New Subway Station Opening Delayed By 1 Inch

It's expected to cost $200,000 to fix the gap problem

The grand opening of New York City's first new subway station in 20 years is being delayed by an inch.

The gap between the platform and the train at the $530 million South Ferry subway station is an inch too wide in some places, exceeding the three inch maximum allowed by federal regulations, transit officials said.
Riders will have to wait another three to four weeks before they can use the stations. To fix the problem, authorities plan to install wider rubbing boards, a plastic strip that protects the platform edge from swaying trains. It's expected to cost an additional $200,000, according to a report in the New York Daily News.

The MTA plans to investigate what caused the expensive mistake.

"We're looking to determine who is at fault, and if it turns out to be one of our contractors, then we'll pursue having them cover the cost," MTA spokesman Jeremy Soffin told the Daily News.

The station was slated to open in December 2007, but experienced several delays.

The project is 80 percent federally funded and is part of the lower Manhattan recovery effort launched after 9/11.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
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