Op-Ed | The MTA is finally getting the investment it needs to move forward – Carib Vibe Radio
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Op-Ed | The MTA is finally getting the investment it needs to move forward

For too long, our transit system was starved of investment. Aging subway cars, dilapidated signals, and a lack of basic maintenance and repair plunged a system that was once the envy of the world into crisis. We all remember the so-called “summer of hell” — overcrowded platforms, constant delays, and a level of dysfunction that made it harder for millions of New Yorkers to get where they needed to go.

Those days are over.

As your Governor, I’ve made it my mission to turn the page, restore confidence in public transit, and make long-overdue investments to bring the MTA into the 21st century.

This spring, I secured historic funding for the MTA’s Capital Plan, an achievable and forward-looking blueprint that will improve safety, reliability, and accessibility for decades to come.

The bread and butter of our plan is modernization. The subway is 120 years old, and much of its core infrastructure is past due for repair. There are subway lines that still rely on old, unreliable signals installed when FDR was President. This plan includes over $5 billion to replace aging signals with new, modern technology on eight subway lines, from the A in Far Rockaway to the N and W in Astoria. These investments, along with upgrades to tracks and power systems, will reduce delays and move trains faster and more reliably.

We’re also making a generational investment in our subway fleet. Everyone knows the dreaded feeling of boarding an aging subway car – dim lights, less reliable air-conditioning, and a worse ride. Some of these cars date back to the Mario Cuomo era – and they’ve earned their retirement. That’s why we’re investing in 1,500 new subway cars, including more of the popular R211 models, with features like wider doors, built-in security cameras, and better performance across the board.

But modern transit isn’t just about subways. More than two million New Yorkers rely on bus service to get around, especially true in working class communities where subway access may be limited. This plan will make our fleet cleaner and greener than ever, with 500 new electric buses hitting the road.

Accessibility is another top priority. For too long, our subway system has been out of reach for too many New Yorkers –people with disabilities, parents with strollers, caregivers, and countless others. In recent years, we’ve made great progress, with over 150 accessible stations. And now, we’re going even further: this capital plan includes funding to upgrade at least 60 more stations with new elevators and other accessibility improvements. When this plan is complete, over half of all stations – serving 70% of all riders – will be fully accessible.

We are doing more than improving existing infrastructure. For the first time in nearly 50 years, New York will expand its transit system outside Manhattan by building the Interborough Express, or IBX. Running from Sunset Park to Jackson Heights, the IBX will cut commute times for up to 115,000 daily riders by using existing freight rail lines to connect Brooklyn and Queens, saving some commuters up to 40 minutes each way. I’ve directed the MTA to move this project forward with urgency, because outer borough New Yorkers deserve faster, more reliable transit.

And let me be clear: safety remains our top priority.

We’ve made real progress driving down subway crime to its lowest level in decades, and we’re building on that momentum.This plan makes record investments in subway safety and in stemming the tide on fare evasion. Soon, there will be modern fare gates at over 150 subway stations, making it easier for paying customers to enter and exit the system while deterring fare evasion. This will supplement the progress we’ve already made towards deterring criminals and making riders feel safe by installing cameras on every subway car and deploying LED lights to brighten platforms. I want customers to feel valued and appreciated.

When transit thrives, New York City thrives. We’ve seen the consequences of underinvesting in our transit system – delays, dysfunction, and a summer of hell. I will not let New York go back. We proposed the most ambitious transit improvement plan in history and we got it done.

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