$1 MILLION BUSWAY BONUS PROPOSED.Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer The MTA (1) (Message Transfer Agent or Mail Transfer Agent) The store and forward part of a messaging system. See messaging system. (2) See M Technology Association. 1. (messaging) MTA - Message Transfer Agent. wants to offer the Orange Line contractor a $1 million bonus if the busway, now five months behind schedule, gets completed by the original August 2005 opening date, officials said Wednesday. The bonus is part of a $7.9 million schedule-recovery package being considered today by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board. ``This provides a huge incentive for him to make that date,'' said MTA construction chief Rick Thorpe Rick Thorpe is a BC Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly in the province of British Columbia, Canada. He represents the riding of Okanagan-Westside, and has been an MLA since 1996. . ``It's less impact to the community - less construction impact, less business impact, less community impact - and the patrons get the advantage of riding the bus sooner.'' But opponents of the $330 million Orange Line say the MTA shouldn't be expediting the schedule because of uncertainty over the status of an environmental impact report on the busway. Under court order, the MTA completed a new EIR EIR n. popular acronym for environmental impact report, required by many states as part of the application to a county or city for approval of a land development or project. (See: environmental impact report) which found the Orange Line would be faster and more cost-effective than a system of Rapid buses. Although the new EIR hasn't yet been approved, a judge last week ordered the MTA to abandon its original environmental study of the Orange Line. ``How can they keep on building? How can they possibly authorize To empower another with the legal right to perform an action. The Constitution authorizes Congress to regulate interstate commerce. authorize v. to officially empower someone to act. (See: authority) approval for a project for which they have no approval?'' said Diana Lipari, chairwoman of Citizens Organized for Smart Transit, which has been trying to halt the busway since it was approved two years ago. Under the incentive plan being considered today, the MTA would authorize $6.9 million for overtime pay, plus a $1 million bonus if crews complete the busway by next August. If the deadline is missed, the joint-venture of Shimmick Construction Co. Inc./Obayashi Corp. would lose the $1 million bonus, as well as a $1 million penalty. The busway is five months behind schedule after construction problems, soil contamination Soil contamination is the presence of man-made chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. This type of contamination typically arises from the rupture of underground storage tanks, application of pesticides, percolation of contaminated surface water to and a court challenge filed by COST, which temporary stopped work for nearly a month this summer. Thorpe Thorpe , James Francis Known as "Jim." 1888-1953. American athlete. An outstanding collegiate football player, he later played professional football and baseball. said the agency would end up paying $8 million to $10 million for its own consultants and overhead if construction was delayed for five months. Any extra costs will come from the project's contingency contingency n. an event that might not occur. budget, MTA said. Lisa Mascaro, (818) 713-3761 lisa.mascaro(at)dailynews.com |
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