$1B in Federal Funding for Two Transportation Projects Proposed by Trump Administration

A pair of major New York City transportation projects may get their allotment of federal funding that is in line with the expected funds had former President Biden remained in office if it is budgeted and allocated by Congress. The Biden Administration had agreed to provide a total of $12 billion to Amtrak’s Hudson River Tunnel project, which is part of the rail operator’s Gateway program, and $3.4 billion for the second phase of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Second Avenue Subway project. A recent report to Congress by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) indicated that the agency “intends to allocate $700 million in the 2026 budget to help pay for the $16-billion” Hudson River Tunnel project; and also asked for $307.3 million for the $6.9 billion Second Avenue Subway extension. Amtrak’s tunnel project began construction in November 2023. It is one of the largest infrastructure projects in U.S. History and consists of three components — construction of a two-track Hudson River rail tunnel between Bergen Palisades in New Jersey and New York Penn Station in Manhattan; the building of a third and final segment that will enable the new Hudson River Tunnel to connect to New York Penn station; and the rehabilitation of the existing North River Tunnel, which sustained significant damage during the 2012 Hurricane Sandy. According to public transportation-focused Mass Transit Magazine, over the construction period of the project “more than 95,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs” are expected to be created as well as generating “$19.6 billion in economic activity.” The MTA’s second phase of construction of the Second Avenue Subway project will extend the first phase 1.5-miles north from the Upper East Side to 125th Street in East Harlem. The project will bring much needed transportation access to the residents and businesses in the Upper Manhattan neighborhood that has “been a subway desert ever since the Second Avenue El stopped service above 57th Street in 1940 according to the MTA. Work is currently underway with utility relocation beginning in East Harlem and upon full construction completion will add ADA accessible stations at 106th Street, 116th Street, and 125th Street, with connections to the 4/5/6 trains, Metro-North trains, and M60 Select Bus service to LaGuardia Airport.