New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the advancement of subway improvement projects worth $1.75 billion, all set to be funded by the revenue generated from congestion pricing. According to a recent release, these projects aim to modernize the subway signals on the A and C lines, enhancing service quality and reliability primarily in Brooklyn and Queens. In the seemingly unstoppable march of time, nearly a year after congestion pricing’s implementation, the move has reportedly accelerated traffic flow and improved air quality, supporting significant transit upgrades.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber celebrated the list of enhancements made possible by congestion pricing, indicating that “riders on the A and C will get faster and more reliable service and less time being delayed by old signals,” stated the Governor’s office. Also, moving at pace which demonstrates urgency, MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer stated, “From reducing the per-mile cost of signal modernization by 33 percent to delivering ADA upgrades at 4 times the previous pace, we are delivering better, faster and cheaper.”
The signal modernization will implement Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) on the Fulton Street Line in Brooklyn and the Liberty Avenue Line in Queens, replacing outdated systems dating back to 1936. This upgrade is expected to benefit over 600,000 daily riders, increasing reliability and potentially changing travel speeds. Highlighted by previous CBTC projects, on-time performance and a gain of up to 10 percent in train speed were noted benefits…