MTA: Upgrades to subway signal system delayed on F and G lines
NEW YORK -- A billion dollar plan to upgrade the MTA's subway signal system is being delayed by years, CBS2 has learned.
So what went wrong? CBS2's Elijah Westbrook has been investigating the issue and spoke with the MTA's president of construction and development.
The R-160 passenger cars that dominate the F and G lines are equipped to use technology called, "Communications Based Train Control," also known as CBTC. It's a more modern approach in getting trains to run faster and closer together.
The MTA says the technology has shown to improve on-time service by 23% on the 7 and L trains. But there's a problem impacting the rollout of the tech on the F and G.
"The project has been delayed by basically a situation where we were replacing a number of track ties," MTA's President of Construction and Development Jamie Torres-Springer told Westbrook.
Torres-Springer says the agency is pointing the finger at Tutor Perini, which was awarded $253 million to do the work.
The contractor states on its website, "The project scope of work consists of the complete CBTC signal system overlay on NYCT's Culver Line between West 8th Street and Church Avenue in the borough of Brooklyn, New York including signal system modernization for the Avenue X and Ditmas Avenue interlockings, trackwork and construction of three relay room buildings."
However, the MTA says part of that work is being delayed.
"Unfortunately, our contractor did make some errors in the measurements that they made, and so there were some issues in the fabrication of those very specific ties, and that has caused a cascading delay in the project," said Torres-Springer. "We're not happy with where we are right now. I mentioned that very clearly at the board that we have a lot of work to do."
The MTA said there are no service disruptions currently on the F and G lines due to this hiccup. But it anticipates some in the future while the CBTC program is being rolled out on those specific lines in Brooklyn.
