The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced the Second Avenue Subway Community Outreach Program was selected to receive a Silver Award by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of New York.  

Construction of the $4.45 billion Second Avenue Subway project is taking place on the Upper East Side, one of the most densely populated census areas in the nation. MTA Capital Construction (MTACC) developed a Community Outreach Program, which includes Public Workshops, Construction Advisory Committees, monthly newsletters, community underground tours and the creation of a Community Information Center.

MTACC also launched the Good Neighbor Initiative, a field team that addresses a broad range of environmental enhancements such as construction site cleanliness and maintenance, fence wrapping, retail and way-finding signage, sidewalk width and lighting issues. Blasting impacts were mitigated using muck systems located in the 72nd Street and 86th Street station construction areas to control noise, dust and smoke where possible. This Community Outreach program is being supported by Parsons Brinckerhoff and their sub-consultant Sam Schwartz Engineering.

“We’ve been very creative in developing the community outreach program for this project. This award recognizes the work of the community outreach team, as well as the participation of residents and businesses that we’ve partnered with, to find ways to mitigate the construction impacts,” said Dr. Michael Horodniceanu, president, MTA capital construction.

Phase 1 of the Second Avenue Subway will extend the Q Subway Line Icon train east from 57th Street-7th Avenue to Lexington Av-63rd Street and will continue to new stations along Second Avenue at 96th, 86th and 72nd Streets. It is one of the biggest subway expansion projects currently underway in the United States. Phase 1 is scheduled to be completed in December 2016.