Improve the Existing Transit System Before Investing $7.7B in a Second Avenue Subway Extension
MTA officials are urgently appealing to Team Trump and New York lawmakers for billions to maintain train services and to fund $68 billion in capital projects.
However, the agency is proceeding with plans to allocate a staggering $7.7 billion for the extension of the 2nd Avenue subway.
What type of management is this?
If you can’t afford to repair the leak in your roof, would you begin construction on a new addition to your house?
In a baffling decision, this 29-block, 1.8-mile extension, stretching from 96th to 125th Street in Manhattan, is projected to cost $4.3 billion per mile, which is unprecedented for any subway expansion.
This would elevate the 2nd Ave’s first phase, costing $2.5 billion a mile, to the second position in the list of most expensive subway projects.
And naturally, any cost overruns will inflate the final bill even further.
Nonetheless, the MTA board approved nearly a quarter-billion dollars in funding just for consultants on this project — two firms tasked with overseeing construction and another for design modifications.
This is absolute madness: During a City Council hearing last week, officials from the agency cautioned that, without additional funds, commuters might soon experience recurrent subway breakdowns, delays, and derailments — reminiscent of the “Summer of Hell” in 2017.
“Many components are deteriorating and require replacement or preservation,” warned MTA Co-Chief Financial Officer Jai Patel. “Neglecting this critical work may lead us toward another ‘Summer of Hell.’”
This makes it irresponsible to spend a single dime on a new project that diverts funds from maintenance and repairs of the existing system.
Hel-lo: The hurried efforts by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2016 to complete Phase 1 (so he could take the first ride on the 2nd Avenue train by New Year’s Day) directly contributed to the original “Summer of Hell” that followed.
New Yorkers invest significantly in mass transit, totaling about $20 billion just to operate the system — yet the MTA is perpetually requesting new revenue: more payroll tax surcharges, congestion-pricing tolls, fare increases (which will rise to $3 in August).
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is absolutely right: On Tuesday, he criticized the MTA for its “financial mismanagement” after the agency once again sought additional funds from the federal government.
Hochul must ensure that the agency aligns its priorities correctly: While it would be beneficial to extend the subway from Harlem to lower Manhattan, it absolutely cannot be done at a cost of $4.3 billion per mile (or more).
Especially when essential funds are required elsewhere.
Any cash that can be assembled must go towards maintaining smooth train operations — avoiding constant failures and delays.
This includes repairing and replacing aging signals, tracks, and rolling stock.
Pursuing any new projects at this time only invites more trouble, perhaps not just a summer of it.
