Well folks, while we've seen substantial progress on Hoboken's Washington Street project under Mayor Bhalla, it appears project completion is a bit further down the road (pun intended). According to a July 3rd summary of outstanding change orders from General Contractor T&M Associates to the City of Hoboken:
"At the request of City Administration, our office evaluated the remaining contract work to be completed against the rate of production of work completed to date and it is evident even the revised completion date of September 21, 2018, may not be sufficient.
It should be noted, extensive progress is being made by UUC to achieve the next phase of paving between 5th and 9th Street intersections by the week of July 16, 2018. This includes completing extensive punch list work at 7th Street. But with six (6) intersections remaining to complete drainage, rain garden, curb extension, ADA compliant ramps, traffic signal, microgrid conduit, milling, paving,
signage and striping installation, our office projects an additional 3.5 weeks per intersection or additional 147 days may be needed beyond the time approved within this change order.
Understanding there may be additional time approved within Phase II and Phase III change orders, which may adjust UUC’s contractual completion date, this may still fall short of the time needed to complete the remaining work. "
What does it mean?
It means that Hoboken undertook a major civil engineering project of a 100+ year-old Main Street without a City Engineer in place to safeguard Hoboken. Because at the end of the day, everyone involved in the design and execution of this job is making a buck. If the work gets extended, so what? More time = more money. Everybody gets paid.
That is why cities hire engineers to oversee complex projects which invariably impact its businesses and residents. GA's uncle was the Village of Great Neck Plaza Engineer for over 30 years; he managed and supervised engineering and construction projects for Great Neck, NY.
Without an engineering professional looking out for Hoboken-- someone to review and supervise the project during design and construction and punchlist--someone to hold regular job meetings with the GC, and to keep the pressure on-- that's where this job got into the trouble we "asked" for.
Oh, but it's great for the whiners, grandstanders and obstructionists.
For example, Councilpersons like Tiffanie Fisher and Mike DeFusco who blame the mayor... pure idiocy. Of course, the Mayor should not over-promise on schedule. Instead, the Council should work WITH the Mayor to amp up the pressure on the GC, instead of blowing hot air.
How about it, Tiff and Mike? How about working with the Mayor to put pressure on the GC, and together find a way to accelerate the pace of work?
Yeah, hindsight is 20-20.
Mayor Bhalla has correctly hired an Engineering Director; it's time to let her loose, and to give them hell.
[GA personal note:
About my uncle, who passed away in 2004, he had a distinguished career as the Chief Engineer on many major highway projects in NY and Long Island. From a scholarship created in his name:
"In addition to serving as Village Engineer, Walter Handelman was a retired engineer with the New York State Department of Transportation, and had a long professional engineering career as a Construction Inspector and Engineer-In-Charge on many of the region's major state highway projects, including Prospect Expressway, Major Deegan Expressway, Northern State Parkway, Long Island Expressway (during its original construction in the 1960's and later in the mid 1990's to 2003 during the expansion of the 4th lane (HOV) and bridge widening projects), and the LIE/Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway Interchange Improvement Project. He was also Village Engineer and assisted several other Great Neck peninsula villages on roadway and traffic safety improvement projects."]
[GA personal note:
About my uncle, who passed away in 2004, he had a distinguished career as the Chief Engineer on many major highway projects in NY and Long Island. From a scholarship created in his name:
"In addition to serving as Village Engineer, Walter Handelman was a retired engineer with the New York State Department of Transportation, and had a long professional engineering career as a Construction Inspector and Engineer-In-Charge on many of the region's major state highway projects, including Prospect Expressway, Major Deegan Expressway, Northern State Parkway, Long Island Expressway (during its original construction in the 1960's and later in the mid 1990's to 2003 during the expansion of the 4th lane (HOV) and bridge widening projects), and the LIE/Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway Interchange Improvement Project. He was also Village Engineer and assisted several other Great Neck peninsula villages on roadway and traffic safety improvement projects."]
I somehow got on tiff's email list (not sure how, don't even live in her ward), all she does is complain. never provides suggestions for moving things forward, never puts on a positive face and presents ways to get shit done. just complains, finds fault and points fingers.
ReplyDeleteshe's also a great one for always asking constituents what they think should be done...hey tiff, ya know what? constituents elected YOU to come up with the answers, YOU to be the problem solver. how about you do YOUR freakin' job?
Oh, the woman lies like a rug. In verbose, meandering press releases, she always cites mythical people who "want to know" something which invariably advances a political message or talking point... concocted in cahoots with the Ramos- DeFusco cabal and executed at city council meetings a la Beth Mason.
DeleteAnyone who ever looks at one of the other blogs is de facto on Tiff's email list since the most dangerous place to be standing in Hoboken is between a Tiffanie Fisher announcement and Roman's "post" button.
DeleteAs we now know from Trump, people won’t think if there's an easier option. Bhalla will get blamed - including by people who can't stand Trump.
ReplyDeleteBut this is basically Beth 2.0. A 24/7/365 negative campaign for office. Less than 5% of what you hear is grounded in something other than cynicism. So how much can you worry about it. They’ve decided eat, sleep, bathe and brush their teeth with their own toxicity. Other than remarking on the grossness, there’s not much to add.
Ongoing infrastructure improvements, whether completed on time or on budget, give the detractors of Bhalla and Zimmer before him, much needed sustenance for their chronic complaining. They espouse big ideas, never think things through, cannot initiate anything but how to obstruct, and they kvetch and whine at everything good that is happening that they can't take credit for. When Washington Street is completed, what will these bungling bitches bitch about?
ReplyDeleteAin't it the truth. Someone said the other day, " A year from now nobody will be talking about how long it took, but how good it looks." But, we will all remember the whiny, whining whiners who did nothing but bitch, moan and play politics when their cooperation with the mayor was needed.
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