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Press Release
For Immediate Release
October 01, 2002 |
Contact: Phil Craft
212-860-0606 |
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$4 Million for Second Ave Subway |
| Included Today in Federal Appropriations Bill Maloney Calls Action a Key Victory Toward Third Year of House Funding |
WASHINGTON: New York's Second Avenue subway got a major boost today as the House Appropriations Committee included $4 million for the project in its fiscal year 2003 transportation bill. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY), the prime advocate for the project in the House, called the action "a key victory for a project that will boost New York's economy and revitalize lower-Manhattan."
Congress authorized $2 million for the Second Avenue subway last year, and $3 million the year prior. The next step for this year's bill is a vote of the full House. The Senate has yet to complete work on its transportation appropriations bill. When the two chambers complete their work individually, they will then work to resolve differences between the two bills in conference committee.
Maloney said, "We got the first ever federal funds for the Second Avenue subway three years ago and today's action is a key step toward a third consecutive year of federal funding for this project. Consistency in annual funding is vital to keep momentum going for larger federal commitments down the road."
Noting that the success of the Second Avenue subway project depends on united efforts at federal, state and city levels, Maloney recognized Senators Schumer and Clinton, Representatives Jose Serrano, Charlie Rangel, Nita Lowey, Jerrold Nadler, Nydia Velazquez, and the entire New York Congressional delegation, as well as State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Borough President C. Virginia Fields, Governor Pataki, MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow, Mayor Bloomberg, and City Council Speaker Gifford Miller for their leadership in helping to secure funds and commitments for the project. "Winning federal support for regional transportation projects is no easy task when you're vying against hundreds of projects across the country, and our success is a testament to the strong coalition of support we've developed in the New York delegation," Maloney said.
Preliminary engineering for the full length Second Ave subway project is currently underway, after receiving federal approval in 2001. This work includes the design of the tunnel structures from 125th Street to lower Manhattan and the rehabilitation of the existing tunnels to conform to new tunnel construction. The work will also include the design of stations, track work, mechanical systems, life safety systems, communications systems, maintenance facilities and storage yards. ### |
