“In an otherwise bleak budget, there’s some good news for New York straphangers.  Transit is the lifeblood of New York City and our system is getting a nearly $500 million boost from the federal government,” said Rep. Maloney.

“$277.7 million would be the biggest infusion of federal cash to date for the Second Avenue Subway and will keep this vital project on track,” Maloney noted.  “The Second Avenue Subway is vital to relieving dangerous overcrowding on East Side subways and spurring economic growth in our region.”

“East Side Access will be a giant leap forward for public transportation in our state,” Maloney added.  “It will be built in Long Island City and will provide LIRR commuters a one seat ride to Grand Central Terminal –shaving more than a half-hour off riders’ commutes.  In addition, East Side Access will create a new stop in Sunnyside to bring commuters to the growing business district in Long Island City and ease congestion on Queens streets.”

“I look forward to working with my colleagues in the New York delegation to ensure that the president’s recommended funding becomes law.”

Background

In November 2007, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) signed a full-funding grant agreement for the Second Avenue Subway, which will provide $1.3 billion in federal funds to build the subway’s first leg.  In December 2007, Congress passed and the president signed into law an omnibus appropriations bill that included  $167,810,300 for the subway. 

In December 2006, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) signed a full-funding grant agreement for East Side Access, which will provide $2.6 billion in federal funds for the project.  December’s omnibus appropriations bill included $210.7 million for East Side Access.
Full-funding grant agreements are commitments by the federal government to provide a total amount of funding, delivered in installments, over the life of a project.  Last year’s appropriations and this year’s proposed appropriations for the Second Avenue Subway and East Side Access are installments toward the federal government’s $1.3 billion and $2.6 billion commitments, respectively, for the projects.

In the mid-1990s, Rep. Maloney began a campaign to resuscitate the Second Avenue Subway after the project had lain dormant for decades.  The subway project, as planned, would run primarily through the 14th Congressional District, which Maloney represents.

The full-length Second Avenue Subway will be an 8 ½ mile two-track line beginning at 125th street and ending in Hanover Square in lower Manhattan.  The subway’s first segment will include stops at 96th, 86th and 72nd Streets, and tunnels from 99th to 62nd Streets. At 63rd Street, the new subway line will link onto the existing Q-line tracks, providing a one-seat ride from the Upper East Side to Times Square, Wall Street, and Brooklyn.  Construction of the full-length subway has been divided into four phases.  Once completed, the first subway phase will carry more than 200,000 riders each day and relieve massive congestion on the most overcrowded subway routes in the nation: the 4, 5, and 6 Lexington Avenue IRT trains on Manhattan's East Side.

East Side Access will bring the Long Island Rail Road to Grand Central Terminal, carrying approximately 163,000 average weekday boardings.

12/16/07: Maloney, Serrano Announce $167.8 Million for 2nd Avenue Subway 

9/25/07:  Federal Gov’t to Approve $1.3 Billion for Second Avenue Subway

4/16/07:  Rep. Maloney: “The Fourth Time is the Charm For the Second Avenue Subway”

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