Hello. We've talked a lot about the tunnel work, and what we're doing to prevent future Superstorm Sandy-situations for our subways. But we know protected street vents aren't going to help you get to work on time during rush hour on a regular dry day. So we checked in with our construction managers for an update on two of the three substations we're building that will help solve that problem—they'll power more L trains when the project is done.
Also: how pink became a thing, we reached a mini milestone in the tunnel work, and a reminder that the new (and still free) Williamsburg Link route, the B91A, starts today. Have a super weekend.
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Progress at one of three substations we're building as part of the L Project. This substation is located in Brooklyn near Harrison Ave.
Photo: MTA New York City Transit / Wed., June 5, 2019
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Update: What's happening with those things in Brooklyn that will bring you more L trains, AKA substations
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We've talked about the progress of one of the substations we're building for the L Project (on 14th St in Manhattan). So what's happening with the other two substations, located near Harrison Ave and Maspeth Ave in Brooklyn?
It might look like they're building a green jungle gym of sorts (see photo above), but there's a lot more to it. Here's the latest:
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Harrison Ave (in photo)
Completed:
- Excavation: This one goes 55-60 ft below ground
- Pouring and finishing the concrete floor
Currently working on:
- Rebar installation (the green-ish bars in the photo), which creates a foundation to build the walls
- Preparing to pour the concrete along the rebar
What's next:
- Taking the work fully underground, which also means giving back the street
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Maspeth Ave
Completed:
- Excavation: The team dug 70 ft down
- Rebar, walls, floor and roof
- Waterproofing the inside of the structure, including the walls and floor
Currently working on:
- Wiring up the equipment so we can connect to power
What's next:
- Fixing up the street
- Connecting the building to the L's tracks
- Testing the electricity (which comes from Con Edison)
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Reminder: new B91A Williamsburg Link bus route starts TODAY
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The modified Williamsburg Link service includes a new route with new stops, the B91A. This will replace the current B91 and B92, and goes into effect Saturday, June 8, 2019.
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As we mentioned last week, we're making changes to the Williamsburg Link bus service. The goal of this service is to get you to alternate subway options fast, and so we've modified the route and frequencies based on how you've been using it. The changes go into effect today with one new route—the B91A—replacing the current B91 and B92.
Check out the map here or the link below for more information on the new bus route.
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How the L Project turned pink
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Many of you and our Twitter friends have told us you like the pink look (thank you) and wondered how it came to be.
Here’s the story (details of late nights working in the office with average takeout food removed; you’re welcome):
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When our marketing and communications team had its L Project kick-off (yes, we did everything “in-house,” as we say in the marketing biz), we were focused on two things:
1. Reaching as many L (and J, M and G) customers as possible with the right information in a way that works for you, and
2. Making it as easy as possible to navigate the service changes, whether you're a regu-L-er or a visitor.
As we made our own plan, we also phoned a few friends—including our colleagues at transit agencies around the world. We talked with Transport for London's team about a 2018 project in which one major connecting station was skipped for several months. And we spoke with Sydney's team about a rail line upgrade that meant thousands of customers had to use an alternate bus service for about nine months.
Both agencies shared that the most important thing they did was to make all information about the project look totally different. Sydney mentioned that it was tough to find a color that they didn't currently use in their system—a bright, fluorescent pink was the only one they could find.
So we sat down with our design team and looked at some options: teal, neon green and hot pink were the top choices. We tested all of them across our digital screens, tweaked shading to differentiate from other brands that also happen to advertise in our subways and buses, and, well, you know the rest.
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Construction look-ahead: Week of 6/8/19
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Check out the photo below for info on a mini milestone we reached last weekend. And here's what's on tap for this week:
- Continue to work on cabling: pulling fiber and communications cables near the N 7th fan plant and Avenue B, and pulling the pump room feeder and fiber cables at Bedford Av Station
- Restore liner wall from Avenue D to the pump room
- Accessibility work on the 1 Av Station platform
- Swap more plates and ties: between Bedford Ave and N 7th
- Install cables and tunnel lighting brackets from Bedford Ave to N 7th
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Glamour shot of the week: Now you see it, now you don't
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Our demolition work for the project started with the wall duct. Over the weekend, we completed the wall duct demolition and smoothing process within the tube we're currently working. This photo, taken prior to that completion, shows where the wall duct demolition and sealing is done, and what part still needs to be sealed.
Photo: Trent Reeves / MTA Capital Construction / Monday, May 20, 2019
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