Governor Hochul does not understand financing the $2.6 billion LIRR main line third rail track

 

Either Governor Hochul's ghost speech writer and/or transit adviser has no understanding of the relationship between MTA and the Federal Transit Administration along with how the MTA & LIRR fund its Capital Program when it comes to the $2.6 billion LIRR Main Line Third Track project..

Governor Hochul's State of the State speech referenced accessing $1.1 trillion federal Infrastructure Program to pay for the $2.6 billion LIRR Main Line Third Track.  This makes no sense. (Source: "Gov. Hochul promises to complete LIRR Third Track project this year" -- Newsday, January 6th by James Gormley).  In 2017, the MTA added $3 billion which included $1.95 billion for LIRR Main Line Third Track to the $29 billion 2015 - 2019 Five Year Capital Program Plan. 

 This brought it up to $32 billion.  These dollars supplemented $600 million previously available resulting in the project being 100% fully funded.  The MTA LIRR could not have legally awarded construction contracts without this. A majority of the work has been completed with eleven months to go. Most funds have already been spent.  

 The LIRR followed state SEQUA rather than the federal NEPA environmental review process.  Compliance with NEPA is a requirement to be eligible for Federal Transit Administration funding. Why would FTA consider funding for this project when it is already 100% locally funded and close to completion?  Is this a back door way for the MTA to substitute federal funding to offset the missing $15 billion in Congestion Price Tolling revenues? 

 The MTA $51 billion 2020 - 2024 Five Year Capital Plan was adopted under the assumption that $15 billion would come from Congestion Price Tolling.  Not a dime will appear until June 2023 or later. How will the MTA raise $15 billion over 18 months rather than five years? This project is not included in the MTA February 8th 2022 FTA Program of Projects Pubiic Hearing Notice.  Here is the link to the document

Sincerely.

Larry Penner

(Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously worked for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office. This included the development, review, approval and oversight for billions in capital projects and programs for the MTA, NYC Transit, Long Island Rail Road, Metro North Rail Road  MTA Bus along with 30 other transit agencies in NY & NJ).