There are some very large contingencies still left to resolve (like funding from the federal government) but revenues generated from congestion pricing are allowing for new levels of transit infrastructure spending.
"The Metropolitan Transportation Authority hopes to commit $51 billion over the next five years to the resurrection of the region’s mass transit system," reports Dan Rubinstein.
The newly announced 2020-2024 MTA Capital Program is a game changer, significantly increasing the dollar figure on the agency's current capital investment plan. The money would be spent on improving accessibility to 66 subway stations, resignaling portions of six subway lines, new buses (including 500 all-electric buses), and the second phase of the Second Avenue Subway.
"While the program relies on funding from the congestion pricing scheme set to go into effect in 2021, as well as excess revenue from the MTA’s bridges and tunnels, it — crucially — also relies on nearly $11 billion in funding from the Trump administration, $3 billion from the de Blasio administration, and $3 billion from the state. The governor is on board. It’s not clear where the de Blasio and Trump administrations stand."
More details of the new plan are available in a press release from the New York MTA, published on September 16, 2019, and a New York Times article by Emma G. Fitzsimmons.
FULL STORY: The MTA's resurrection plan: $51B and a subway up to 125th Street
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
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US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
New Jersey’s second-largest city bans standalone data centers
Jersey City will continue to allow co-location facilities, such as those meant for research institutions that store their own data.
Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds
A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.
EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.
Phoenix announces new on-demand transit service, more frequent RAPID buses
Both new services will launch in October, and are part of Phoenix's Project Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association