Rebuttal to Governor Kathy's ambitious interborough transit plan

 

(Larry Penner -- 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 NY MTA, NYC Transit, Long Island Rail Road, Metro North Rail Road  MTA Bus, NYC DOT Staten Island Ferry. Nassau County NICE Bus, Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) along with 30 other transit agencies in NY & NJ). 

It appears that her top five priorities are 

(1) $33 billion Gateway Tunnel

The full build $33 billion Gateway Tunnel project needs up to $16.5 billion from the Federal Transit Administration, along with $8.25 billion from NY and the same amount from NJ to support a future FTA New Starts Full Funding Agreement.  While there is funding in place for the $1.8 billion Portal Bridge, the balance of funding to pay for the reduced scope $12 billion ($6 billion NY/NJ/ & $6 billion federal) two new Hudson River tunnels and rehabilitation of existing tunnels remains outstanding. 

 

(2) $6.9 billion Second Avenue Subway Phase 2,

The 2nd Avenue Subway Phase 2 needs $6.9 billion.  This project is counting on a Federal Transit Administration Full Funding grant agreement for $3.4 billion coming from Washington.  The project completed NEPA in November 2020 with FTA issuing a formal environmental review finding. Receipt of the FTA FFGA in past years never took place.  Time is still needed for completion of design, engineering, business relocation, real estate acquisition and private property easement rights.  There is also the need for agreements with NYC and various owners of underground utilities including water, sewer, gas, electric, steam and cable before being ready to commence construction by 2023.  Successful completion for all of the above may need many one to two years 

(3) $8 billion Penn Station Transformation,

Last year, former NY Governor Cuomo announced a new Penn Station South Station at a cost of $8 billion.  It would consist of 4 new platforms and 8 tracks with connections to the existing Penn Station and NYC Transit Subway Stations.  A consultant has been hired to conduct a planning feasibility study. This was a part of his $16 billion NY Empire Station Complex proposal. NY Governor Hochul has her own $8 billion reduced scope proposal for similar Penn Station improvements . 

 

(4) New mulit billion dollar Interboro Express Brooklyn to Queens Subway. Was her ghost speech writer aware that for decades this has been known as the TriBoro X Express? It includes service connecting the Bronx to Yankee Stadium.  The Triboro X Subway Express (new subway line connecting the Bronx, Queens & Brooklyn would require several billion.  The MTA initiated another new planning feasibility study last year. There is no public timetable for completion of the study. 

(5) $10 billion Cross Harbor Freight Tunnel The Port Authority Cross Harbor Freight Tunnel requires $10 billion.  This year the project will celebrate its 31st year anniversary of being stuck in the planning and environmental review phase. It is anticipated that FHWA may issue a NEPA finding later this year.  

These first two projects are up to two years away from being shovel ready for construction, The last three are up to a decade or more away from being shovel ready for construction.

You can learn a great deal concerning what transportation projects and issues Governor Hochul is not interested in by omission.

Her are the following projects she did not include her support today during her speech.

No support for the MTA initiation of Congestion Toll Pricing. This is needed to raise $15 of the $51 billion MTA 2020 - 2024 Five Year Capital Plan.

No update as to who her five appointees will be to the MTA Traffic Mobility Review Board. 

The new Port Authority 42nd Street Manhattan Bus Terminal needs $10 billion. This project is still in the planning and environmental review phase. Only $3.5 of the estimated $10 billion cost is actually approved within the current 2016 - 2026 Port Authority Capital Plan.  They are counting on future federal assistance to make up the shortfall.

The LIRR estimates that it would cost $18 million per mile to extend electrification into existing diesel territory.  Besides third rail, you also need a series of electrical sub stations for each branch.  This might also involve land acquisition, business and utility relocation costs.  There is also the costs for new high level platforms and additional parking at stations.

The $3.6 billion LIRR electrification of Port Jefferson branch from Huntington to Port Jefferson originally discussed in the 1980's is still in the planning phase.

The $2.2 billion Light Rail between Jamaica and Long Island City on the old Lower Montauk LIRR branch in Queens, has yet to advance beyond a final planning study which was completed three years ago.

 

The $8 billion plus for restoration of LIRR service on the old Rockaway Queens branch has yet to advance beyond a final planning study released in 2019.

The $2.7 billion plus for the NYC Department of Economic Development Brooklyn-Queens Waterfront Street Car Connector is undergoing an environmental review.  The project is counting on an FTA $1 billion or more Full Funding Grant Agreement to be matched by local sources.  The MTA has not offered to sponsor a grant application, perform design and engineering, construct, maintain or operate this new transportation system.  Neither NYC DOT or NYC EDC have any experience in managing advancement of or actually running a street car system.

 

The study for the Utica Avenue Brooklyn NYC Transit subway extension was included in MTA 2015  - 2019 $32 billion Five Year Capital Plan finally began in 2020.  Construction costs could be $5 billion.

There is no current activity for the $800 million new NYC Transit #7 subway station at 10th Avenue & 41st.  This was deleted from original $2.4 billion Hudson Yard#7 subway extension to save $500 million. 

 

The Red Hook Brooklyn subway extension from NYC Transit  #1 subway line from the Rector Street downtown Manhattan station to Red Hook was proposed four years ago as a planning suggestion.  There is no current activity to advance this project at a cost of $3.5 billion.

The NYC Transit Staten Island North Shore Bus Rapid Transit $600 million project is in the planning and environmental review process.  There is no funding programmed within the current $51 billion MTA 2020 - 2024 Five Year Capital Plan to support advancement of this project.  Future $590 million in funding may be required for final design and engineering, land acquisition, business relocation, and actual construction.

The Staten Island West Shore Bus Rapid Transit planning study is under way. Future funding of $1.485 billion may be required for preliminary and final design and engineering, land acquisition, business relocation, construction, purchase of vehicles along with a maintenance and storage facility.

The $1.1 billion Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Light Rail Extension to Amherst. The project is currently in the environmental review stage.