Daily News: After more than 3 years and $1 billion, PA backtracks on WTC transit hub

[MTR Admiralty]

After more than three years and $1 billion, Port Authority backtracks on WTC transit hub, again

BY Douglas Feiden

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

 

Friday, April 24th 2009, 4:00 AM

 

After more than three years and $1 billion, the Port Authority is again reinventing the way it will build the troubled transportation hub planned for Ground Zero.

 

The agency Thursday said it's removing its general contractor from the grandiose project that has repeatedly busted its budget and muffed its deadlines - and will take over the daunting task of managing construction itself.

 

At stake is the $3.2 billion budget and 2014 opening date of a four-level, Santiago Calatrava-designed mega-terminal with soaring wings and a retractable roof.

 

In a struggle to stay on track, the PA is opening up all future work to competitive bidding - a move it nixed just seven months ago, when it said such a step would "increase project risk" and "add uncertainty."

 

The Port Authority is also ousting Phoenix Constructors - a joint venture of four industry giants with whom it had a tortured relationship - from its dual role as construction manager and general contractor.

 

The PA says it will tackle the job.

 

The new plan opens the PATH terminal project to competitive bidding while letting Phoenix wrap up its work on underground pedestrian tunnels, below-grade steel and other aspects of the job.

[metsfan]

Nothing worth doing is ever easy.

 

- A

[MTR Admiralty]

IMO, I think everything will go according to plan. But it would just take time.

While it's not done yet, or matter of fact, has not started real construction yet, the Fulton Street project was said to revert back to its original plan (a high visibility SOA structure) after the MTACC plans on scrapping the above grade structure indefinitely.

[metsfan]

I just want it done all ready & done properly.

 

- A

[MTR Admiralty]

They will probably open the mezzanine first, in conjunction with the Memorial. Then they will add the above-grade structure.