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MTA Announces $51.5 Billion Capital Plan, Aims to Modernize the Subways

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Sept. 17, 2019 By Allie Griffin

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) released its proposed 2020-2024 capital plan Monday that calls for a $51.5 billion investment in the region’s subways, buses and railroads over the next five years.

The proposal outlines a series of projects the authority hopes to tackle in that time, including adding 1,900 new subway cars, making 70 stations ADA accessible, replacing outdated signal systems, and building phase two of the Second Avenue subway to East Harlem.

The proposed funding is the highest in the MTA’s history, increasing the investment level by 70 percent over the current plan. The plan would invest nearly $40 billion in the New York City Transit’s subways and buses alone, $5.7 billion in the Long Island Rail Road, $4.7 billion in Metro-North Railroad, and $3.3 billion in MTA Bridges and Tunnels.

The proposal calls for about 175 subway stations to be repaired and the replacement of 60 miles of subway track. The MTA plans to add modern signaling systems to six additional segments of the system–including along the N and W lines between Ditmars Blvd. and 57th Street in Manhattan.

The plan would also see the replacement of 2,200 buses with new electric, hybrid and compressed natural gas bases. The bus fleet would also be expanded by about 175 additional buses.

The capital plan comes two years after the MTA launched its Subway Action Plan where it has spent nearly $1 billion to make short-term fixes to the decaying system.

“The system has been stabilized and this capital plan offers us an extraordinary opportunity to now modernize it and provide world-class transit options to New Yorkers in an unprecedented time frame, and as we move forward we will rise to that challenge on behalf of our customers,” said MTA New York City Transit President Andy Byford.

The proposal is dependent on the MTA securing the $50-plus billion to pay for it. About $15 billion is expected to come from bonds issued against the revenue generated by congestion pricing. Another $10 billion will be issued against new sources of tax revenue.

The MTA anticipates another $10.68 billion from federal funding programs and said that Governor Andrew Cuomo pledged $3 billion from the state, pending legislature approval. The agency has asked Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City of New York to pledge an equal amount as Cuomo.

The remaining $9.8 billion would come from the MTA bonds backed by longstanding dedicated taxes, fares and revenues from existing tolling.

20-24 Capital Plan Overview… by Queens Post on Scribd

email the author: news@queenspost.com

5 Comments

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Steph

SLIPSHOD: (typically of a person or method of work) characterized by a lack of care, thought, or organization. I think that word describes all of the MTA’s plans to modernize the NYC subway system.

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Sara Ross

Modernize it? What the hell have they been doing every weekend for the last, at least, 20 years? Every weekend there are disruptions and re-routing of trains because of track maintenance, switch and signal improvements and electrical work, but yet everyday, 7 days a week, 365 days a year (even on Christmas!!) there are problems with all of those things! When you pay more for something, it’s supposed to be better quality. $127.00 a month gets you the same service as when you paid $89.00.

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Crackson Heights

Because for the last 20 years you have been voting for politicians who didn’t give a fuck. Because to them a signal system is not something they can show off but a new park or statue is. The reason they are always working on the system is because they are just putting Band-Aids on a sinking ship. Now it’s too late and the politicians and managers can’t put anymore Band-Aids on something that was built in 1932. The 7 train got the new system and it’s one of the better running trains . Also New Yorkers are spoiled . This is the only subway in the world that runs 24/7/356 so in order to do work you have to have shut down and have schedule changes unless u want to kill people that are doing their job . Also you claim that 129 is a lot. Imagine paying per mile than per trip. Tell that to LIRR riders who pay 400 a month and they have a higher on time percentage than the subway .You think your fair covers the cost of running the subway not even close. The money has to come from somewhere though either it’s from raisng the fairs to the correct price or from taxation. I’m not saying the MTA is innocent but if you want to make a difference vote or put your money where your mouth is and stop riding the MTA all together . Get a bike or an e-bike or a scooter. I got personal electric vehicle and I haven’t taken the subway in awhile and I get to where I need faster .

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What a joke

Correction: $127/month gets worse service than when it was $89/month…more delays, more crowding, more homeless people.

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