down ▁so ▁that ▁the ▁M TA ▁could ▁repair ▁t unn els ▁dam aged ▁by ▁H urr icane ▁Sand y ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 2 . ▁The ▁rep airs ▁are ▁sl ated ▁to ▁start ▁in ▁April ▁ 2 0 1 9 ▁and ▁would ▁replace ▁dam aged ▁communic ations , ▁power ▁and ▁signal ▁w ires , ▁third ▁rails ▁and ▁tracks , ▁du ct ▁banks , ▁p ump ▁rooms , ▁circuit ▁break er ▁houses , ▁tunnel ▁light ing , ▁concrete ▁l ining , ▁and ▁fire ▁protection ▁systems . ▁ ▁The ▁renov ations ▁would ▁cost ▁between ▁$ 8 0 0 ▁million ▁and ▁$ 1 ▁billion . ▁There ▁were ▁two ▁options : ▁a ▁partial ▁closure ▁for ▁three ▁years ▁or ▁a ▁full ▁closure ▁for ▁ 1 8 ▁months . ▁It ▁was ▁later ▁announced ▁that ▁the ▁M TA ▁had ▁chosen ▁the ▁ 1 8 - month ▁full ▁closure ▁option . ▁To ▁provide ▁alternate ▁service , ▁the ▁M TA ▁de vised ▁pre lim inary ▁mit ig ation ▁plans ▁in ▁which ▁it ▁proposed ▁adding ▁sh utt le ▁bus , ▁fer ry , ▁and ▁sub way ▁service ; ▁adding ▁bus ▁and ▁high - occup ancy ▁vehicle ▁lan es ; ▁extending ▁train ▁routes ; ▁and ▁providing ▁free ▁or ▁improved ▁trans fers . ▁The ▁M TA ▁named ▁Jud lau ▁Cont ract ing ▁and ▁T C ▁Electric ▁as ▁the ▁project ' s ▁contract ors ▁on ▁April ▁ 3 , ▁ 2 0 1 7 . ▁At ▁this ▁time , ▁the ▁duration ▁of ▁the ▁shut down ▁was ▁short ened ▁to ▁ 1 5 ▁months , ▁so