Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Andrew Cuomo

What Went Wrong With Second Avenue Subway Construction? The MTA Doesn’t Want You to Know.

The MTA doesn’t want you to know what’s behind these numbers. Image: RPA

MTA capital construction costs are higher than those of any other comparable transit system on the planet. Upgrading the subway system and building expansion projects hinges on wresting these exorbitant costs under control.

At the end of last year, the Times published an expose by Brian Rosenthal detailing the sources of MTA construction bloat -- the no-show jobs, poor oversight of contracting, and lavish spending on consultants that enrich favored firms while depriving New York of the transit system it needs.

While MTA board members are making noise about better contracting, and reporters continue to connect the dots between Governor Cuomo's campaign donors and his mismanagement of the MTA, not much has changed since Rosenthal's story dropped.

An agency that spent a world-beating $1.3 billion per mile to build the Second Avenue Subway might want to enlist all the help it can get to bring costs down. But that's not how the MTA operates. When the New York Times filed a freedom of information request for Second Avenue Subway contractor evaluations, the MTA declined:

https://twitter.com/brianmrosenthal/status/1022134442893225984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

What makes the MTA's refusal all the more galling is that even if you accept the excuse about "opinions and evaluations," the agency should have released the documents with redactions, instead of hiding them all.

"They're flouting law," Rosenthal tweeted, "which allows withholding a record only if it'll impair an imminent contract award."

Hopefully the Times takes the MTA to court, where the agency may delay but won't be able to keep these documents out of public view forever.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Five Ways New NYPD Boss Jessica Tisch Can Fix Our Dangerous Streets

If the Sanitation Commissioner wants to use her new position to make city streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists, here's where she can start.

November 21, 2024

What Do the Mayoral Candidates Think Of ‘City of Yes’?

Too bad for Hizzoner that challengers Zellnor Myrie, Brad Lander, Scott Stringer, Jessica Ramos and Zohran Mamdani — all Democrats — aren't on the Council. 

November 21, 2024

Thursday’s Headlines: ‘Tisch Gets Wish in Rich Commish Switch’ Edition

We were pleasantly surprised that Mayor Adams chose Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch to give the NYPD a clean sweep. Plus other news.

November 21, 2024

‘Stars On Cars’ Rating System Will Finally Grade How Safe Vehicles Are For People Their Drivers Hit

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has finally changed the nation's consumer safety rating system for new automobiles to accommodate vulnerable road users.

November 21, 2024

Who is Trump’s Would-Be US DOT Secretary Sean Duffy?

Former Fox News host, congressman, reality TV star and competitive lumberjack Sean Duffy has said he wants to "take an ax" to Washington. Will non-automotive modes get the chop, too?

November 20, 2024
See all posts