Program Number: C020-15012013
Project Controls for the Number 7 Subway Line Extension
in Manhattan, NY
Category: A
Activity Sponsor: PMINJ Chapter (C020)
PDUs: - 1.5
Leadership - 0.5
Strategic - 0.5
Technical - 0.5
The $2.4 billion program to extend New York
City Transit’s No. 7 Subway Line to the west side of midtown
Manhattan is a unique undertaking. For the first time subway
service will be provided to this section of the City. It
will engender transformation of neighborhoods largely
characterized by parking garages and low-rise former
manufacturing facilities to a complete change in the City’s
skyline. Extremely tall commercial office buildings,
residential towers, restaurants and entertainment centers
are being planned and designed. Some have already been
constructed, while others are underway.
The subway line is being extended 1.5 miles from its
current terminus at Times Square. The first of six
construction contracts, a massive $1.1 billion effort ---
the largest single contract ever awarded by NYC
Transit---created subway tunnels, a mammoth cavern for a new
underground station at 34th Street and 11th Avenue and the
station’s structures. Tunnel Boring Machines and controlled
blasting were used and resulted in several technical
“firsts”. This contract was completed in April 2012, five
months ahead of plan. It has already received several
regional and national awards for its design and
construction. Operational service of the extension is to be
initiated in mid-2014. It is expected that ultimately the
station will be the busiest in the City.
The No. 7 Line Extension is a fast track program. It
has undergone numerous changes since its inception in 2002.
Despite such changes, adherence to budget and schedule have
always been paramount to the project’s
planning/design/construction management team. As the program
is funded by tax-free City bonds to be repaid by taxes
generated by the anticipated real estate developments,
budget management is particularly important. Whenever
possible, during the various stages of the project,
opportunities to conserve money (or time) have been
identified, evaluated and implemented when
appropriate. Overall, total expenditures are
forecast to be completed within budget.
From the beginning construction safety has been touted
as the program’s top daily concern. To date, accident rates
are significantly below national averages. Stringent quality
assurance programs, during both design and construction,
have similarly been the focus of attention. The results have
been reflected in minimal numbers of change orders and
instances of nonconformance from design plans and
specifications.
Bio:
Mark J. Schiffman is employed by MTA Capital
Construction as a Vice President and Deputy Program
Executive. He is engaged in design and construction of the
$2.4 billion No. 7 Subway Line Extension in Manhattan. His
direct responsibilities are to oversee design and “project
controls”, i.e., all aspects of scheduling, financial
management, quality assurance, safety, environmental
compliance and other matters, pertaining to the project.
Mark joined MTACC in 2008. For more than 35 previous
years he had been employed by several different
planning/engineering-architectural design/construction
management consulting firms. He was responsible for
management of their offices in New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania and New England.
His technical experience includes work on a wide
variety of public and private works projects. They include
roads, highways, bridges, buildings (commercial,
residential, industrial), utilities, rail and bus transit
facilities, and others.
Mark is a licensed Professional Engineer and an
attorney. He received a B.S. (major – civil engineering)
from Cornell University, a Master of Engineering (major –
traffic and transportation) from the University of South
Carolina, and a Juris Doctor from the University of North
Carolina (Chapel Hill).
Topic: Networking Well is An Art
Topic: Quarterly Panel Discussion
The PMINJ PMO LCI hosted its quarterly Panel
Discussion facilitated by the core PMO LCI team. It was an
interactive session where participants had an opportunity to
discuss best practices, challenges, and other information
about PMOs. We welcome your input to make each panel
discussion useful to you and fellow LCI members.