New York City - Transit News

[mrnyc]

aaaand here we go again --



MTA threatens Trump admin with legal action over its Second Avenue Subway funding freeze

By Ethan Stark-Miller
Posted on February 25, 2026


MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said on Wednesday that the agency had issued an ultimatum to the Trump administration, demanding the release of nearly $60 million in reimbursements for the East Harlem extension of the Second Avenue Subway by March 6, or face legal action.

The MTA boss, during the agency board’s monthly meeting on Feb. 25, said it sent the warning letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Transit Administration through its outside counsel at the behest of Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The missive, penned by Attorney Roberta Kaplan of the firm Kaplan Martin LLP, said the funding freeze has already imperalled the project and placed a strain on the MTA by requiring it to plug the hole of $58.6 million in frozen federal funds with money from other projects.


more:
https://www.amny.com/news/mta-trump-legal-action-second-avenue-subway-funds/

[mrnyc]

a little good news for a change —



News: Construction Design & Engineering
Posted: February 24, 2026

Forte Construction completes modernized elevators at 42nd St.-Times Square Station

Manhattan, NY Completed four months ahead of schedule, the two-elevator replacement project at 42nd St.-Times Sq. marked a major milestone at the busiest station in New York City’s 472-station transit network. The early finish on Christmas Eve ensured the elevators were operational for the holiday season and the New Year’s Eve ball drop.


more:
https://nyrej.com/forte-construction-completes-modernized-elevators-at-42nd-st-times-square-station

[streetscaper]

I would love it for that whole station to get a complete revamp. It's the busiest station in the system, at least make that one station nice

[Busy Bee]

What would be great is a complete top to bottom cosmetic and circulatory revamp to many of the most used stations. Unfortunately the most efficient and affordible way of doing this is to close the station for many months and that is something the MTA regards as a non-starter --- to the extent that level of ambition is on their radar at all.

On a side note, I'm looking forward to the point in time where they've sufficiently reached ADA accessibility compliance with elevator installation across the existing system that they can accelerate stearing capital funds towards major renovations of stations. The template should continue to be the aesthetic and feature goals of the Enhanced Station Initiative achieved under Byford's leadership.

[mrnyc]

yeah i ‘memba when they did our station at w14st/8av when they made it yellow and put in the little otterness sculptures and all that jazz — it took forever i hated it.

[streetscaper]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

Enhanced Station Initiative achieved under Byford's leadership.

This is exactly what I was thinking of. I remember they cost something around 40 million dollars per station. For the price of those 4 new jails the city is building ($16 billion), we could get nice renovations for 400 regular-sized stations. That's about 85% of the whole system. I'd settle for even half of that (200 stations) and then spend the rest ($8 billion) on still-ridiculously overpriced jails (at a still-crazy $2 billion each) if you must.

[streetscaper]

New Yorkers and the whole world constantly complain about the dismal and disgusting state of our subway. For a not-too-outlandish price we can easily change the daily experience of millions of people to a dignified commute and touring of our city.

For those who don't know, Here are some examples of the 20 or so stations that received the Enhanced Station Initiative treatment

[mrnyc]

Originally Posted by streetscaper

This is exactly what I was thinking of. I remember they cost something around 40 million dollars per station. For the price of those 4 new jails the city is building ($16 billion), we could get nice renovations for 400 regular-sized stations. That's about 85% of the whole system. I'd settle for even half of that (200 stations) and then spend the rest ($8 billion) on still-ridiculously overpriced jails (at a still-crazy $2 billion each) if you must.

i would love that, but trust me you don’t want to keep the old jails and rikers.

[Busy Bee]

This town can do both, fellas.

[streetscaper]

Originally Posted by mrnyc

i would love that, but trust me you don’t want to keep the old jails and rikers.

At the end of my post, you can see where I said you can do both. But also that was just an outrageous example of what we spend $16 billion on. If they have $16 billion to renovate disgusting Rikers, they should have $16 billion to renovate most of the disgusting subway stations, something wayyyyy more New Yorkers (and people globally) interact with wayyyy more often. That was more the point.

[Mad_Nick]

Meanwhile, $16 billion will get you three entirely new subway lines in Shenzhen... But those station upgrades are looking good, bringing them in line with 80s standard European metros but that's still a hell of a step.

[streetscaper]

Originally Posted by Mad_Nick

Meanwhile, $16 billion will get you three entirely new subway lines in Shenzhen... But those station upgrades are looking good, bringing them in line with 80s standard European metros but that's still a hell of a step.

Exactly, they're not amazing, but for the price of 2 phases of the 2nd Ave subway, we could put most stations in a nice, decent, and respectable state.

[mrnyc]

sorry fellas but nobody around here is going to come down off the farms and pick up a shovel for 35yuan/hr.

[mrnyc]

more possible trouble ahead here …
although hopefully not because i do
not think pettiness is a legal reason —



Appeals court to rule on whether Gateway Tunnel funding can remain temporarily unfrozen

By Isabella Gallo & Ethan Stark-Miller
Posted on March 4, 2026


Work on the Gateway Tunnel rail project, which resumed last week after a nearly month-long pause, could be at risk of halting once again if a federal appeals court relieves the Trump administration of having to continue temporarily funding the project.

more:
https://www.amny.com/news/appeals-to-rule-gateway-tunnel-funds-unfrozen/


Construction workers at the Gateway Tunnel rail project’s Manhattan work site. Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2026.Photo by Lloyd Mitchell

[mrnyc]

… and speaking of intrusive pettiness …
some very good news — hopefully the issue is now put to bed?
you never know with the mango maniac —



Congestion pricing lives on as judge rules that Trump admin’s effort to kill it was unlawful

By Ethan Stark-Miller
Posted on March 3, 2026


Congestion pricing survived yet another challenge Tuesday after a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration’s attempt to kill the Manhattan toll program is unlawful.


more:
https://www.amny.com/news/congestion-pricing-judge-rules-trump-unlawful/


Congestion pricing survived yet another challenge Tuesday after a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration’s attempt to kill the Manhattan toll program is unlawful.Photo by Dean Moses

[mrnyc]

any railfan will love this cute & clever new music video —

• Video Link

[mrnyc]

even more upgrades to the 14st busway --



City plans bike lanes and bigger plazas for Manhattan's 14th Street busway

By Stephen Nessen
Published Mar 9, 2026

...
The city said they plan to install bike lanes, improved bus stops and more pedestrian space along 14th Street, while also making improvements to neighboring blocks. Officials did not lay out an exact design, but said they’d move forward with two-year study that was funded under former Mayor Eric Adams. The transportation department plans to hold a series of public workshops to gather feedback on the redesign starting later this month.

“This process will deliver truly transformational, permanently constructed upgrades for the corridor that capitalize on the benefits of the busway and create a world-class street from river to river,” DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn said.

The City Council and the former Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine previously secured $9.5 million in funding for the project.


more:
https://gothamist.com/news/city-plans-bi...plazas-for-manhattans-14th-street-busway

[streetscaper]

A further 2-year study sounds sooo damn long for this

[mrnyc]

Originally Posted by streetscaper

A further 2-year study sounds sooo damn long for this

tbh it doesnt sound like that much of an upgrade anyway.

hopefully whatever they learn on 14st they can apply to 42st, with the addition of a tram there.

[mrnyc]

the plan to widen the cross bronx reaches a crux date —



Advocates urge state to nix Cross Bronx Expressway expansion plan ahead of crucial deadline

By Ethan Stark-Miller
Posted on March 9, 2026


…
The $900 million plan, known as the Five Bridges Project, aims to rehabilitate several of the highway’s overpasses between Rosedale Avenue and Boston Road. However, the proposal will also expand the road by widening each shoulder by 25 feet, increasing its footprint by a combined 50 feet, in order to meet current safety standards.

Advocates argue that any widening of the existing Cross Bronx’s footprint would make the already heavily used road even more congested. They say it will only exacerbate the rampant pollution that the highway has saddled adjacent communities with for decades.


more:
https://www.amny.com/nyc-transit/cross-bronx-expressway-opposition-expansion-plan/