FTA: $686 million to modernize transit stations (renewal)

“Americans deserve the best rail system in the world,” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said on Dec. 22. “The investments announced today will help modernize NEC for generations of passengers.” Let’s go,” he said.

The Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) is investing a total of $686 million in nine states to modernize old transit stations and improve accessibility, announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on December 19. Announced 15 grants.

The grant, funded by President Biden’s Infrastructure Act, represents the first round of funding from the new All Station Accessibility Program (ASAP), designed to improve the accessibility of transit rail stations, and is called the “Disability It will help make mobility easier for people with disabilities and need access to one of the oldest and busiest rail transit systems in the country through critical upgrades such as elevators.”

Selected ASAP projects include:

• The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) received $254 million to make the Myrtle Avenue, Norwood Avenue, and Avenue I subway stations in Brooklyn fully accessible and the Burnside Avenue subway station in the Bronx, and Allows safe and convenient movement. Modernization work includes installing elevators, updating platforms to reduce gaps, adding palpable platform edge warning strips, turning turnstiles, modifying stairs, and improving handrails.

• The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has received more than $118 million to make Irving Park, Belmont and Pulaski stations fully accessible for safe and convenient travel. Built more than 50 years ago, the station will be modernized with elevators, ramp upgrades, improved station signage, and general station enhancements.

• The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) has fully refurbished the 11th Street Subway Station on the Market-Frankford Line and the Chinatown, Erie, Fairmount Upper, Fairmount Lower, and Snyder Stations on the Broad Street Subway Line. Receive $56 million to make it accessible. , allows you to travel safely and conveniently. Built in the early 20th century, modernization work for the station includes the installation of elevators, general station upgrades, ramps and improved travel routes.
• NJ Transit will receive $34.1 million to upgrade five rail stations, including $18.2 million to make the Anderson Street-Hackensack and New Bridge Landing stations on the Pascack Valley Line fully accessible. Improvements include installing elevated platforms, fully accessible ramps, tactile warning strips, accessible parking spaces and an upgraded communication system. $14.5 million will be used to improve the Bradley Beach station on the North Jersey Coast Line. Improvements include installing elevated platforms, fully accessible ramps, tactile warning strips, accessible parking spaces and an upgraded communications system. In addition, $1.4 million will be spent on research and design of new platforms for Chatham and Orange stations on the Morristown Line. The study will also propose implementation recommendations that can be applied to other inaccessible stations, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
• The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) will receive more than $66 million in funding to improve accessibility at Symphony Station, built in 1941. This station is he one of the last subway Green Line stations in downtown Boston to be inaccessible.

According to the FTA, projects were selected for funding based on the criteria set forth in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The new program was created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, which provides $1.75 billion in funding through 2026. In response to NOFO, the FTA received a funding request of $905 million. As a result of this demand, the FTA says it will award both competitive grants for fiscal years 2022 and 2023.

“Every day, millions of people take public transit to work, buy groceries and see loved ones. But today, 30 years after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, However, hundreds of transit stations are still unavailable, said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. , trying to change that.”

According to the FTA, inaccessibility is a “significant hurdle” for passengers using the rail system built before 1990, known as the legacy system, and today more than 900 legacy transit stations are fully accessible. I’m adding that I can’t. ASAP “provides support for transit agencies to repair, improve, modify, adapt or relocate station elements and facilities for passengers.”