Here is a financial challenge facing New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Janno Lieber and NYC Transit President Richard Davey. Are they aware that their predecessors have been unsuccessful for six years in applying for three old Federal Transit Administration national, competitive, discretionary-funded project allocations that would improve the NYC Transit Canarsie L subway line worth over $100 million?
With the MTA facing a current multibillion-dollar, multi-year budget shortfall, why would you want to forfeit any federal funds? On Jan. 27, 2023 the FTA published Federal Notice of Available Funding for Federal Fiscal Year 2023. This included the availability of carryover earmark allocations from 2016 and2017. They are NY Canarsie Power Improvements at $3,200,271, NY Canarsie Power Improvement Program Expedited Project Delivery Pilot Program for $13,121,114, and NYC Canarsie Line Power and Station Improvements at $83,680,000.
They should have previously developed and submitted grant applications to apply for these funds worth over $100 million. Seven years later, work should have already been completed. Why have they been unsuccessful to date in having these funds obligated under approved grants? These funds will eventually lapse and be lost. They end up returned to the federal treasury and may be reprogrammed for another purpose.
It is now on their watch that Lieber and Davey have been unsuccessful in applying for and having these funds obligated under approved grants. When will they develop a recovery schedule for completion of these big overdue projects? How many more years must taxpayers, commuters and NYC Transit employees have to wait before seeing the benefits from completion of these federally funded improvements to the NYC Transit Subway Canarsie L Line?
Here is another financial challenge facing MTA Chairman Janno Lieber and MTA President Catherine Renaldi. Are they aware that they have been unsuccessful for four years in applying for a 2019 Federal Transit Administration national, competitive, discretionary-funded project allocation that would pay for a ferry dock replacement? This ferry affords West Shore Hudson Rockland County commuters a connection to Metro North Hudson Line service to Grand Central Terminal.. With a multibillion-dollar, multi-year budget shortfall, why would you want to forfeit these federal funds? On Jan. 27, 2023 the FTA published Federal Notice of Available Funding for Federal Fiscal Year 2023.
Why didn’t MTA previously apply for these funds?. Four years later, work could have already been completed. Why have they been unsuccessful in having these funds obligated under approved grants? These funds will lapse on Sept. 30, 2023 and be lost.
Larry Penner
Great Neck
Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously served as a former Director for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management.
