On May 29, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced approval of $891 million in funding for 12 transit infrastructure projects. The allocations of funding across the country will be used to advance projects for a construction grant agreement known as a Full Funding Grant Agreement. Funding is provided through FTA’s Capital Investment Grants Program. Missing from the list of winners for the fifth year in a row was New York City Department of Transportation's Queens Woodhaven Blvd. Select Bus Service Phase 2.
According to the February 2020 FTA New Starts Report for Fiscal Year 2021, (October 1, 2020 - September 30, 2021), the project remains in the development stage since 2015. It still needs several more years before reaching a serious discussion about approval of a Full Funding Grant Agreement. This would represent a legal commitment by the federal government to commit $97 million toward the project. This also requires congressional and presidential authorization and approval of funding in future FTA budgets.
The previous construction start date for Phase 2, along with the receipt of an approved FTA Small Starts Full Funding Agreement in 2020 appears to have come and gone. The estimated cost has grown from $231.9 million to $258.8 million. Completion of construction slipped from 2025 to 2029. Start of revenue service has been delayed to 2029. Five years have passed since completion of the federal National Environmental Protect Act (NEPA) environmental review process resulting in FTA issuing a Categorical Exclusion in July 2015. It will have to be updated.
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg appear to be pursuing more pressing transportation priorities. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), as well as other city, state and federal public officials are doing likewise. No one has hosted the traditional Sunday press conference in support of this project for many months. There is no funding for this project within the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) $51 billion 2020 - 2024 Five Year Capital Plan, New York City or New York State budgets. The MTA, City Hall and Albany all face current multi-billion-dollar budget shortfalls.
Cost estimates for projects like this must be refined as progress proceeds beyond the planning and environmental phases into final design and engineering. History has shown that estimated costs for construction usually trend upwards as projects mature toward advancement of final design. This refines the detailed scope of work necessary to support construction. The real costs become more apparent by award of construction contracts. This is followed by any unforeseen site conditions and last minute changes in project scope, which result in change orders to the base contracts during the construction phase. The final potential cost will be known when reaching beneficial use, receipt of maintenance manuals for the physical assets, inspection and acceptance, completion of all contract punch list items followed by release of retainage and final payment to the vendor(s). This project could easily end up costing more than $300 million. Completion of construction followed by revenue service may not occur until 2030 or later. With funding continuing to be in doubt, don't be surprised if the second phase for Woodhaven Blvd. Select Bus Service is never built.
----------------------------------------------------------
Larry Penner is a transportation historian and advocate who previously worked 31 years for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 NY Office. This included the development, review, approval and oversight for grants supporting billions in capital projects and programs on behalf of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York City Transit bus and subway, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad, MTA Bus and NYC Department of Transportation.
