Subway Construction Raises Blasting, Rodent Questions

Residents were looking for answers about several issues that have recently arisen surrounding Second Avenue subway construction, but the MTA was not there to hear their questions. Complaints about [loud blasting] during evening hours, rats and a plan to temporarily relocate residents from 28 apartments went unanswered at the March 24 meeting of Community Board 8"s Second Avenue subway task force. MTA officials were scheduled to attend the meeting, but canceled. Board members were upset, and drafted a resolution stating that the MTA"s absence was â??unacceptable, disrespectful and an insult to the Community Board and the concerned members of the public. The full board will vote on the resolution at its next meeting. According to MTA spokesperson Aaron Donavan, officials did not attend the meeting because of pending litigation involving an ancillary facility on East 69th Street. â??It would have been unproductive and inappropriate for the representatives to attend the meeting, Donovan said. Board members thought the MTA should have come anyway to address construction concerns unrelated to the litigation. Members of the public who attended the meeting were asked to write down their complaints, which the board promised to submit to the MTA. The board plans to post responses on its website, www.cb8m.com. Indeed, attorneys representing residents of 233 E. 69th St. presented their lawsuit against the MTA at the meeting. The lawsuit contends that a modified design for ancillary facilities introduced in late 2009 differs vastly from the initial plan approved in 2004, and does not match the neighborhood"s residential character. Ancillary buildings for ventilation will be built at several points along the line, including East 63rd, 83rd, 86th, 72nd, 93rd and 97th streets. Board members also heard complaints about changes in blasting. Residents have reported that blasting has gotten louder and occurred later in the evening, starting in early March. The MTA previously acknowledged that there was a new kind of blasting, which is needed for the excavation of the starter tunnels, but said that nothing had gone on past 8 p.m. However, a video posted by [Launch Box](http://thelaunchbox.blogspot.com/) blogger Ben Heckscher [documented](http://nypress.com/2010/03/24/blasting-after-8-p-m/) one March 19 blast on the southwest corner of East 92nd Street and Second Avenue at 8:45 p.m. The MTA sent out notices of the blasting electronically and posted them at onsite bulletin boards in November and February. A third notice was sent out by Sam Schwartz Engineering March 25. â??You may have noticed that the blasts are slightly louder and longer in duration compared to the launch box blasts and this is due to the confined area of the starter tunnels, the notice said. The notice explained that these blasts take longer to prepare and are therefore occurring later in the day, at approximately 8 p.m., but are permitted to take place as late as 10 p.m. â??Every effort has been made to limit blasting to daylight hours, the notice said. But many Upper East Siders say they didn"t know until they heard and felt the blasts. The ground shook beneath Joseph Puglisi, superintendent of 320 E. 72nd St., as he walked along First Avenue the night of March 23. â??You hear the charges's the whistle blows, there are three blasts, and then you can feel the rumble, Puglisi said. Residents also complained that the repeated blasts, expected to continue through mid-April, are causing cracks in walls and scattering rats in the vicinity. Since the rat infestation occurs outside the construction zone, the MTA says it is not responsible for the problem. Board 8 has asked the MTA to reach out to the Department of Health about the rodents. Meanwhile, in May construction workers will reinforce the internal structure of six residential buildings between East 94th and 97th streets. Residents from 28 apartments will have to relocate for 30 to 60 days, according to MTA spokesperson Donovan. Tenants were notified of the move in a March 22 letter. The MTA maintains that the buildings are currently safe for occupancy and that the reinforcements are solely a â??preventative measure to ensure the buildings" structural integrity. State Sen. JosÃ&Copy; M. Serrano, who represents the area, sent a letter with other elected officials to the MTA regarding the displacement of residents. He is scheduled to meet with the MTA April 6 to discuss the impact of the subway project on residents.