FTA 20-02
Thursday, June 13, 2002
Contact: Karen Clarke
Tel.:(202) 366-4319
Federal Transit Administrator Announces
$21 Million for New York
Jennifer L. Dorn, administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration, today announced three grants totaling $21 million in federal funding for public transportation projects in the state of New York.
“The grants awarded today represent the Bush
Administration’s commitment to transportation as a strategic investment that
strengthens the economy, protects the environment and maximizes the freedom of
mobility for all Americans,” Dorn said.
Two grants will go to New York City’s Metropolitan
Transportation Authority (MTA). A grant of $14.59 million will be used for
design activities for the proposed East Side Access project.
A second grant of $4.98 million will be used to fund preliminary
engineering work on the proposed Second Avenue Subway.
The East Side Access project will provide commuters on the
Long Island Railroad (LIRR) direct access to the east side of Manhattan.
It will relieve congestion at Penn Station, which is currently LIRR’s
sole Manhattan stop, and will provide a one-seat ride to Grand Central Station.
It will also provide access to the growing Long Island City business
district.
The proposed Second Avenue Subway project will alleviate
severe overcrowding on the Lexington Avenue Line, which currently provides the
only rapid transit service along the entire length of the east side of
Manhattan. The project will reduce
travel times and improve accessibility to the east side.
The third grant, for $1.48 million, will go to the Westchester Department of Transportation for the construction of an intermodal transportation center in the city of New Rochelle. This center will link intercity bus service, local bus service, taxis, and a 900-space parking garage. The center also will include a small area of retail shops. This grant brings the federal investment in this important center to nearly $6 million.
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