MTA to make late-night house calls along Second Avenue Subway construction site

Rather than take Upper East Siders’ word, Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials want to experience sleepless nights along Second Avenue for themselves. According to the New York Post, transit officials plan to make late-night visits to apartments near the Second Avenue Subway construction site that has elicited constant noise complaints from neighbors.

“Engineers offered to visit a sample of apartments to assess the noise in order to evaluate the residents’ experience with respect to a potential mitigation strategy,” said an MTA spokesperson. No dates have been set for visits, but if local residents’ complaints are accurate the officials can expect noises that have only grown louder over time.

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In an attempt to placate the community, the MTA banned blasting after 7 p.m. several months ago. But noise complaints have risen regardless. The restriction forced the MTA to take care of blasting earlier in the day and move drilling and jackhammering work to later hours. Locals say that work produces even louder sounds.

But there was no mention of how the MTA plans to appease local landlords who have suffered from declining rents in the area, even as rates rise in surrounding communities. [Post]