Res. No. 912
Title
Resolution calling upon the United States Congress to establish the Second Avenue subway line construction project as a major priority and provide full funding for its completion through TEA-21 legislation.
Body
By Council Members Reed, The Speaker (Council Member Miller) and Council Members Barron, Comrie, Gennaro, Jennings, Koppell, Liu, Lopez, Nelson, Quinn, Recchia, Sanders, Serrano, Weprin, Yassky, Jackson, Brewer, Espada and Moskowitz
Whereas, The East Side of Manhattan is drastically underserved by local public transportation; and
Whereas, The only subway line that directly serves the East Side of Manhattan is the Lexington Avenue line; and
Whereas, Many residents in East Side neighborhoods, from East Harlem to the Lower East Side, have more than a ten minute walk to the nearest subway station; and
Whereas, Trains on the Lexington Avenue line are routinely in excess of 100% capacity during rush hours and these overcrowding conditions are expected to worsen; and
Whereas, Station crowding during rush hours exceeds New York City Transit guidelines for comfort and efficiency; and
Whereas, Completion of the Long Island Rail Road connection between Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal will undeniably add thousands of new morning peak period passengers to the Lexington Avenue line at 42nd Street, with estimates ranging from 5,000 to 80,000 new daily riders, severely compromising an already overburdened system; and
Whereas, New and existing development of the entire length of the East Side of Manhattan requires added public transit capacity; and
Whereas, The redevelopment of Lower Manhattan is intrinsically connected to the Second Avenue subway line project; and
Whereas, The Metropolitan Transportation Authority ("MTA") has earmarked $1.05 billion in its 2000-2004 MTA Capital Program which is currently being used for the design and engineering of the Second Avenue subway line project; and
Whereas, The MTA has adopted an aggressive timetable, with initial construction of the Second Avenue subway line scheduled for 2004; and
Whereas, Federal TEA-21 legislation has been responsible for the successful upgrade of transportation infrastructures throughout the United States; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the United States Congress to establish the Second Avenue subway line construction project as a major priority and provide full funding for its completion through TEA-21 legislation.
LS #2428
AIS
5/20/03