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| photo by Jose Martinez/The City |
THE CITY
Even
after large pieces of debris plunged from the 7 train’s elevated
structure down onto the street several times this year, the MTA isn’t
ready to put up safety nets.
Queens Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer requested netting under the tracks above Roosevelt Avenue following a series of high-profile spills.
But
“netting would impede access, close-up inspection, and assessment of
corrosion or defects on the structure and cause extensive street level
traffic disruption to install and secure,” New York City Transit
Authority President Andy Byford wrote in a recent letter to Van Bramer
obtained by THE CITY.
Byford
wrote that New York City Transit is “exploring engineering designs and
preliminary costs” before making a “final determination” on the netting.
Van
Bramer in March had asked for the MTA to install netting after debris
from the elevated tracks repeatedly plunged onto Roosevelt Avenue. In February,
a piece of wood pierced the windshield of a passing for-hire vehicle,
prompting a pledge from the MTA to inspect “every inch of elevated
tracks in the city.”
“Until
the MTA is 100 percent certain that nothing is going to fall from those
elevated tracks and potentially kill someone, we’ve got to do something
to protect the people underneath,” Van Bramer told THE CITY on
Wednesday.
Some Queens residents said they take extra care when traveling bustling Roosevelt Avenue.
“I
just walk quickly when I’m under the tracks,” said Amelia Carrillo, 73.
“It’s not like I’m going to walk around with a hardhat on.”
“It’s
an old structure,” said Lucas Reyes, 58, as he walked beneath the
elevated tracks at 61st Street-Woodside stop. “You don’t want anything
falling on your head.”
Byford
noted that New York City Transit has nearly completed emergency
engineering and maintenance inspections along the No. 7 line’s elevated
structure, with crews removing loose materials and spotting steel repair
needs.
Two
more “blitz inspections” are underway — to replace any missing track
baskets that are supposed to keep loose parts from falling on to the
street and to make sure track ties are secure.
“I’ve
had people tell me they avoid that area now,” Van Bramer said. “I’ve
had constituents say, ‘I try not to drive under there, I try not to walk
under there.’”
3 comments:
Head down, with helmet on. Head up and it hits your face.
It'll take the entire thing falling down to street level for anything to be done. Pathetic. Sadly every president I remember running for office ran on upgrading and improving the "infrastructure". It all continues to crumble around us with nothing being done, as these idiots continue to tie Trup up with nonsense. I believe he's the one person who has really wanted to get stuff done, but his disgusting opponents have made it impossible.
Nets or no nets, You need to worry far more about 3rd word diseased infested spit hitting you then metal. Its so bad some of the people getting off that train are now wearing these blue paper surgical masks.
All over Main street Flushing too.
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