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Tuesday, February 3, 2004
Contact: Drucie Andersen, 202-366-4043
FTA 2-04
Secretary Mineta Recommends 34 Key Transit Projects
For Federal Funding; Federal Investments to Improve Job Access
The U.S. Department of Transportation yesterday recommended to Congress more
than $1.5 billion in funding for 34 new or expanding urban and suburban transit
programs aimed at improving job access and increasing commuter mobility in major
cities like Cleveland, New York, Phoenix and others around the country,
according to Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta.
The recommendations sent today were included in the Federal Transit
Administration’s (FTA) Annual Report on New Starts for fiscal year 2005, which
includes federal funding recommendations for important subway, light rail and
bus rapid transit programs.
This year's FY 2005 recommendations include 34 current or pending transit
projects, such as the creation of a major, 35 station Bus Rapid Transit zone in
Cleveland; an extension of New York’s Long Island Rail Road that will increase
access into and out of Manhattan and Queens; and a new 20-mile light rail system
in Phoenix connecting commuters from the Spectrum Mall to several of the area’s
central business districts, Sky Harbor Airport and professional sports venues.
“Americans can’t go to work if they can’t get to work,” said Secretary Mineta.
“The New Starts program is an important investment that will help keep the
American economy moving by strengthening the public’s access to jobs and
increasing mobility for commuters around the country,” he said.
The New Starts program reviews both new and existing transit systems and makes
funding recommendation based on an evaluation of a project’s likelihood of
moving forward in the shortest possible time. The Secretary said that transit
projects represent key economic investments that will help several of the
country’s most populated cities improve job access, increase mobility and ease
congestion.
When completed, these projects are expected to carry over 243 million commuters
each year, while saving over 121 million hours in potential travel delays and
significantly improving air quality in many of our nation’s most congested
cities.
“We are committed to developing common sense transit solutions for communities
throughout the country,” said FTA Administrator Jennifer L. Dorn. “The New
Starts program helps continue our efforts to provide the best value and deliver
the greatest results for taxpayer dollars.”
A complete list of projects recommended under the New Starts program is
available on-line at www.fta.dot.gov.
The five projects recommended for funding and expected to be ready for a Full
Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) before the end of FY 2005 are:
Cleveland, OH Euclid Corridor – $25 million in FY 2005
The Euclid Corridor project is a 9.4 mile, 35 station Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
facility along Euclid Avenue. The project includes the creation of a “transit
zone” connecting the BRT facility with exclusive bus lanes within the central
business district. The forecasted average daily BRT ridership for the corridor
in year 2025 is 39,000. The project is expected to cost $168.4 million, and the
project sponsor is requesting a 49 percent federal New Starts share. The
President’s budget includes $25 million for this project in FY 2005.
Las Vegas, NV Resort Corridor - $40 million in FY 2005
This project will build a 2.3 mile extension of a 3.6 mile monorail system,
which is expected to result in 6,500 daily hours of travel-time benefits to
transit riders in 2020 and offer visitors and residents of Las Vegas a faster,
more convenient transportation alternative. The total cost of the project is
$453.9 million, with a requested 35 percent federal New Starts share. The
President’s budget requests $40 million for this project in FY 2005.
New York, NY Long Island Rail Road East Side Access - $100 million in FY 2005
This project will bring Long Island Railroad trains into a new terminal
beneath the Grand Central Terminal on the East Side of Manhattan with
approximately seven miles of new tunnels in Queens and Manhattan and will
connect to the existing 63rd Street tunnel. By 2020, the projected ridership for
East Side Access is estimated at 162,000 people. The project is estimated to
cost a total of $5.26 billion, with no more than 50 percent federal New Starts
share. The President’s budget includes $100 million for the project in FY 2005.
Phoenix, AZ Central Phoenix East Valley Light Rail - $75 million in FY 2005
The Central Phoenix East Valley Light Rail project will create a 20.3 mile
light rail system running from the Spectrum Mall area in Phoenix, through the
downtown areas of Phoenix and Tempe, to Mesa. The project will provide access to
major employment centers including the Phoenix and Tempe central business
districts, Sky Harbor Airport, and Arizona State University (ASU); and large
special event venues including Civic Plaza Convention Center, Bank One Ballpark,
America West Arena, and ASU’s Sun Devil Stadium. The project is estimated at
$1.37 billion, with a requested federal New Starts share of 43 percent. The
President’s budget includes $75 million for the project in FY 2005.
Pittsburgh, PA North Shore Connector - $55 million in FY 2005
This project is a 1.5 mile extension of the existing 25 mile light rail
transit system, which would connect the system from Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle
area to the city’s North Shore area. It will also provide a connection to the
Convention Center. The project is expected to cost $362.8 million, and has
requested a 60 percent federal New Starts share. The President’s budget requests
$55 million in funds for the project in FY 2005.
The following projects recommended for funding are located in areas that are
highly congested or rapidly growing, and have demonstrated a high level of local
financial commitment and support.
Charlotte, NC South Corridor - $30 million in FY 2005
A 9.6 mile light rail transit line extends from the city’s central business
district to Interstate 485 in south Mecklenburg County near the South Carolina
state line. The project is projected to generate 17,900 average weekday
boardings. The project is currently estimated at $385.9 million with a proposed
federal New Starts share of 50 percent. The President’s budget recommends $30
million in funding in FY 2005 for this project.
Raleigh-Durham, NC Regional Rail -- $20 million in FY 2005
This project would initiate rail passenger service from Durham to downtown
Raleigh and from downtown Raleigh to North Raleigh. The service will include
connections to Duke University, downtown Durham, Research Triangle Park,
Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Cary, and North Carolina State University.
The project is estimated at $843.8 million with a requested federal New Starts
share of 49 percent. The President’s budget requests $20 million for the project
in FY 2005.
The following projects are in the early stages of the New Starts development
process and have received recommended ratings, but are not yet ready for federal
funding.
Columbus, OH North Corridor
A 13 mile, 14 station light rail transit line connecting the Columbus
central business district, Ohio State University, the state capitol, and the
city’s northern suburbs. The system will provide 17,600 average weekday
boardings by 2025.
Dallas, TX NW/SE Light Rail MOS
A 20.9 mile extension that will provide fixed guideway transit service in
heavily traveled transportation corridors. The project will provide an
alternative to congested highway facilities; increase transit capacity and
improve connectivity to regional activity centers; and provide economic
development opportunities. The system will provide approximately 46,800 average
weekday boardings.
Los Angeles, CA East Side
A 5.9 mile, eight station light rail transit extension to serve an
urbanized, low-to-moderate income, heavily transit-dependent area between
downtown Los Angeles and East Los Angeles. The project, which extends from Union
Station eastward to a terminus at Atlantic Boulevard, will carry 23,000 average
weekday boardings in 2020.
New Britain-Hartford, CT Busway
A 9.4 mile exclusive busway with 12 stations to operate along railroad
right-of-way between New Britain and Hartford. The project will generate 57,200
average weekday boardings in 2025.
New York, NY Second Avenue Subway
An 8 1/2 mile, two-track line with 16 new stations beneath Second Avenue
from 125th Street in Harlem to Hanover Square in Lower Manhattan, which will
carry 560,000 riders each day.
Orange County, CA Centerline Light Rail Transit
An 8.5 mile light rail system serving central Orange County between Santa
Ana and Irvine. The light rail would connect major activity centers within the
corridor, including downtown Santa Ana, John Wayne Airport, and employment and
entertainment centers in Costa Mesa.
San Diego, CA Mid-Coast Extension
A 3.4 mile, three station extension of the Mid-Coast Corridor light rail
transit (LRT). The project will extend the existing LRT from the Old Town
Transit Center in San Diego to Balboa Avenue and provide an alternative to the
congested conditions on I-5 north of downtown San Diego. About 3,000 average
weekday boardings are expected when the project opens in 2008.
San Francisco, CA New Central Subway
Phase II of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s Third Street
Corridor light rail transit. This 1.7 mile, four station project will extend
Phase I of the LRT, which is currently under construction, from the Bayshore
CalTrain Station and the Market Street Subway north to Union Square and
Chinatown.
Salt Lake City, UT Weber/ Salt Lake Corridor
A 43 mile, nine station commuter rail project, which will provide the areas
of Pleasant View, Ogden, Clearfield, Layton, and Bountiful with direct access to
downtown Salt Lake City. The Commuter Rail line is expected to have 8,400
average weekday boardings when it opens in 2007.
Washington County, OR Wilsonville/ Beaverton Corridor
This 14.7 mile, five station commuter rail line will connect to Tri-Met’s
existing Westside light rail system at the Beaverton Transit Center. The project
will connect the rapidly growing suburban communities in the
Wilsonville-Beaverton Corridor and alleviate existing and future traffic
congestion in western Washington County.
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