MTA Chairman Statement On Capital Program
With the media & local officials all over the MTA about the $1 billion cut for the second phase of the Second Avenue Subway project from the recently approved 2015-2019 Capital Program, MTA Chairman & CEO Thomas F. Prendergast has released the following statement:
The new MTA Capital Program includes $535 million over the next four years for design, planning, environmental review, property acquisition, utility relocation and construction preparations to bring the Second Avenue Subway to East Harlem. This reflects the work we can realistically accomplish in the next four years given the regulatory and engineering constraints on heavy construction in a densely populated section of Manhattan.
We have committed that if we can speed up the schedule to begin tunneling the East Harlem phase sooner, we will pursue a Capital Program amendment to do so. Governor Cuomo has made clear that he would like us to accelerate work on the Second Avenue Subway, and we are actively looking for ways to deliver the project faster.
The MTA Board last week unanimously approved a 2015-2019 MTA Capital Program that reduced the Second Avenue Subway allocation due to construction timing, including city Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, when she voted for what she called “a very terrific capital plan.”
No surprise that he came out with a statement after all the backlash. It is good to know if the funding becomes available (I’m looking at you Andrew & other elected officials), that an amendment would be made to do so. Hopefully the money will come to fruition in the very near future.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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