The New York subway.
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Five-year, $51.5 billion plan announced to revitalize New York transit network
New York’s transit network, which includes a subway system, buses and railroads, will be receiving a major facelift over the next five years.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) released its 2020-2024 capital program on Sept. 16, which proposes a $51.5 billion investment into New York’s subway system, AM New York reports.
According to an overview of the MTA 2020-2024 Capital Program, $37.3 billion will be spent on the NYCT subway and Staten Island Railway. Priority initiatives include the following:
- Six new line segments with modernized signaling
- New power substations and contact rail
- Bringing stations serving over 60 percent of passenger into ADAA compliance
- Introducing 1,900 new subway cars
- Addressing critical repairs in about 175 stations
- Replacing up to 65 escalators and 78 elevators
- Replacing about 60 miles of track
- Installing 20 miles of continuous welded rail (CWR), which lasts longer and yields quieter rides
An additional $3.5 billion will be spent on improving NYCT and MTA buses, according to the overview. Priority initiatives for the bus network include:
- Replacing 2,200 of the oldest buses, which equates to 39 percent of the current fleet.
- Purchasing 500 all-electric buses and beginning a transition to zero-emission fleet throughout the bus network
- Introducing hybrid and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses
- Expanding the bus fleet by over 175 buses
- Installing onboard digital information screens to provide real-time service information
- Installing bus lane cameras to improve traffic enforcement
“I’m ecstatically happy,” MTA President Andy Byford said, per ABC7 New York. “This could not be better. This plan, I think, exceeds my wildest expectations.”
Funding for the capital program comes from a variety of sources, including federal funds, state and city capital, MTA bonds and new revenues like a progressive mansion tax, the overview states.
Click here to read the full overview of the MTA’s 2020-2024 Capital Program here.
