Extracting the Central Subway tunnel boring machines

Save Muni sends along this notice on the Central Subway:

 

RE: HEARINGS on PAGODA THEATER and CENTRAL SUBWAY TUNNEL BORING MACHINES (TBMs)

 

Feel free to attend to hear about the latest plans and to make comments. Everyone is working together to avoid disruption to North Beach’s businesses and neighbors. But many questions remain, especially after a fire alarm cut off questions at the 1-22-13 Community Meeting. Many folks asked for technical studies of other TBM extraction methods.

MTA BOARD: Director’s Report on Pagoda Theater/Extraction of TBMs

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013, 3 PM (near beginning of meeting).

At City Hall, Room 400

AGENDA

PLANNING COMMISSION: Pagoda Theater Special Use District

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013, (12 PM Start) Item 10a, 12:30 PM+ at City Hall, Room 400

AGENDA and the EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

Because the 1-22-13 Community Meeting ended with the fire alarm, we should ask for another community meeting to answer community questions.

 

1. Why not stop TBMs at Chinatown per the Central Subway’s original design plans? Economically, it is illogical to spend $80-100 million for the northern tunnel extension to North Beach and the Pagoda Theater to get only $4-6 million in TBM salvage value. At the 1-22-13 Community Meeting, Director Ed Reiskin promised that the North Beach tunnel would be used ONLY for TBM extraction, not for years of delivery/storage of materials to Chinatown’s construction. The northern tunnel has no function other than for TBM extraction, an unnecessary expense.

 

2. How are cutter heads and supporting structures removed? There have been changing explanations about extraction processes and why North Beach is required for extraction.

 

3. Why not bury TBMs, like Brisbane, the Chunnel and in New York? The extra cost for the Pagoda site and for the 2,000 foot tunnel from Chinatown are unnecessary expenses that can offset extra  contractor’s expenses.