ESDC announces extended working hours at the Vanderbilt Yard, beginning earlier, ending later, and adding Saturday work

The Empire State Development Corporation yesterday distributed a Supplemental Report to its bi-weekly Atlantic Yards Construction Update, announcing extended working hours at the site, beginning earlier and ending later, and also introducing Saturday work for at least three months:

The following section has been modified to include new information:

Long Island Rail Road/Vanderbilt Yard/ Carlton Avenue Bridge
New Information: commencing on May 2, 2011, yard construction hours will be: 6am – 4:30pm. In addition, beginning on Saturday May 7, 2011, construction work will take place on Saturdays during the hours of 7am – 5:30pm for a period of at least three months. Work will consist of the installation of SOE [support of excavation] piles along the south side of the jobsite within block 1120 & 1121; along “the bump” on Block 1120 (Lots 19, 28 and 35) and near the former gas station on Block 1121, lot 42.

The FEIS on work hours

Chapter 17, Construction Impacts, of the November 2006 Final Environmental Impact Statement, describes working hours:

HOURS OF WORK
It is anticipated that construction activities for the buildings and the arena would generally take place Monday through Friday with exceptions that are discussed separately below. In accordance with city laws and regulations, construction work would generally begin at 7 AM on weekdays, with some workers arriving to prepare work areas between 6 AM and 7 AM. Normally, work would end at 3:30 PM. It is anticipated that the workday would be extended for specific trades to complete some specific tasks beyond normal work hours. The work could include such tasks as completing the drilling of piles, finishing a concrete pour for a floor deck or completing the bolting of a steel frame erected that day. The extended workday would generally last until about 6 PM and would not include all construction workers on-site, but just those involved in the specific task. Extended workdays are expected to occur about 40 percent of the weekdays over the course of construction.

Over the course of construction, it is expected that evening and night work would be required. For example, certain of the transit improvements may involve street openings at the intersection of Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues, and this would likely be allowed only during the late evening and night when traffic is at its lightest. In addition, some of the larger construction tasks within the Vanderbilt Yard and the arena may require continuous periods of time to complete. So as not to interfere with the LIRR train schedule, LIRR work would be scheduled to start after the Yard has been vacated to meet the evening rush hour and be completed before trains return from the morning rush hour.

Weekend work would be required at times over the course of construction. Again, the numbers of workers and pieces of equipment in operation would be limited to those needed to complete the particular task at hand. For extended weekday and weekend work, the level of activity would be reduced from the normal workday. The typical weekend workday would be on a Saturday from 7 AM with worker arrival and site preparation to 5 PM for site cleanup. It is expected that weekend work may be required on one weekend day for approximately 50 percent of the weekends over the course of construction and, in exceptional circumstances, two weekend days would be required.

When work is required outside of normal construction hours, the proper approvals would be obtained from the appropriate agencies. A noise control plan would be developed and implemented to minimize intrusive noise emanating into nearby areas and affecting sensitive receptors. The noise control plan would include such restrictions as the prohibition, where possible, against placing generators at the property line and engaging in unnecessary loud activities at night.