VOA标准英语2012--Surviving New York Subway Construction

Surviving New York Subway Construction

Francisco Quijada first looked out of the window of his interior design store more than 45 years ago and he says the view was as bright as his future. No more. 

“I gave up cleaning them, because it cost me money and I know very well that within a week or so they’re going to be the same way,” said Quijada.

Quijada said the construction obstructs¹ the entrance to his store and has cut his business in half. Many pedestrians², including potential customers, walk on the opposite side of the street or avoid Second Avenue altogether. Many shops have closed. He added that no one has gotten government compensation and many entrepreneurs have depleted³ their savings⁴.

Neighborhood resident Faye Young has another complaint.

“The noise is very disturbing. It’s also very frightening. You would almost think you’re being attacked when they dynamite⁵. It’s like having a bomb go off,” said Young.

Quijada described the explosions as mini earthquakes and he said the blasts have caused cracks in his walls.

Entrepreneurs describe good relations with construction workers and they say some support Second Avenue business people. But the entrepreneurs complain that meetings with public officials have gone nowhere.

“They were much too busy to hear our complaints; to hear our calamity⁶. They came almost like they were going to the circus to see the freaks,” said Quijada.

New York City transit⁷ officials declined VOA’s request for an on camera interview. But former Metropolitan⁸ Transportation Authority chairman Jay Walder was upbeat about progress when a boring machine opened a tunnel last September.

“This is fantastic. You know, when you stand above ground it's sometimes hard to see whether or not there's progress on this project. You come down here and you see the Second Avenue tunnel taking shape right before our eyes,” said Walder.

Restaurateur Dave Goodside said he has laid off employees and taken out loans to survive the multi-year construction period. But he acknowledges the subway’s ultimate benefit.

“If you have an apartment on 72nd street that’s only a block away from the subway, that’s what you’re going to be selling, and that apartment will be worth more money, the city is going to tax that value,” said Goodside.

Quijada and others say that is small compensation if they cannot stay in business long enough to reap the reward.

The project is being built in stages. Completion has been pushed back to 2016. 

1 obstructs   

阻塞( obstruct的第三人称单数 )； 堵塞； 阻碍； 阻止

参考例句：

• The cirrhotic process obstructs the intrahepatic portion of the portal venous system. 肝硬化使门脉系统的肝内部分受阻。
• A device or means that obstructs, blocks, or plugs up. 堵塞的方法：阻碍，阻挠或堵塞的工具或途径。

2 pedestrians   

n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Several pedestrians had come to grief on the icy pavement. 几个行人在结冰的人行道上滑倒了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Pedestrians keep to the sidewalk [footpath]! 行人走便道。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 depleted   

adj. 枯竭的, 废弃的 动词deplete的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• Food supplies were severely depleted. 食物供应已严重不足。
• Both teams were severely depleted by injuries. 两个队都因队员受伤而实力大减。

4 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

5 dynamite   

n./vt.(用)炸药(爆破)

参考例句：

• The workmen detonated the dynamite.工人们把炸药引爆了。
• The philosopher was still political dynamite.那位哲学家仍旧是政治上的爆炸性人物。

6 calamity   

n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件

参考例句：

• Even a greater natural calamity cannot daunt us. 再大的自然灾害也压不垮我们。
• The attack on Pearl Harbor was a crushing calamity.偷袭珍珠港(对美军来说)是一场毁灭性的灾难。

7 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

8 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。