SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $787 MILLION FEDERAL FUNDING FOR MTA SANDY REPAIRS

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a $787,616,472 grant for the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and will be used to reimburse MTA for recovery and resiliency projects needed in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. This funding will be used for projects in areas served by MTA.  

“With this massive injection of federal dollars, mass transit riders from the northern Hudson Valley to the east end of Long Island can rest assured that the rail system that they ride each day will be stronger and more resilient against future storms,” saidSenator Schumer. “Superstorm Sandy walloped our tracks, electrical systems, bus and rail equipment and more, and this $787 million in federal funding will help ensure that our transit system and related infrastructure in New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley receive necessary upgrades without concern that the cost will be passed onto commuters.”   

“This is a critical investment for the MTA that benefits New Yorkers throughout the state,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Our transportation infrastructure was damaged following Superstorm Sandy and needed vast repairs. We need to make sure that New York taxpayers and the commuters who rely on the MTA to get to work every day aren’t stuck footing the bill alone. This funding will help ease that burden and will also help build back our transportation infrastructure even stronger so we are prepared when the next storm hits.”

With this funding, more than $715 million will be used to reimburse MTA for recovery projects and  more than $72 million will be used to reimburse MTA for resiliency projects. The grant covers funding for capital projects, which include:

• $659,862,372 for MTA New York City Transit
• $100,954,100 for MTA Metro-North Railroad
• $8,800,000 for MTA Long Island Rail Road
• $15,000,000 for MTA Bus
• $3,000,000 for MTA Head Quarters

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, MTA’s project list includes the following investment categories:

• Rail Support/Equipment Facilities Repair- This category includes upgrades and protection of existing infrastructure.
• Transitway Line – This investment category primarily involves the restoration of signal, track and communication infrastructure in multiple tunnels.
• Electrical/Power Distribution Repair – Funding in this category will support restoration of circuit breaker houses and power infrastructure for multiple MTA operating agencies.
• Signal & Communication Repair - The repair of damage to essential communication and signal equipment along branch lines and in storage yards will be supported by this funding   category.
• Rail Capital Items – This category includes funding for integrity monitoring for the MTA operating agencies.
• Bus Support Equipment & Facilities – Funding in this category will support restoration of a bus depot facility.

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