The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that the next 20-Year Capital Needs Plan Assessment (2025 - 2044) will be completed by October 1, 2023. It said, "Engaging with the public and understanding the needs of our riders is critical to plan for the future of the transit system." What ever happened to the MTA 2020 - 2040 Twenty Year Capital Needs Plan? The State Legislature in 2019 directed the MTA to release this document prior to adoption of the $51 billion 2020 - 2024 Five Year Capital Plan.
They are reviewing more than 20 system expansion and enhancement projects including the multi-billion dollar Utica Avenue subway line extension that the MTA is considering including in the next Twenty Year Plan. They have not been selected or funded but will be comparatively evaluated for consideration on a level-playing field for future Five Year Capital Programs.
The current growing inflation, potential recession, ongoing supply chain issues, increasing fuel prices, rising material costs and labor shortages will only result in cost estimates going up over coming years, prior to award of any construction contracts for these potential projects
Too many of the competing projects within the proposed MTA plan also cost billions. These include:
(1) NYC Transit Manhattan Hell's Kitchen 10th Avenue station on the #7 Flushing Line - $1 billion;
(2) NYC Transit Extension of the Brooklyn New Lots Ave #3 subway line - billions;
(3) Brooklyn/Queens Interborough Express - MTA Chairman Janno Lieber promised it would come in under $10 billion;
(4) Reactivation of the Long Island Rail Road Queens Lower Montauk Branch - $2.1 billion;
(5) Reactivation of the LIRR Queens Rockaway Beach Branch - $8 billion;
(6) NYC Transit Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 to 125th Street - $6.9 billion;
(7) NYC Transit Staten Island West Shore Bus Rapid Transit - $1.5 billion;
(8) Port Jefferson LIRR electrification $3.8 billion;
(9) NYC Transit Brooklyn W subway line Red Hook extension - $2.9 billion; and
(10) Metro North Rail Road Stewart Airport Access - billions.
The NYC Transit Utica Avenue Brooklyn subway extension project has never been officially admitted into the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Capital Investment Grant (CIG) New Starts or Core Capacity national competitive discretionary funding program. The MTA would be competing against itself along with the New York State Empire Development Corporation, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Gateway Development Corporation, New Jersey Transit, NYC Department of Transportation and other transportation agencies around the nation that are counting on the same Federal Transit Administration grant programs. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's $8 billion Penn Station, $10 billion Port Authority Midtown Manhattan Bus Terminal, $10 billion Cross Harbor Freight Tunnel (in this case, the Federal Highway Administration), $6.9 billion Phase Two Manhattan Second Avenue Subway, Gov. Hochul's multi billion Brooklyn Queens Interborough Express, former NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio's $2.7 billion Brooklyn Queens Street Car Connector, $1.4 billion West Shore and $600 million North Shore Bus Staten Island Rapid Transit projects are competing with many more in the Metro NY area and across the nation.
Future completion of the ongoing MTA Utica Avenue subway extension planning study is only the first step. Additional funding to advance the project beyond a planning study is not included in the MTA current $51 billion 2020 - 2024 Five Year Capital plan. It would take many more years to gain admission to the FTA's Capital Investment New Starts/Core Capacity program. There then needs to be environmental reviews, design and engineering, business relocation, land acquisition, agreements with NYC and owners of underground utilities including water, sewer, gas, electric, steam and cable before being ready years later to commence construction.
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) committed to support and obtain future funding to advance the Utica Avenue subway project 18 months ago at a Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce luncheon. He has never delivered on his promise to date. Failure to include the Utica Avenue subway extension project in the upcoming MTA 2025 - 2044 Twenty Year Capital Needs Assessment Plan will mean the end of the line for this project for decades to come.
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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, New Jersey Transit along with 30 other transit agencies in NY & NJ.
