Governor Hochul Announces Award of $182 Million Utility Relocation Contract for Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Project

 

New York City Based Company Chosen to Start Relocating Complex Underground Utility Infrastructure

SAS Phase 2 Project Will Bring Transit Equity to East Harlem

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has awarded the first construction contract for the extension of the Second Avenue Subway from 96 Street to 125 Street in Harlem to C.A.C. Industries, Inc. a family-owned heavy civil contractor based in New York City, specializing in infrastructure projects. The initial $182 million award is for the first component of the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project, which will finally deliver subway service to residents of East Harlem, one of the most transit-dependent neighborhoods in New York City.

“We're moving full speed ahead to extend the Second Avenue Subway to East Harlem, expanding transit access for thousands of New Yorkers," Governor Hochul said. “This critical milestone will put shovels in the ground for the next phase of this transformative project. East Harlem has dreamed of transit access for decades -- and we're committed to getting the job done.”

This is the first of four construction contracts for the new line, which will extend the Q train from 96 Street to 125 Street, serving more than 100,000 average daily riders and building three new ADA-accessible stations for the East Harlem community. The contract will relocate underground utilities from 105 Street to 110 Street on Second Avenue at the site of the future 106 Street Station, in order to facilitate the subsequent cut-and-cover construction of the station.

New York City has some of the most complex underground utilities networks in the world – much of which is unmapped – which can add delays and costs once projects are underway. Advancing utility relocation ahead of station and tunnel construction is a major lesson learned from Phase 1 of Second Avenue Subway, which will help to reduce unnecessary costs and delays on Phase 2 of the project.In July, the MTA also unveiled new conceptual renderings of the proposed stations for the extension, providing future riders with a first-ever glimpse into the potential station interior and exterior designs. The draft renderings are subject to further design development and are available here.

Revenue from congestion pricing will support $15 billion in funding for critical projects in the MTA's current capital program, which includes Second Avenue Subway Phase 2.

As part of the MTA's commitment to delivering key infrastructure projects better, faster, and cheaper, the first contract for Phase 2 incorporates lessons learned from Second Avenue Subway Phase 1. Addressing utility relocation requirements upfront will reduce the risk of unexpected costs or delays later as construction progresses. The first contract will also include temporary streetscape modifications that will be required during construction, including new bike lanes to replace those that will be impacted by construction on Second Avenue, and building remediation in preparation for future contracts for the new subway station at 106 Street.

Additional cost containment initiatives in Phase 2 include reuse of a tunnel segment that was built in the 1970s from 110 Street to 120 Street along Second Avenue, early real estate acquisition, adoption of best value contract structures like A+B contracts, reduction in back-of-house and ancillary space, and close coordination of contracts.

About Phase 2

The second phase of the project will extend Q train service from 96 Street north to 125 Street and then west on 125 Street to Park Avenue, approximately 1.5 miles in total. There will be two new stations at 106 Street and 116 Street on Second Ave, and a direct passenger connection with the existing 125 Street subway station on the Lexington Avenue subway line. Phase 2 will also feature an entrance at Park Avenue to allow convenient transfers to the Metro-North Railroad 125 Street Station.

Each station will have above-ground ancillary buildings that house ventilation, mechanical, and electrical equipment, as well as space for possible ground-floor retail and community uses. The expansion will serve an additional 100,000 daily riders and provide three new ADA accessible stations -- raising the bar for customer comfort and convenience. Increased multimodal transit connectivity at the 125 Street station at Park Avenue with connections to the 4 5 6, Metro-North trains and the M60 Select Bus Service to LaGuardia Airport, will allow for convenient transfers to other subway and commuter rail lines, facilitating smoother, faster transportation across the city and metropolitan region.

About Phase 1

Phase 1 of the project extended the Q line from 63 Street to 96 Street and was New York City's largest expansion of the subway system in 50 years. Service opened on January 1, 2017, with additional stations at 72 Street and 86 Street. Since its completion, the Second Avenue Subway has carried more than 130 million passengers in total, including more than 200,000 passengers on a typical pre-pandemic day.

News, updates and more from NYC Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr.

 

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

RE-APPOINTED CHAIR OF THE
NYC COUNCIL LAND USE COMMITTEE!

 

Grateful to be re-appointed Chair of the New York City Council’s Land Use Committee!

Thank you to NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and my Council colleagues for your continued trust in me.

DISCUSSING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT WITH STUDENTS AT BOLD CHARTER SCHOOL   Thank you Bold Charter School for inviting me to visit your campus and speak with students about the importance of civic engagement! It’s always a pleasure to visit South Bronx schools and interact with our youth. MEETING WITH NYPD BRONX CHIEF GURLEY   Had a productive discussion with NYPD Bronx Chief Gurley on how our offices can work together to help our South Bronx community and address the issues most pressing to District 17. RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY AT FOREST AVENUE CAMPUS!    Scenes from the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Forest Avenue Campus to celebrate the completion of partial upgrades to their auditorium! For too long, South Bronx children have been left behind with inadequate learning facilities. To address this issue, I will continue to allocate proper funding for District 17 schools so they can complete the necessary upgrades to eliminate this gap and ensure that our students have access to equitable educational spaces. UPCOMING EVENTS CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH AT THE BRONX ZOO    MARK YOUR CALENDARS:  My office will be hosting our annual event at the Bronx Zoo in celebration of Black History Month to honor leaders within our Borough who are creating a lasting, equitable community for us all to be proud of.  *RSVP is REQUIRED to attend. Please email CMSalamanca.events@gmail.com, or call (718) 402-6130 to confirm your attendance.* Visit our District Office at:  1070 Southern Boulevard Bronx, New York 10459 (718) 402-6130 salamanca@council.nyc.gov

New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - To Our Members

 

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENTS WITH DC 37, CWA LOCAL 1180 TO PROVIDE FLEXIBLE WORK, PAY INCREASES TO OVER 1,000 911 OPERATORS, SUPERVISORS

 

Agreements to Offer Three-or Four-Day Workweeks to 911 Operators and Supervisors

 

New Work Flexibility and Increased Pay Will Help Improve Employee Retention and Continue to Deliver High-Quality Emergency Response Services to New Yorkers

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Office of Labor Relations (OLR) Commissioner Renee Campion today announced agreements with District Council 37 (DC 37) and Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1180, collectively representing over 1,000 911 operators and their supervisors. In two years, and less than a year after its first agreement with DC 37, the Adams administration has successfully negotiated contracts with unions representing more than 93 percent of the city’s workforce and 100 percent of the city’s uniformed workforce — the quickest any mayoral administration has reached that milestone in modern city history.  The city has also reached agreements with the entire uniformed workforce under the Adams administration.

 

“When New Yorkers are in crisis, our 911 operators are the first of our first responders to support their fellow New Yorkers. And as we work to ensure New York City remains the safest big city in America, it is essential that these workers are paid fairly with good benefits,” said Mayor Adams. “By allowing our 911 operators to work a more flexible schedule, this contract will build morale, enable us to retain the best talent, and help these essential workers better assist New Yorkers during emergencies. I want to thank my friend, DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido, and CWA Local 1180 President Gloria Middleton for their partnership, as well as our team, led by OLR Commissioner Renee Campion.”

 

“Our 911 operators are an absolutely vital link in a complex chain of first responders who proudly protect New York City’s residents, workers, and visitors,” said New York City Police Department Commissioner Edward A. Caban. “The significance of their work cannot be overstated because 911 is more than just a telephone number — it is a lifeline. Every day and night — approximately nine million times a year — our 911 operators are on the other end of that line when people call for assistance. They simultaneously assure callers that help is on the way, and they quickly convey accurate, timely, and reliable information to emergency personnel on the streets. With this contract settled, our nation’s finest police department can continue to do the work it has long been known for: strengthening relationships in every neighborhood while fighting crime and keeping our great city safe.”

 

“We are proud to have reached an agreement with DC 37 and CWA Local 1180 that provides important work flexibility for their members and seeks to improve the reliability of 911 operations,” said OLR Commissioner Campion. “This agreement demonstrates the progress we can make when labor and management work together, and I’m grateful to DC 37 Executive Director Garrido and CWA Local 1180 President Middleton for their partnership in negotiating this agreement and Mayor Adams for his support.”

 

“Our 911 operators are the first point of contact when New Yorkers face the worst moments of their lives, and they sacrifice so much for our city day in and day out,” said DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido. “We fought to provide fair compensation, overtime limits, and additional relief for our members in these negotiations, and we thank Mayor Adams for working with us to fix these inequities.”

 

“Most of our members in the title of principal police communications technician told us they were already working a 40-hour week despite only being paid for 35 in their base salary,” said CWA Local 1180 President Gloria Middleton. “Instead of comp time for those five hours of overtime, this new deal with the city provides the higher compensation they deserve and allows them the opportunity to work a compressed week that could better suit their families. We are glad the city worked with us expeditiously to resolve the matter.”

 

By providing better work flexibility and increased pay for workers, these agreements will support employee retention and enhance the reliability and efficiency of the city’s emergency service systems.

 

The agreements will launch a pilot program offering three-or four-day workweeks to all 911 operators and their supervisors, building on a previous pilot program that offered a compressed workweek to a limited group of DC 37 employees. The pilot program includes sick leave procedures on seven designated critical response days where worker absences tend to be higher.

 

Starting this year, and every year thereafter, the DC 37 agreement provides eligible 911 operators and their supervisors a recruitment, retention, and attendance incentive in the form of a semi-annual $5,000 bonus — a total of $10,000 per year. The bonus was funded by the DC 37 equity fund that was part of the 2021-2026 DC 37 Memorandum of Agreement announced in February 2023.

 

The CWA Local 1180 agreement provides for salary increases of 14 percent annually for 911 supervisors, as well as a 40-hour workweek, up from 35 hours.

 

 

Wave Hill Weekly Events FEB 8 – FEB 15 | Winter Birding & Soothing Soap Making

 

Snow has blanketed the garden this week and it is absolutely beautiful! The gardens of Wave Hill have been planned so that there is always something in bloom outside every day of the year. The red Idesia against the snow is truly lovely and the great trees look especially majestic. We still have tickets available this weekend (SUN, JAN 21) to the Evening of Transcendent Sound presented with Bronx Arts Ensemble. It should be an amazing day to walk in the garden and then warm up with tea and a meditative experience in our Armor Hall.  

Feb 10-11 brings our last free (with admission) birding walk and a winter soap-making workshop.  

Family Art Project: Fan of Lunar New Year!

Sat, Feb 10, 10:00AM – 1:00PM 

Sun, Feb 11, 10:00AM – 1:00PM

Free with admission to the grounds  

Registration not required. 

Celebrate the start of the Year of the Dragon by learning about its role in the Chinese zodiac. Then, assemble and decorate a fan inspired by "dragons” in nature: lizards, snakes and other creatures that call the Bronx home.  

Soothing Winter Soaps Workshop 

Sun, Feb 11, 1:00PM – 3:00PM  

$65, including admission to the grounds Wave Hill Members save 10% 

Registration required; online or by calling 718.549.3200 x251.  

Make your own cold-processed soap with Melissa Rivera of Holistic Energy Healing. Each batch is made from all natural ingredients, including fragrance and essential oils that soothe winter-weary skin and have an amazing scent! Go home with a full pound of homemade soap, enough for several bars to keep or share. Participants will work in small groups. Ages 12 and older welcome with an adult.  

Winter Birding 

Sun, Feb 11, 9:30AM – 11:00AM  

Free with admission to the grounds 

Registration required; online or by calling 718.549.3200 x251 

The Hudson River Valley hosts an impressive diversity of bird species, even during the winter months. Explore Wave Hill’s tranquil gardens and woodlands with birder guide Paul Keim to observe birds in their winter habitat. Birders of all levels encouraged. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Space is limited. Please bring your own binoculars. Severe weather cancels.  

Garden and Conservatory Highlights Walk 

Sun, Feb 11 1:00PM – 1:45PM 

Free with admission to the grounds 

Registration not required.    

Join a knowledgeable Wave Hill Garden Guide for a leisurely stroll in the gardens. Topics vary by season and the expertise of the Guide--come back for an encore; each walk varies with the Guide leading it. This walk lasts a half-hour to 45 minutes. Public Garden Walks are most appropriate for adults or young adults. 

HOURS: 10AM–4:30PM, Tuesday–Sunday 

Shuttle Service suspended until Spring 

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at wavehill.org.  

Hilcorp San Juan Resolves False Claims Act Claims for Oil and Natural Gas Royalty Underpayments to the United States

 

Hilcorp San Juan L.P., an oil and gas company with offices in Aztec, New Mexico, and Houston, has agreed to resolve allegations that it knowingly underpaid royalties owed on oil and natural gas produced from federal lands. The company has agreed to pay $34.6 million to resolve its False Claims Act and other liability for the conduct.

“U.S. taxpayers deserve a fair share of the revenues received by companies that extract natural resources from public lands” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department remains committed to ensuring that energy companies accurately report and pay to the United States the amount of royalties that are owed for their use of these resources.”

“Oil and gas production is a centerpiece of Houston and Texas’s economies, and for businesses to thrive it’s important that oil and gas companies play by the rules. That’s why my office will vigorously pursue those who deprive the United States of revenue,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. “Royalties from oil and gas production on federal lands help support various public programs, and this settlement demonstrates my steadfast commitment to hold accountable those who fail to pay royalties in full accordance with the law.”

“The obligation to properly pay mineral royalties to the American public and other mineral owners is essential to the responsible development of minerals from lands under Federal jurisdiction, and along with the Office of Natural Resources Revenue and the Office of the Solicitor, the Office of Inspector General is committed to working with the Justice Department to ensure that companies meet their legal responsibilities,” said Special Agent in Charge Ron Gonzales of the Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General’s (DOI-OIG) Energy Investigations Unit. 

Congress allows federal lands to be leased for the production of oil and natural gas in exchange for the payment of royalties on the value of the oil and gas produced. Lessees are required to pay monthly royalties to the federal government for any oil and gas removed or sold from the lease. Although lessees may make estimated royalty payments the month following production, they are required to pay actual royalties at the end of the month following the month in which the estimated payment is made. Lessees are also expected to use a specific transaction code for estimated payments, so that the government can identify circumstances in which a company has temporarily submitted royalties based on estimates. The settlement resolves allegations that, when reporting and paying royalties from August 2017 through December 2018, Hilcorp San Juan knowingly made payments to the federal government based on estimated volumes and prices without indicating that the payments were based on estimates and without subsequently making payments in the following month based on actual volumes and values, resulting in the underpayment of royalties to the United States.  

Hilcorp San Juan cooperated with the United States’ investigation by assisting in the determination of losses and received credit under the department’s guidelines for taking disclosure, cooperation and remediation into account in False Claims Act cases.

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas; and DOI-OIG’s Energy Investigations Unit, Office of the Solicitor, and Office of Natural Resources Revenue.  

Trial Attorney Jonathan Thrope of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Shaitelman for the Southern District of Texas handled the case.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

NYC Public Advocate - MAYOR ADAMS CONTINUES TO LOSE AND ABUSE THE TRUST OF NEW YORKERS

 

New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams released the following statement after Mayor Eric Adams' press conference today which amplified misinformation about Intro 549-A banning solitary confinement and Intro 586-A requiring basic police transparency. On Friday the mayor vetoed these bills, which passed with veto-proof majorities last month.  "I hope that the media will tell New Yorkers the truth about these bills because it’s clear we cannot trust the mayor to. Mayor Adams is threatening the long-term safety of our city every time he speaks about the imaginary legislation he opposes. "Today’s press conference was a grotesque example of the mayor hiding behind the pain and fears of people he misinforms and manipulates. The weakness and shamelessness on display is astonishing. "There was too much misinformation to address individually, but it’s infuriating to see the administration continue to deceive people about these bills and the reality on Rikers and in our streets. In particular, to defend the status quo on Rikers the day after another detainee died under the oversight of this administration, left without so much as a mattress to lay on, is disgusting. The Mayor is downplaying death on Rikers. And to attribute the real risks corrections officers face – including one whose arm as broken yesterday  – to a bill he just vetoed is absurd.  "Whatever the administration wants to categorize a Level One Stop as – today, they breathtakingly asserted it is ‘not a stop,’ the NYPD Patrol Guide already requires logging of those interactions. Is the mayor suggesting officers are already violating the patrol guide? "We can’t hear from Layleen Polanco, Brandon Rodriguez, or Kalief Browder about the need to ban solitary confinement on Rikers, because it took their lives. We can’t hear from Allan Feliz, Delrawn Small, or Eric Garner about the need for accountability and transparency in policing stops. So it’s up to those of us invested in public safety, not political protection, to speak up, call out the misinformation propping up unjust systems, and change those systems." Excerpts refuting the mayor’s misinformation: From the How Many Stops Act: “The term “investigative encounter” means an interaction between a member of the department and a member of the public for a law enforcement or investigative purpose. The term does not include a casual conversation or interaction between a member of the department and a member of the public unless such conversation or interaction is based on or, in the course of such conversation or interaction, an officer develops: an objective credible reason to approach; a founded suspicion that such member of the public has engaged in or will engage in criminal activity; a reasonable suspicion that such member of the public has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime; or a reasonable cause to believe that an offense is being or has been committed. From the Solitary Confinement ban: “Use of restraints. 1. The department shall not place an incarcerated person in restraints unless an individualized determination is made that restraints are necessary to prevent an imminent risk of self-injury or injury to other persons. In such instances, only the least restrictive form of restraints may be used and may be used no longer than is necessary to abate such imminent harm. Restraints shall not be used on an incarcerated person under the age of 22 except in the following circumstances: (i) during transportation in and out of a facility, provided that during transportation no person shall be secured to an immovable object; and (ii) during escorted movement within a facility to and from out-of-cell activities where an individualized determination is made that restraints are necessary to prevent an immediate risk of self-injury or injury to other persons." From the NYPD Patrol Guide:

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - Upcoming Events