Representative Adriano Espaillat Continues Federal Push for Second Avenue Subway Phase II

NEW YORK, NY -- Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) sent a letter to Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chair Janno Lieber and President of Design and Construction Jamie Torres-Springer following indications that the phase two of the Second Avenue Subway expansion would be halted. 

"This decision is particularly troubling in light of its critical importance to the transit infrastructure and equity in New York City," said Espaillat. "For the last two years, I have consistently suggested that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) seek alternative revenue sources to avoid sole dependence on one program's success for its state of good repair and expansion plans. 

He continued, "This strategy is vital to ensuring the viability of the MTA’s extensive capital plan, averting a fiscal cliff, and securing stable funding for the MTA, which is deeply integrated into the ecosystem of New York City. It is disappointing that the MTA did not have contingency plans to ensure the continuity of both state-of-good repair projects and expansion projects like Phase II.

"Halting work on this vital project is a decision that carries significant negative implications for the transit infrastructure and economic health of New York City," Espaillat concluded while urging the MTA to reconsider its decision and seek the necessary funding and support to ensure continuation and completion of the Phase II expansion.

Read the letter from Rep. Espaillat in its entirety.

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Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fourth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 118th Congress. He is also a member of the House Budget Committee and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), where he serves in a leadership role as the Deputy Chair as well as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI). Rep. Espaillat is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.

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