# NYC re-opens WTC subway station, why did it take so long?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-re-opens-wtc-subway-station-why-did-it-take-so-long/821178>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 11, 2018, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-re-opens-wtc-subway-station-why-did-it-take-so-long/821178 "2018-09-11T18:43:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-re-opens-wtc-subway-station-why-did-it-take-so-long/821178/1 "2018-09-11T18:43:37Z")

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Three days short of the 17th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks the “WTC Cortlandt” subway station is finally rebuilt and back in service. [Story here](https://www.railjournal.com/index.php/metros/new-york-opens-new-world-trade-center-subway-station.html?channel=000).

I find this weird because in 17 years they have remediated the site, built 3 of the 5 skyscrapers, memorial and museum, and PATH transportation center. Why so long for the station? You would that with the site cleared and nothing but a giant hole they would start with foundations for the station and rough-in some connections to the planned buildings.

Also, MTA has never mentioned this rebuild as part of it’s capital projects. Who payed for it?

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**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-re-opens-wtc-subway-station-why-did-it-take-so-long/821178/2 "2018-09-11T19:27:40Z")

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For a decade or more, the subway was visible as a square tube running don the middle of the WTC construction site. At first it was elevated, a few dozen feet above the floor of the underground construction. There would have been no point in opening the station as it would be in the middle of a construction site in mid-air. As I understand, at this point the surface entrance is right next to the memorial squares and the museum entrance.

Then, they were rebuilding the PATH train and building that stegosaurus skeleton of a transport hub. I assume the Cortland station was lower priority.

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**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-re-opens-wtc-subway-station-why-did-it-take-so-long/821178/3 "2018-09-11T19:58:37Z")

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Perhaps it was considered unneeded with many nearby stations, but finally they decided to put it back in.

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**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2018, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-re-opens-wtc-subway-station-why-did-it-take-so-long/821178/4 "2018-09-12T01:23:44Z")

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> [@K364](#):
>
> Also, MTA has never mentioned this rebuild as part of it’s capital projects. Who payed for it?

It was paid for out of federal 9/11 relief funds.

As for why it took so long,

A: It’s the MTA;  
2: As **md2000** says, everything around the site had to be rebuilt first, including the PATH station underneath it; and  
Γ: It’s the MTA.