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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 396-05
October 18, 2005

MAYOR BLOOMBERG EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR REBUILD AND RENEW NEW YORK TRANSPORTATION BOND ACT OF 2005

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced his support for the New York State Rebuild and Renew New York Transportation Bond Act of 2005, which will be on the November 8th ballot and contains critical investments in the City’s transportation infrastructure. The funds from the proposed $2.9 billion plan will be split between projects funded by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) over the next five years. The plan provides funding for major improvements to roads, bridges and public transportation including the New York City subway system, and will help support the largest state highway construction program in history. Building and Construction Trades Council President Edward Malloy, League of Conservation Voters Executive Director Marcia Bystryn, Partnership for New York City CEO Kathy Wylde, New York Public Interest Research Group Straphangers Campaign’s Gene Russianoff and NYC Department of Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall joined the Mayor for the announcement held at the New York City District Council of Carpenters’ Offices in Manhattan.

“Today, our City’s economy is getting stronger in all five boroughs, and we’ve got to keep it growing with transportation infrastructure investments that are critical to our future,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “That’s why I’m joining leaders from business and labor, mass transit advocates, and voters concerned about improving the air we breathe, to urge all New Yorkers to vote ‘Yes’ on Proposal 2 on November 8th. This plan will finance $2.9 billion in highway and mass transit improvements across the state with 40% of the money, or $1.15 billion, coming to New York City.”

“With a complex and aging transportation network in the City, these funds made available by the Bond Act will go a long way,” said DOT Commissioner Weinshall. “It’s important for New Yorkers to support this initiative.”

If approved, the NYSDOT’s $1.45 billion share will be spent around New York State on highway and bridge repair and rebuilding projects, and the MTA’s $1.45 billion allocation will be invested in a series of projects contained in its recently approved 2005-2009 Capital Program. From the MTA’s portion, core infrastructure investments intended to protect and maintain the existing system will receive $450 million; these funds will pay for new subway cars and buses, track repairs, tunnel lighting, a bus locator system, and Staten Island Railway bridges. The remaining $1 billion will be allocated for MTA system expansion projects: $450 million for East Side Access, which brings the Long Island Rail Road trains into Grand Central, $450 million for Second Avenue Subway (Phase I), and $100 million for the JFK Rail Link.

Breakdown of New York City Specific Projects:

• $230 million in State Highway & Bridges funds – projects are for safety, mobility, rehabilitation or operational improvement, and include the:

Grand Central Parkway, Van Wyck Expressway, Clearview Expressway, Cross Island Expressway and Nassau Expressway, West Shore Expressway, Korean War Veteran Memorial Parkway, Bronx River Greenway, Pelham Parkway, Bronx River Parkway, Harlem River Parkway, Henry Hudson Parkway, and FDR Drive.

• $326 million in MTA State of Good Repair Projects

  o Subway cars
o Express buses
o Standard buses
o Mainline track replacement
o Tunnel lighting
o Bus locator system/GPS
o Staten Island Railway bridges
  $ 60 M
$ 50 M
$ 40 M
$ 78 M
$ 54 M
$ 30 M
$ 14 M

• $550 million in MTA Expansion Funds

  o 2nd Avenue Subway
o JFK Rail Link
  $450 M
$100 M

• $ 42 million for Rail Freight projects and clean fuel buses

  o Improvements to upgrade LIRR freight structures to handle
modern boxcars
  $ 25 M
  o Hunts Point Market Inter-modal Capacity Improvements   $ 6 M
  o Hybrid Electric Buses for Private Bus Lines   $ 11 M

The Rebuild and Renew New York Transportation Bond Act of 2005 has been endorsed by Governor George E. Pataki and City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr., as well as many major trade, labor, business, environmental and consumer organizations including the Building and Construction Trades Council, New York League of Conservation Voters, New York City District Council of Carpenters, New York Public Interest Research Group’s Straphangers Campaign and Partnership for New York City among others.







MEDIA CONTACT:


Edward Skyler/Robert Lawson   (212) 788-2958

Kay Sarlin   (Department of Transportation)
(212) 442-7033




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