Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Saturday that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has been awarded $886.3 million to repair damages from Hurricane Sandy and to protect the public transportation system from future storms.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approved the funding. This funding is in addition to the $193.9 million that was given to the MTA in March 2013. The MTA has already spent about $180 billion on projects following the 2012 storm. They have also committed $750 million towards other repairs and projects.
MTA New York City transit will receive the largest portion of the funding, as it suffered the worst damages from the storm. Travelers are still experiencing delays –especially on the R Line and the G Line -during the continuous rebuilding efforts.
$615.6 million will be going towards the New York City transit. MTA Metro-North Railroad will receive $103.5 million and $21.4 million will go towards MTA Capital Construction.
The Long Island Railroad (LIRR) will receive $145.7 million of the funding. According to a press release from Governor Cuomo, funding for the LIRR will be used as follows:
- $120 million Long Beach Branch: Projects will replace three of four substations on the branch, and permanently restore signals, power, and communications systems, system components and cabling along the right-of-way, including grade crossings and station platforms. Construction is underway to replace the emergency generator, underwater cable, and bridge electrical systems on the Wreck Lead Bridge, which spans Reynolds Channel and connects Long Beach to Island Park.
- $10.2 million West Side Yard: Project replaces signal, power and other assets in the yard, including switch machines, signal components, third rail components, switch heaters, and facilities fire alarm systems.
- $6.1 million First Avenue Substation: Design is underway to make permanent repairs to LIRR power substation at First Avenue, which provides power to tracks leading to Penn Station.
- $6 million Infrastructure and system upgrades at facilities and assets that experienced wind damage or flooding, including the Hillside Support Facility, Shea Yard, the Far Rockaway Branch, and the Westbury Station.
- $3.4 million Long Island City Yard: Electrification of Tracks 7 & 8, making Long Island City a more robust terminal if service through East River Tunnels is curtailed. Project includes restoration of Long Island City Yard power substation.
“With this funding, we are furthering our efforts to reimagine New York’s most vital infrastructure to meet the needs of extreme weather,” Governor Cuomo stated.
A total of $5.8 billion has been budgeted by the MTA towards Hurricane Sandy reconstruction projects and resiliency efforts. The MTA expects most of this money to be reimbursed by the federal government.
[Source: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo]