Open For Business ** Shop 2nd Ave ** It’s Worth It!
A cryptic poster on a city bus that says absolutely nothing. Typical of the MTA.
The punishment for the person who wrote this slogan should be to live in an apartment adjacent to the constant construction.
Below is the text of this MTA sign pictured above that “encourages” shoppers.
The many interesting shops, restaurants and services on Second Avenue are open while MTA Capital Construction builds the Second Avenue Subway. Shop Second Avenue. It’s Worth It!
Visit mta.info and click on the Capital Construction link for more about your local shops, restaurants and services.
The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce is a partner with MTA Capital Construction in support of local establishments as construction continues on the Second Avenue Subway.
This is going to convince anyone to shop in the construction zone?
Lame signs do not get people to shop in an area that is having many of its businesses being decimated by the constant construction for the Second Avenue Subway project. The poor business owners and residents along the construction route have suffered since 2007 and many stores have gone under in the intervening four-plus years.
Solutions, Not Signs
More people might patronize the establishments on Second Avenue if the MTA didn’t in a prima facie way, block access to the stores along the construction path. One side of certain streets appear to be inaccessible. Maybe the MTA could cut down on the hours that allowed filth and noise to be generated. Or just make a conscious effort to make the streets more inviting by not chopping the sidewalks to half their normal width and blocking re-routing crosswalks, making it difficult for pedestrians to stroll.
Plus the area is just plain ugly. It seems little or no thought was given into making the avenue look more appealing. The fences, walls and temporary banners give Second Avenue a very shabby appearance. In many places Second Avenue looks more like a post-war zone, not a construction zone.
Originally the MTA projected the first phase from 105th Street to 72nd Street of the Second Avenue subway would be completed in 2014. It is of course delayed and over budget. If they don’t run out of funds it might be completed by June 2018.
One side note: the entire first phase of the original New York City subway from City Hall to 145th Street, (almost nine miles) was built in just over four years from March 27, 1900 – October 26, 1904.
