkers to pay for L train shutdown preparations that now won't be needed? There are A LOT of questions that need to be answered.

— Conor White (@conorjwhite) January 3, 2019

This 3-year-long L train hidden-ball-trick nonsense is the single most infuritiating event ever to occur

— Armin Rosen (@ArminRosen) January 3, 2019

reading all your L train jokes while on the L, feeling cyberbullied

— Alex Press (@alexnpress) January 3, 2019

Previously on EV Grieve:
Town Hall provides a few more details on the 24/7 construction at 14th and A

Renderings reveal the MTA's plans for the Avenue A L station; why does everyone look so happy?

Nightmare scenario for residents who learn that 14th Street and Avenue A will be the main staging area for the L-train reconstruction