New York’s rail authority MTA has been given almost $200 million of federal funding to cover the cost of repairing the network following Superstorm Sandy.
As well as reimbursing MTA for some of the rebuild, money will also be put toward the preparation costs incurred by New York City Transit, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad.
The funding also includes millions of dollars to rebuild MTA’s bridges and tunnels.
Governor Cuomo said: “These federal dollars will help cover the costs of pre-storm preparations and initial recovery work that made it possible for the MTA to restore service as quickly as possible after the storm.
“The FTA’s quick action will help rebuild our battered transit infrastructure and restore full service for the millions of commuters who rely on the MTA every day.”
The FTA funds will pay for initial capital work and repairs necessary at the Coney Island Yard, which was severely flooded as a result of the storm.
New switch motors needed to be installed and 30 track switches needed to be tested and put back in service.
The $141.6 million funding for New York City Transit includes $17.9 million for initial work to restore the heavily damaged A subway line in the Rockaways, parts of which were washed away during Sandy.
Sandy damaged 3.6 miles of the A line between Howard Beach and the Rockaways section of Queens as its tidal surge washed away fencing and stone ballast, dumped tons of debris onto tracks and platforms, ripped away cables and left the entire signal system underwater.
