A $4 billion bird takes flight in New York City

The World Trade Center (WTC) Transportation Hub. With a main hall (called the Oculus) that’s longer that that of Grand Central Terminal’s Main Concourse and a skylight that opens and closes, it definitely screams shiny and huge. This is the cornerstone of a developing underground complex connecting several office buildings and train services together under one roof.

Previously, only Brookfield Place, 1 WTC, and West and Vesey Streets were part of this labyrinth. With the opening of the Oculus yesterday, March 3rd (EST), 4 WTC and Liberty Street have been added to the underground complex. Except this means most of the Transportation Hub is still under construction. And this is where, despite the grandeur of this project, the flaws come through.

Problem one: It’s an example of overspending

The entire project so far has cost $4 billion. Although there is utility, such as underground connections between train services and office buildings, as well as a nice piece of artwork to boot, this is simply too much money to put into a project that serves fewer people per day than the Grand Central subway station. In fact, the New York (NY) Port Authority considered not having an opening ceremony, calling the structure “a symbol of excess.” In addition, the whole hub was supposed to cost half the amount it does now.

More importantly, there are better places where the same money can be used. Let’s forget for a second that the Port Authority is a transportation company, and assume that the money could be used by anybody. Also, let’s further assume the project ran on budget, meaning there would be just $2 billion available. Here are examples of what else could be done with that:

• Provide full scholarships to around 6500 students at NY University, assuming yearly expenses are $76,000/year.
• Never pay out of your own pocket again for the NY Subway for you and 3 others.
• Build MetLife Stadium (and still have around $400 million left).

That’s a lot of money.

Also, the fact that construction is presently taking place is a reminder of the delays that have lasted for at least 7 years.

Problem two: Form is vastly emphasized over function

It looks really freakin’ nice, and it has that skylight. But it’s not as though the hub is adding tracks or platforms that weren’t in the temporary station built in 2003. And also, both white marble and the platforms themselves have limitations.

The next section opens in a few weeks, and I’ll be writing an update on that. Perhaps my opinion will change if some of the results actually deliver, such as the supposed Sephora store in the retail area, or the subway connections.