The following statements can be attributed to Lisa Daglian, Executive Director, Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA (PCAC):
Governor Hochul’s State of the State is a love letter to transit riders and another testament to her commitment to our region’s infrastructure and economy. Taken together, her proposals focus on increasing access to our vital transit system, improving safety for riders and New Yorkers in need of services, and making it easier to build affordable housing and combat our climate crisis.
SAS Phase II, westward expansion:
“The Second Avenue Subway has been a century in the making, and it’s finally going to bring better transit access to East Harlem, long promised since the destruction of the elevated decades ago. We applaud Governor Hochul’s commitment to extending the Second Avenue Subway westward on 125th Street, linking different seven subway lines and creating better crosstown, East Side, and Metro-North connections for Harlemites. This will truly be a transformative project for tens – if not hundreds – of thousands of riders, offering better access to jobs, education, shopping and entertainment.”
Jamaica Station Rehabilitation Project:
“Jamaica Station is the fourth busiest rail station in North America, and we are thrilled Governor Hochul is planning to give it the attention it deserves. This is a project decades in the making. Our wish list for a reimagined Jamaica station includes ADA accessible elevators on the west end of the platforms, more plentiful seating, additional restrooms, new dining options and measures to shield commuters from the elements, especially during winter. Combined with the MTA’s current project to eliminate the ‘Jamaica crawl’ and funding for vertical improvements, we envision a day where riders will quickly and seamlessly move though the station no matter their destination.”
Expansion of the SCOUT Program:
“Governor Hochul is again demonstrating her commitment to transit riders—and all New Yorkers – with her proposal to expand the SCOUT program. Addressing the slate of needs for people experiencing mental health crises through this transformative program has made a real difference, helping those who need it most while improving the riding experience for millions of New Yorkers every day.”
SEQR Reform:
“SEQR reform is a crucial complement to transit-oriented development projects around the MTA region, simultaneously combating the housing affordability and climate change crises. We applaud Governor Hochul for taking on this common-sense legislation that will cut red tape and encourage more transit ridership across the region.”