MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber.
(Marc A. Hermann / MTA)
Residents of East Harlem’s El Barrio have waited 80+ years for the Second Avenue Subway. The Trump administration may pressure them to attend even longer because it withholds federal funding for regional infrastructure tasks – over an alleged naming difficulty, no much less. It’s outrageous, it’s unfair, and the MTA – backed by Governor Hochul – received’t stand for it.
We’re at a pivotal second for the venture sixth months after awarding our largest-ever tunneling contract again in August. This newest freeze out from Washington received’t pressure us to cease work instantly – in contrast to the Gateway Tunnel venture – but when the promised funds aren’t restored by March, it’s going to impede awarding of a associated contract to begin digging out station caverns at 106th and a hundred and twenty fifth Streets.
That is cash New Yorkers have paid to the feds with the expectation it’s going to make its approach again right here to pay for New York tasks. You’d be arduous pressed to discover a extra worthy funding than Second Avenue Subway Part 2 (SAS2), which won’t solely profit 100,000 each day riders with new service but in addition create 70,000 jobs.
So, my message to Washington is straightforward – get out of the best way and allow us to ship.
This MTA has spent years constructing its present status as one of many nation’s top-tier infrastructure builders, devoted to saving money and time. Our method for SAS2 – knowledgeable by the teachings of Part 1 – is already saving $1.3 billion {dollars} in taxpayer cash.
On-time and on-budget is changing into our commonplace working process – the Park Avenue Viaduct venture is trending 21 months forward of schedule and $94 million beneath finances; reconstruction of the Grand Central Prepare Shed – the bridge proper over the tracks carrying 98% of Metro-North trains that actually holds up Park Avenue – is coming in $20 million beneath finances for Part 1, with $70 million in personal contributions secured for Part 2; and new elevators are being put in systemwide 4 occasions sooner than previously, together with 10 completions in 2025 alone.
It’s secure to say the MTA is able to put SAS2 on an specific monitor, with a possible Part 3 following quickly after, if Governor Hochul’s proposal to additional prolong Q practice service alongside a hundred and twenty fifth Avenue to Broadway strikes ahead.
We need to ship higher transit for at present’s Harlemites, not their grandchildren. The Trump administration ought to cease holding them hostage and get on board.
