The MTA pledged Thursday to break up construction work into several contracts to complete plans for a transit center on Fulton Street. NY1's Transit reporter Bobby Cuza filed the following report.

Three months after MTA Executive Director Elliot "Lee" Sander expressed concerns over whether the Fulton Street Transit Center would be completed, the MTA pledged at a City Council committee meeting Thursday to build and preserve much of the original design.

In January, the MTA only received one bid on the construction contract for the above-ground transit hall, which was $450 million over budget.

Now, the MTA announced plans to break up construction work into several smaller contracts in order to attract more competition.

"I think we have to do everything we can to get as close to, or to retain that design as possible," said MTA Director of Planning William Wheeler.

MTA officials seemed unenthused by a proposal put forward by state development officials to relocate the planned World Trade Center performing arts center over the hub, saying they preferred to keep the Fulton hub a free-standing transportation center.

Yet the lack of sufficient funds, a clear proposal, and a concrete timetable for the project did not sit well with some council members.

"Without the MTA committing to some date, there's no accountability whatsoever. And then people have no idea what to expect," said Democratic Queens Councilman John Liu. "The businesses that the MTA threw out on the street, they're wondering why did they even have to be thrown out so early?"

But the MTA pointed out work on the site is proceeding, in anticipation of whatever will be built above ground.

"A tremendous amount of work is underway and a tremendous amount has already been completed," said Wheeler.

New entrances have already opened at the southern end of the 4/5 station, and work is progressing on what will be a new passageway beneath Dey Street.

MTA officials said they hoped to come out with a revised plan for the transit hub sometime in the next 30 days. Then, they would need to figure out where to come up with the money to cover the budget overruns.

- Bobby Cuza