NEWS: Another interview, this time with the new MTA chief
‘A new era at the MTA,’ part 2
by patrick arden / metro new york
JAN 23, 2007
Additional reporting by Michael P. Ventura
In part two of Metro’s exclusive sit-down with Elliot “Lee” Sander, the Metropolitan Transportation?Authority’s new executive director focuses on the agency’s future, with plans for major projects such as the Second Avenue Subway and the 7 line extension.
The MTA is currently in a building boom. Gov. Spitzer has already listed his priorities as the Second Ave. Subway, East Side Access and the Tappan Zee Bridge, but what’s the outlook for other proposed projects, like the JFK rail link?
We think that’s a big project. The governor’s position hasn’t changed. His priority is still East Side Access and Second Ave., and if there’s a way to do it all, then no one will be happier than the governor. But with our limited budget, we have to set priorities.
There’s growing ridership in the reverse commute and in inter-borough travel that doesn’t involve Manhattan. Do you have any plans to cater to these riders?
Bus Rapid Transit’s very important. That fits into the issue of commutation patterns, and using rubber tire to address growth in areas where it may not make sense financially and otherwise to put in that heavy rail solution.
Bus Rapid Transit has been proposed along Second Ave., where you’re building a subway. Why can’t BRT replace the more expensive and complicated subway project?
I think you need both. The Second Ave. corridor is very good for Bus Rapid Transit, and I believe that is the plan. In the next month or two, we’ll be reviewing Bus Rapid Transit in terms of meeting our schedule, whether there’s any way to advance that schedule, if there are any funds available to perhaps do more corridors. There is such overcrowding on the Lexington Ave. subway and such a demand that one can easily justify better bus service on the M15 as well as the addition of the Second Ave. Subway.
Will the Second Ave. Subway ever get downtown?
Certainly, that’s our objective. It’s a function of where we are financially. Second Ave. is in some ways a misnomer. It’s almost like the equivalent of an IND, an IRT — the vision is not really Second Ave. It is to go up to the Bronx and then possibly out to Brooklyn. The governor has talked about going out to the Bronx and to have additional capacity between Downtown Brooklyn and Manhattan.
But is it cost effective to build subways?
There is a real need to decongest the Lex and add additional capacity into the core of Manhattan. From a network standpoint, we are at capacity into the Manhattan core. Theoretically, if there is a problem that the only solution is to have another heavy rail response, then we should look at it, but one thing at a time. I think it will obviously be a major challenge just to realize the vision of a fully built Second Ave. I truly do not believe that the city will be able to compete globally without the Second Ave. Subway. With the kind of overcrowding that you have, to have Second Ave. to provide capacity into the core, to create redundancy with the Lexington Avenue Subway, and the other network benefits — I just think it’s critical.
Have you met with Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Roger Toussaint?
I had met with him after I was nominated, and we met for lunch. I’ve had several phone conversations in the interim with him.
What about the threat of another strike, this time on Metro-North?
I had been personally engaged in the conversation with the administration of Metro-North, and we are working hard to avoid a cliffhanger and obviously avoid a strike.
Do you see opportunities for the MTA to create recurring sources of revenue from the city’s plan to develop the Hudson Yards area?
Well, I’ve already met with [Deputy Mayor] Dan Doctoroff, and we are developing the [Request for Proposals] collaboratively for the sale of the yards, and the MTA will benefit financially as it should from the sale.
How about that extra station on the 7 line?
Our druthers would be that it be done while it’s under construction rather than wait, but, as the governor said, the 7 line is a city initiative. We wish we could, but at this point I don’t think the MTA is capable financially of supporting that at this time.
What about cost overruns on the 7 line?
We are in discussions with the city as to how we deal with any cost overruns on the project if they were to occur. We don’t anticipate them at this time.