“The MTA is the lifeblood of the New York metropolitan area's transportation network and we must ensure it has the capacity to meet the travel demands of the next generation and fuel one of the largest economies on the globe,” Gov. Cuomo says. “By investing in the most robust transportation plan in state history, we are reimagining the MTA and ensuring a safer, more reliable and more resilient public transportation network for tomorrow.”

This week, the MTA Board is expected to approve a Request for Statement of Qualifications to begin identifying design-build teams to undertake the station renovation program. Makeover work at the selected stations is expected to be completed in six to 12 months, and the work at most of the 31 stations will be completed by December 2018.

MTA chairman and CEO Tom Prendergast says the MTA will employ strategies that speed construction—such as design-build contracts. The renovated stations will also offer amenities such as cellular connectivity, Wi-Fi and new art.

Gov. Cuomo also reports the advancement of key contracts for the design and construction of the final phase of the Long Island Rail Road's double track project. A design-build contract valued at up to $59.7 million will be awarded to the joint venture Skanska-Posillico II to design and construct 7.4 miles of track between Farmingdale and Central Islip.

New York

ALBANY, NY—New York State has agreed to provide the Metropolitan Transportation Authority with its largest capital-funding package in its history.

The state's Capital Plan Review Board approved a $27-billion five-year capital program (2015-2019) that was part of the recently passed 2016 New York State budget. The MTA capital-funding plan is part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's multi-year, $100-billion investment initiative to repair, replace and modernize the state's infrastructure that received significant support from New York City and New York State business groups.

This fiscal year, the state has committed $8.3 billion in funding to the MTA's capital plan. Among the plan's highlights include the purchase of more than 2,340 buses and 1,450 subway cars to the system; advancing an initiative to build four new Metro-North stations in underserved areas of the Bronx and bringing Metro-North service to Penn Station.

The program also includes beginning the extension of the Second Avenue Subway to East Harlem; continuing the LIRR performance by adding a second track project along 18 miles between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma; renovating and revitalizing 31 subway stations and continuing to build the East Side Access project. In addition to the MTA capital plan the CPRB approved on Tuesday, the multi-year program includes nearly $3 billion in self-funded bridge and tunnel improvement and repair projects financed by MTA Bridges and Tunnels.

“The MTA is the lifeblood of the New York metropolitan area's transportation network and we must ensure it has the capacity to meet the travel demands of the next generation and fuel one of the largest economies on the globe,” Gov. Cuomo says. “By investing in the most robust transportation plan in state history, we are reimagining the MTA and ensuring a safer, more reliable and more resilient public transportation network for tomorrow.”

This week, the MTA Board is expected to approve a Request for Statement of Qualifications to begin identifying design-build teams to undertake the station renovation program. Makeover work at the selected stations is expected to be completed in six to 12 months, and the work at most of the 31 stations will be completed by December 2018.

MTA chairman and CEO Tom Prendergast says the MTA will employ strategies that speed construction—such as design-build contracts. The renovated stations will also offer amenities such as cellular connectivity, Wi-Fi and new art.

Gov. Cuomo also reports the advancement of key contracts for the design and construction of the final phase of the Long Island Rail Road's double track project. A design-build contract valued at up to $59.7 million will be awarded to the joint venture Skanska-Posillico II to design and construct 7.4 miles of track between Farmingdale and Central Islip.