New Train Cars and Buses Will Make for a Smoother Ride; The Nitty-Gritty Work is Still Critical- Capital Program Committee Testimony

Good afternoon, I’m Jack Connors, Research and Communications Associate at the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, PCAC.
New train cars, subways and buses are all part of this month’s updates, exciting news for riders. The accessibility and operator improvements on the new buses are a welcome addition – good for riders and drivers alike. And I won’t lie, it’s still a thrill to get on an R211 or M9. We’re looking forward to seeing R211s on the Queens Boulevard West line too. The MDBF is pretty amazing.
The latest Metro-North Heritage Dual Mode locomotive was a sight to behold on the day it went into revenue service. We’re glad to see that both railroads should receive their new dual mode engines on time, if not ahead of schedule, pending resolution of some outstanding issues.
So much of the work addresses aspects of the system – tracks, ventilators, substations, mechanical components – that have reached the end of their useful life. Riders may not see them everyday like new train cars and buses but they’re essential to getting them where we need to go safely and reliably.
That’s why the CPRB’s approval of the 25-29 Capital Plan was so critical. It’s unfortunate that we lost valuable time starting on the critical state of good repair work, but it’s great to see the MTA making haste now that Governor Hochul and the Legislature fully funded the MTA Capital Plan, no small feat.
Similarly, the ongoing success of congestion pricing is helping pay for accessibility and station improvements, signal upgrades, and new rolling stock. Can we please retire the LIRR’s M3s? How about making Mets-Willets Point accessible?
The Regional Plan Association released a terrific report last week that dives into the numbers and affirms what New Yorkers have observed since congestion relief began a few short months ago: traffic is down significantly, including in The Bronx and Bergen County; even Staten Island has reduced delays. The numbers don’t lie; congestion pricing works.
Thank you.