The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board gave the go-ahead to more than than $ 30 billion of planned improvements to the city and region’s mass transit system. However, that’s just one hurdle in a long process that isn’t even fully financed yet. NY1′s Jose Martinez filed the following report.
Twenty station renovations, 84 new miles of track, updated signaling systems, buses and subway cars coming right off the assembly line.
Then there’s the “sexy” stuff: Phase II of the Second Avenue Subway, East Side Access and connecting Metro-North riders to Penn Station.
All tucked into the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s $ 32 billion Capital Program, which the agency’s board has approved.
“If we want to make sure New York maintains its presence in the world as one of its financial centers, if not the financial center—a good, healthy transportation system needs to be in place,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas Prendergast.
The list of transit improvement and expansion projects faces a familiar multi-billion dollar funding gap, and the big question of how to fill it.
“They’re in the same situation they were in for the last two Capital Plans, which is that they had a 10 to now $ 15 billion dollar hole in what is an incredibly important budget,” said Gene Russianoff of the Straphanger’s campaign.
It’s one some board members say will need a lot more help from the city and state governments.
“The worst thing that can happen is they just say, ‘Hey guys, we’ve given you X, we’ve given you Y, we’ve given you Z—just do it yourself.’ And it’s happened to us time and time again,” said MTA board member Jeffrey Kay.
“I’m not sure why we drew the line at asking for an additional $ 15 million—uh, $ 15 billion—to be funded, and for the state and the city of New York to come up with that when the needs are far greater,” said MTA board member Allen Cappelli.
The MTA Chairman says several funding proposals will be on the table.
“We’re looking for sources that over the long haul will be sustainable,” Prendergast said.
And hoping the politicians in the state capitol and elsewhere can help fill the gap.
As of October 1, the Capital Program Review Board in Albany will now have 90 days to decide whether to approve, reject or tweak the plan.
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