{"id":354276,"date":"2021-10-18T04:06:46","date_gmt":"2021-10-18T01:06:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/86m-bus-war-room-empty-falling-apart-two-years-later\/"},"modified":"2021-10-18T04:06:46","modified_gmt":"2021-10-18T01:06:46","slug":"86m-bus-war-room-empty-falling-apart-two-years-later","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/86m-bus-war-room-empty-falling-apart-two-years-later\/","title":{"rendered":"#$86M bus &#8216;war room&#8217; empty, falling apart two years later"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;<strong>#$86M bus &#8216;war room&#8217; empty, falling apart two years later<\/strong>&#8221;<\/p>\n<div>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n        <\/aside>\n<p>Brooklyn, we have a problem.<\/p>\n<p>The MTA spent $86 million on a state-of-the-art, NASA-like \u201cbus command center\u201d that has gone unused for more than two years because it\u2019s already falling apart, The Post has learned. <\/p>\n<p>Transit officials have said the\u00a0eastern Brooklyn command\u00a0center, which replaces a smaller facility across the street, will serve as a \u201cwar room\u201d for\u00a0bus\u00a0dispatchers. But the building has sat empty since former Transit President Andy Byford and other big-wigs held a celebratory ribbon cutting there in June 2019.<\/p>\n<p>With the building at Jamaica Avenue and Fanchon Place having suffered leaks, faulty heating and bug-infested bathrooms, dispatchers who are supposed to work there have refused to relocate from across the street, sources said. <\/p>\n<p>The ribbon Byford cut with then-MTA Buses President Darryl Irick in 2019 said \u201cgrand opening,\u201d but dispatchers only started to move into the building last winter, sources said. That lasted only a few months because the heat did not work and the building\u2019s electrical system couldn\u2019t handle the worker\u2019s space heaters.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/mta-command-center-22.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"The MTA spent $86 million on a state-of-the-art \u201cbus command center\u201d that has been sitting empty for more than two years because it\u2019s already falling apart, The Post has learned. \" class=\"wp-image-19832886\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/mta-command-center-22.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/mta-command-center-22.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/mta-command-center-22.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Transit officials have said the command\u00a0center will serve as a \u201cwar room\u201d for\u00a0bus\u00a0dispatchers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The MTA has not communicated plans for when the building will reopen.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s falling apart. It had roof leaks. The place is empty and the employees refuse to work there,\u201d said one bus worker. \u201cThey have to put in electric heaters just to keep warm.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-nypost-medium-post is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/mta-command-center-27.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=322\" alt=\"The MTA spent $86 million on a state-of-the-art \u201cbus command center\u201d that has been sitting empty for more than two years because it\u2019s already falling apart, The Post has learned. Photo provided Oct. 17, 2021.\" class=\"wp-image-19832889\" width=\"320\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/mta-command-center-27.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=640 640w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/mta-command-center-27.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=480 480w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/mta-command-center-27.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=320 320w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/mta-command-center-27.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=160 160w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/mta-command-center-27.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\"\/><figcaption>The building has sat empty since a celebratory ribbon cutting there in June 2019.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>MTA officials have promised to hire additional dispatchers to fill the new command center\u2019s massive theater, but photos obtained by The Post show the so-called \u201cwar room\u201d empty \u2014 with the computers running and cable playing on the TVs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019re keeping the heating and ventilation system running. They can\u2019t let it freeze up. They\u2019re paying thousands of dollars in cable bills with TVs on and no one\u2019s there,\u201d said the source. \u201cIt\u2019s a brand new building and it looks horrible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat place has been a mess since it started,\u201d said another worker, who shared photos of dropped ceilings, an infested bathroom and cracked glass in a section of the building meant to protect workers from chemical attacks.<\/p>\n<p>The command center was initially supposed to cost $55 million and wrap up in 2017. Completion was ultimately kicked to June 2019 due to issues with the building\u2019s drainage and sprinkler systems.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/mta-command-center-26.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"The MTA spent $86 million on a state-of-the-art \u201cbus command center\u201d that has been sitting empty for more than two years because it\u2019s already falling apart, The Post has learned. \" class=\"wp-image-19832893\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/mta-command-center-26.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/mta-command-center-26.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/mta-command-center-26.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>The command center was initially supposed to cost $55 million and wrap up in 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The building was constructed by MPCC Corp., a contracting company based in Westchester County.<\/p>\n<p>A related project to upgrade the MTA\u2019s bus radio system has been repeatedly delayed, in part due to \u201cpoor contractor quality\/productivity,\u201d according to publicly available MTA board materials. Once slated to cost $283 million, the radio project cost has increased to $294 as of November 2020. <\/p>\n<p>MTA rep Aaron Donovan said the command center is now set to open \u201cin the first half of next year.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/101721MTABUSES4GPM.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"New MTA Bus Operations Command Center, 51 Fanchon Place, Brooklyn, New York\" class=\"wp-image-19832894\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/101721MTABUSES4GPM.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/101721MTABUSES4GPM.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/101721MTABUSES4GPM.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>The\u00a0eastern Brooklyn command\u00a0center replaces a smaller facility across the street.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Gregory P. Mango<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThe upgraded Bus Command Center is the first part of a complex project to improve service for bus customers by bringing our service management into the 21st century with a state-of-the-art bus radio system,\u201d Donovan said in a statement. \u201cLike most of the capital program, the project was temporarily placed on pause during the pandemic.\u201d\n                        <\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/10\/17\/86m-bus-war-room-empty-falling-apart-two-years-later\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#$86M bus &#8216;war room&#8217; empty, falling apart two years later&#8221; Brooklyn, we have a problem. The MTA spent $86 million on a state-of-the-art, NASA-like \u201cbus command center\u201d that has gone unused for more than two years because it\u2019s already falling apart, The Post has learned. Transit officials have said the\u00a0eastern Brooklyn command\u00a0center, which replaces a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":354277,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/newspress-collage-19831116-1634521856529.png?w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[117645,1146,70865,71452],"class_list":["post-354276","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-10-17-21","tag-buses","tag-government-spending","tag-mta"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/354276","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=354276"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/354276\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/354277"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=354276"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=354276"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=354276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}