Prendergast Statement on Second Avenue Subway

    Nov. 13, 2015
    Related To:

    Statement from MTA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Thomas F. Prendergast Statment issued Nov. 12, on Second Avenue Subway:
     
    “Today I met with federal, state and city elected officials to discuss ways to advance and accelerate bringing the Second Avenue Subway to 125th Street. This is a prime goal for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), for the state of New York and for the hundreds of thousands of people who will benefit from its construction. The MTA is fully committed to beginning work on the East Harlem extension even before the first segment to the Upper East Side opens by the end of next year.

    “The MTA is committed to find every possible way to accelerate this project. We will employ alternative procurement methods to speed the planning, design, environmental review, property acquisition, utility relocation and construction preparation in our proposed 2015-19 Capital Program. Representative Charles Rangel, dean of the Congressional delegation, has offered to work with the delegation to explore ways to accelerate the project’s environmental review and assure the maximum federal funding possible, and we welcome their assistance.

    “If these efforts to speed up the project timetable are successful, the MTA will amend our Capital Program and seek additional funds to begin heavy construction sooner. We appreciate the attention and commitment from our elected officials, and we share the goal of bringing the Second Avenue Subway to East Harlem as quickly as possible.”

    Other officials participating in or represented at the meeting were:

    U.S. Congress
    Rep. Carolyn Maloney

    Assembly Members
    Keith Wright
    James Brennan
    Robert Rodriguez
    Rebecca Seawright
    Dan Quart
    Brian Kavanagh

    Senators
    Liz Krueger
    Adriano Espaillat
    Jose Serrano
    Brad Hoylman

    Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer

    Public Advocate Letitia James

    City Council Members
    Ben Kallos
    Rosie Mendez
    Daniel Garodnick