The MTA will put off 12 subway-station rehabs as part of a plan to cut $1 billion from its capital program because of inadequate state aid, officials said yesterday.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority had sought $27.8 billion for its five-year capital plan, but received $21 billion.
Repairs will be delayed at several stations, including the 47th-50th Street station at Rockefeller Center, the 71st Street-Continental Avenue station in Forest Hills, Queens, and five stations along the N line in Brooklyn.
Also at risk of delay are projects like the Second Avenue Subway and East Side Access, which would bring Long Island Rail Road trains into Grand Central Terminal.
MTA spokesman Tom Kelly said that means the MTA will hold off on major renovations of 12 of the 56 subway stations that were scheduled for them.
It is astonishing that the MTA cannot get these rehab projects done with $21 billion dollars. Where is all that money going that it cannot provide needed repairs at places like 47-50th Street in Manhattan, which is one of the busiest stations in the City. Each time renovations are delayed, the costs associated with their eventual repair/renovations increase. Those increases outstrip the capital funding, which means the MTA cannot get ahead of the repair curve. That is a failing of both the MTA and the State, which does not force the MTA to make needed cost cutting measures to ensure that the capital budget is utilized to maximize service and efficiency.
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