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This week, the first ventilation grate will be replaced by a prototype
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As part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) citywide flood-prevention plan, subway vents are on the rise. This week, the first ventilation grate along the downtown 1/2/3 subway line, now flush with the sidewalk, will be replaced by a prototype six inches taller. One of a planned series of new grates, the added height will divert water runoff on West Broadway’s sidewalks from flowing into the subway tunnel.
To prevent the higher grates from becoming a pedestrian tripping hazard, MTA hired Grimshaw Architects to design modular, attachable bike racks and benches. The benches, technically more like perches, will affix to both ends of each grate. Between them will be stainless-steel bike rack bolted onto the grates, designed for bikes to be “hitched” at a slightly diagonal angle to minimize their space on the sidewalk.
The new grates are being installed in different forms around the city where flooding most often occurs (the majority of locations are in Queens).
Downtown, 16 new vents using the same bench and bike-rack design will be installed along West Broadway on several blocks:
Chambers to Reade Street, east side
- Thomas to Worth Street, both sides
- Worth to Leonard Street, east side
- Leonard to Franklin Street, west side: West Broadway is Varick Street on this block
The first installment will be on the east side of West Broadway between Thomas and Worth Street, with crews completing the work by September 5th, 2008. The remaining grates are expected to be in place by March 2009.
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