It’s September 16, 2024, and the law states that the MTA must propose there 2025-2029 Capital Program by October 1, 2024, meaning there is less than 3 weeks till the Capital Program will release. Sorry it’s been a while since I’ve posted, I’ve just been busy with other things and I’ve also been working on some larger articles for the site. Now I gotta admit, this years I think is gonna be a tight one, the MTA will have to replace the $15 billion expected from Congestion pricing has to try to resolve the $15 billion gap in revenue caused by Congestion Pricing for the current capital plan, while also finding additional revenue for the next one.
I decided since there isn’t too much else to write about at the moment to make an article speculating what might come with this new program.
Rail Infrastructure:
I strongly believe that this will be added, and also come, for that matter, because this one was in the 2020-24 Capital Program, yet it’s already September and nothing has come of it. The goal will be to electrify the portion of the Central Branch used by Montauk trains between a junction west of Babylon and Bethpage Junction.
While I believe that this will take longer then 5 years, I also believe that this will be added as they
recently bought land near Port Jefferson station in order to make a rail yard. They were planning on doing this decades ago, but they had to end at Huntington due to a low budget. It’s very inefficient to turn trains at Huntington because you have to deadhead equipment out there which is very costly and look at how the Ronkonkoma Branch did, maybe the Port Jefferson Branch could be the same?
The MTA has now fully installed CBTC on 3 lines, those being the Flushing Line, The (L), and The (G). They recently just finished the (G) in August. With that done, I believe the Lexington Avenue line should be the next one to get the prize. The Lexington Avenue Line is almost as busy or even more busy then The Flushing Line, so I think it makes sense to install-CBTC along it to increase traffic along it.
Stations & Routes:
I strongly believe that additional funding for this project will be included because it’s something that’s in the works, and it’s very beneficial to residents in Connecticut and Upstate New York to finally get direct service to the Upper West Side, similar to how the LIRR got direct service to Lower East Side.
I also believe that they will try to plant a couple infill stations on the Port Washington Branch, as it’s been talked about and I think it would really help with capacity on the Flushing Line. They’ve especially talked about Elmhurst, however, I wouldn’t be surprised if they did Corona too.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they included this since it’s been talked about a lot, and it’s something that many people think is worth it.
I also believe that this will be included because, the MTA claims it’s supposed to be operational by 2027, so, I think if they proposed it, 3 years is enough to setup the light-rail route.
As I mentioned before, most likely they will provide funding for the Penn Station Access project, and, I’m just gonna say this now, I’m all for a Sunnyside Station, not only would it provide Sunnyside and nearby residents with an additional station, but, it would also provide a transfer point between the Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Railroad, allowing for you to not have to go all the way to Manhattan. It would also provide direct transfers for additional trains, those going to Penn Station that stop there, so, it would be great for diesel residents on the LIRR. They proposed it in the 2025-2044 20-year needs assessment, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they knock it off right out of the way.
A forgotten one, but nice indeed, is the 10th Avenue station, originally planned as an intermediate station between Times Sq-42nd Street and 34 St- Hudson Yards, however, it was canceled due to a lack of funding, however, the MTA stated that they could do it later, development in the area has grown, and, the MTA stated in it’s 20 year needs assessment included it as a possibility.
Addition of Watermill, Centre Moriches, Bayport, Holtsville, Calverton, Cutchogue, Peconic, & Laurel Stations on The East End
No, I’m not expecting them to add all of these, maybe 4 at max, but I think the addition of some of these stations would be very useful, especially since these places don’t get much transit access this far east, and, residents have been asking. For example, if they built Calverton, it would provide easy access to the Long Island Aquarium, and if they built Watermill, it would provide easier access to a quaint little town that everyone, especially myself, really loves.
While I don’t know too much about the SIR, I’ve heard that this is a requested station, and, there is a decent gap between the Clifton & Grasmere stations, so heck, why not?
With Red Hook in Southeastern Brooklyn being one of the cities most notorious transit deserts, I think it would make sense to extend this line over there, however, I do understand that this would be very expensive and difficult to complete.
With LaGuardia Airport always falling short of JFK, one of the many reasons why that is is because they don’t have much rail access so the traffic can be atrocious, especially during the holiday season. While I’ve yet to figure out what line would work, I think they should, with 126 subway stations, be able to make a station for New York’s second busiest airport, I mean come on, shouldn’t this be obvious?
Station Improvements:
Recently, they’ve been renovating multiple major stations between Woodside-61 St and 103 St- Corona Plaza along The Flushing Line, including 111 St and 82 St- Jackson Heights. They are also planning on renewing Woodside- 61 St, 52 St, 69 St, and 103 St- Corona Plaza, so I wouldn’t be at all shocked if additional funding was provided.
Along with station improvement work, I also strongly believe that some ADA improvements will be made somewhere thru the system.
Rolling Stock:
Since September 11, 2019, the new M9s have began rolling in on the LIRR, and recently, they finished the full order, however, on weekdays, you’ll oftenly see the great M3s, rigged with door problems and old age, lingering around the Atlantic Terminal shuttles, and sometimes captaining rush hour trains. The MTA stated that once all the M9s were in, the M3s would be gone for good, however, they’re still around. Recently, Newsday has made multiple articles on the various door problems these trains are plagued with, and a few days ago they made an article stating that the MTA was looking to order additional cars, of unknown type, to finally replace these trains. While they didn’t mention Metro-North, I wouldn’t be surprised if this same order included cars for the LIRR’s sister.
As a Montauk Brancher myself, I have quite the experience with these locomotives, and while everyone loves em, they aren’t doing very well, they are constantly breaking down and there not doing as well as Metro-North’s P32s. While Metro-North ordered new locomotives, the LIRR has yet to do it, and I’d argue is in more dire need of them, I think that they will include something on this in the capital program.
While it’s sad to be seeing the R62s & R62as go soon, especially since they are running well, they are past there useful service life and I wouldn’t be surprised if they begin the contract for the R262.
Other Improvements:
Like I mentioned in a previous post, the MTA recently introduced wifi & cellular service on the 42nd Street Shuttle.
Now, I'd like to quickly add that none of this is confirmed, this was just my speculation + suggestions, I'd also like to say that I highly ask that you leave a comment if you enjoyed reading this, I spent a long time making it.
