ESPAILLAT ANNOUNCES FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION’S (FTA) DECISION TO GRANT MEDIUM-HIGH RATING FOR THE SECOND AVENUE SUBWAY PHASE 2 EXTENSION

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a medium-high rating for the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Extension project, giving it a necessary green light to move forward.

"The Second Avenue Subway Phase II extension is critical to my district, and I call on the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to move this project into engineering and construction as soon as possible," said Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). "The East Harlem community has waited too long to fill this transit desert. I commend the MTA and New York Governor Cuomo for their diligent work providing the local funding needed to advance this project, and I will continue to fight to ensure the federal resources are available to make this project a reality."

"The first phase of the Second Avenue Subway has been a resounding success and I remain committed to making sure we get the full build all the way up to 125th Street and down to Hanover Square. Now that we have this green light from the FTA to build Phase 2, we're another step closer to making that happen. Rep. Espaillat and I will continue to work on securing the federal funds we need to see this project through," said Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12).

"I am excited about the progress that has been made towards the completion of the 2nd Avenue subway. I am confident that with the efforts of Congressman Espaillat and Governor Cuomo that our community dream will soon become a reality," said former Congressman Charles B. Rangel, Statesman-in-Residence for the City College of New York.

The project, which has applied to receive $2 billion, or roughly a third of its funding, from the federal New Starts program, must receive at least a medium-high rating in order be eligible to receive a New Starts grant. Now, the FTA will have to approve the project's advancement to the engineering phase, the last step before construction gets under way.

Rep. Espaillat has long championed the project, including his efforts to combat President Trump's decision to cut critical funding for the New Starts program. Espaillat was instead able to secure an increase of $192 million for the New Starts program in the bipartisan funding bill that became law at the end of last year. He also led a tour of the project with House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio to demonstrate its importance. Rep. Espaillat will continue his efforts to ensure the federal government does not implement unnecessary road blocks preventing the Second Avenue Subway extension to East Harlem.

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First elected to Congress in 2016, Rep. Adriano Espaillat is serving his second term in Congress where he serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the House Small Business Committee. He serves as a Senior Whip of the House Democratic Caucus and is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) where he also serves in a leadership role as CHC Whip. He is also chairman of the CHC Task Force for Transportation, Infrastructure and Housing. Rep. Espaillat's Congressional District includes Harlem, East Harlem, northern Manhattan and the north-west Bronx. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at /.

Media inquiries: Candace Randle Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov