By Philip Newman
MTA Chairman Jay Walder says it might better to shut down large parts of a subway line in order to finish the work faster rather than inconveniencing straphangers over a much longer period.
Walder’s comments came on Thursday after City Comptroller John Liu and state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli questioned whether frequent shutdowns for track work were actually necessary.
Walder’s thought is to get the work done more quickly.
“The idea is that we would get in there and get the work done in a very concentrated period of time,” Walder said.
The MTA chief said that in the London subway system — where he was among top honchos before taking over in New York — it is not uncommon to shut down an entire subway line for maintenance.
Walder said he and New York City Transit Authority President Thomas Prendergast had made no decision as yet.
DiNapoli and Liu announced they would conduct a joint audit of the MTA as well as look into whether — as Liu put it — “‘necessary track work’ has become a black hole of justification for projects that delay the service.”
