Schumer Outlines Stimulus $ for MTA Infrastructure

The Chief-Leader/Pat Arnow 'HELP IS ON THE WAY', BUT. . . : U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, left, hailed the overall impact of the Federal stimulus bill for New York, but also explained that $1.8 billion in Federal stimulus money was steered away from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for national high-speed rail projects, leaving $1.2 billion for the ailing agency. Looking on is U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will receive $1.2 billion in funds from the Federal stimulus bill, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer told reporters Feb. 17, the day President Obama signed the historic recovery measure.

Speaking with U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner at Pace University in lower Manhattan, Senator Schumer explained that this will be in addition to $2.8 billion in direct aid to the city and $2.5 billion in school funds that could help avoid layoffs at the Department of Education.

Focused Funds on High-Speed Rail

Senator Schumer and members of the state's congressional delegation had originally hinted that they might secure more than $3 billion in Federal funding for the MTA, which has put forth a budget that includes massive service cutbacks, job eliminations and fare hikes unless it receives more Federal and state funding.

"Bottom line is that the overall mass transit number goes up significantly, but $8 billion of that is put into high-speed rail, because there's a real feeling that we have to expand highspeed rail," he said, explaining the allocation of transportation funding. "There are five major corridors that high-speed will be used for, and one of them is here in New York."

MTA spokesman Jeremy Soffin, however, downplayed the effect of the funding, saying that it was "for capital projects so [it] won't have any impact on operating."

Senator Schumer said that the stimulus money could be used for upkeep and expansion of the subway, bus and commuter rail systems.

The recovery package also includes $234 million for the state's highways and bridges and a $58 million grant to the state Department of Transportation, according to Sena tor Schumer's office.

The senior Senator noted that the Federal stimulus package would help the state overall.

'Getting More Than We Gave'

"It's the first time in a very long time where in a major piece of legislation New York actually gets a lot more back than we put in," he said. "That is not enough to close the whole budget deficit, but it means that instead of a meat axe, a scalpel can be used to bring the budget into its required balance."

Senator Schumer also said that as much as $600 million in Federal capital funds could go towards improving elevator service at the Housing Authority.