2010-2014 Proposed Capital Program

The MTA's transportation network is the lifeblood of the state's economy, facilitating New York City's role as the home of global finance and the city that never sleeps. Since 1982, the MTA has invested more than $75 billion in six successive programs that have restored the legacy of a system once on the brink of collapse. As a result, ridership levels are the highest since the 1950s, and our infrastructure is more reliable than ever: the distance subway traveled between breakdowns has increased 1800% for subway cars and 670% for buses and more than 500% for commuter rail cars.

With continued capital investment, the MTA can meet its commitment to protect this transportation infrastructure and to expand the system to meet growing customer and community demands. These two commitments — rebuilding the infrastructure and expanding the system — are the guiding principles of the proposed 2010-2029 Twenty Year Needs and Preliminary 2010-2014 Capital Program that are available here for public review along with an executive presentation.

Consistent with measures to promote an open and transparent MTA as described in the financial legislation signed into law by Governor David Paterson in May, the MTA made these documents available here on our website and invited the riding public to provide comments. That input was considered in the draft that was presented to the MTA Board on September 23 which was subsequently forwarded for final approval in Albany. We hope to gain approval of the final plan by January 1, 2010, the effective date of the new five year plan.  

Taken together, these documents identify the MTA's long-term infrastructure needs and a short-term plan to begin addressing them within current budget expectations. The $25.5 billion Proposed Draft 2010-2014 program focuses first and foremost on rebuilding the MTA's core infrastructure, which makes up 73% of the total program. Many of the proposed investments repair and replace fundamental components of the transit system:

• More than 500 new subway cars, 2,800 buses and 410 rail cars;
• Signal improvements and upgrades for the commuter railroads and subways;
• Station renovations, including the introduction of a new program that targets necessary component improvements; and,
• Improved access for the disabled including audio-visual screens, low-floor buses, elevators, paratransit vehicles and ADA-compliant stations.

Wherever possible, obsolete or inefficient infrastructure will be replaced with smart investments, such as new technologies and innovative services including:

• A new contactless fare payment system to more fully integrate regional travel;
• Real time customer information to allow customers to optimize trip planning;
• Bus rapid transit initiatives, using low-floor buses, off-board fare collection, dedicated bus lanes and signal prioritization  to speed bus service;
• New train control systems to increase capacity and safety on subways and commuter railroads; and,
• New subway transfers and strategic commuter rail investments to make the existing system work better for customers.

These rebuilding investments are complemented by investments to expand the system to meet growing regional demand. The MTA's expansion plan includes the completion of our three critical, ongoing projects and the analysis of a number of new initiatives:

• First phase of the Second Avenue Subway, which will relieve overcrowding on the Lexington Avenue subway lines and carry more than 200,000 customers;
• East Side Access, which will bring save 76,000 daily customers up to 40 minutes a day by bringing LIRR trains to Grand Central;
• Extension of the 7 subway line to 34th Street and 11th Avenue, which will support development of Manhattan's Far West Side; 
• Study of Staten Island's North and West Shore travel corridors, which will identify ways to support faster and more reliable transit service on Staten Island;
• Queens Boulevard Corridor study, which will evaluate solutions for meeting today's high demand and serving  projected population and employment growth as well; and,
• Continued study of Tappan Zee corridor, which will evaluate alternatives for the Bridge, including transit, to reduce congestion and improve mobility.

The MTA is ready to manage its capital program budget with new controls in place to mitigate risk, control costs and operate with full transparency. We hope that you will take the time to read these important documents closely and share your comments on the online form.