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Dive Brief:
- The decision of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York stop work on some infrastructure projects in New York City will significantly reduce construction jobs and severely affect the city infrastructure objectivessaid Carlo Scissura, president and CEO of the New York Building Congress.
- The MTA halted construction projects, such as the Second Avenue subway extension, after Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to delay implementation of the congestion pricing plan, said Jaime Torres-Springer, president of MTA Construction & Development.
- The agency confirmed it recently suspended two additional infrastructure projects at its Forest Hills and Hollis stations, both in Queens.
Diving knowledge:
The pause in construction projects is a major setback for the city’s infrastructure development, especially at a time when the city’s transportation network is in crisis. urgent need for updates.
The Extension of the Segona Avinguda metrolong-awaited by residents, and improvements to the Forest Hills and Hollis stations are crucial to easing congestion and improving transit reliability, according to NYBC.
The congestion pricing plan, which was planned to charge most drivers $15 to enter Midtown south of 60th Street during the day starting June 30, was intended to reduce traffic in Manhattan and generate revenue for traffic projects.
Hochul delayed that implementation because of concerns about its economic impact on New York, which is still recovering financially from the COVID-19 pandemic and dealing with high inflation. The MTA’s board of directors will meet Wednesday to decide whether to do so forward or postpone state toll plan.
Such funding is essential for infrastructure initiatives, according to the NYBC, which says that delaying its implementation not only stalls progress, but also jeopardizes future projects that depend on the revenue stream.
“We’ve said from the moment Governor Hochul deferred congestion pricing that the future of New York City as we know it is in jeopardy,” said Scissura. “There is no silver bullet here. We need congestion pricing to move forward by June 30, or this fatal spiral of dragging the MTA back to the bad old days will only get worse, and so will our roads.”
For this reason, Scissura continues to advocate for the implementation of the congestion pricing plan sooner rather than later.
Scissura expects construction companies, both big and small, to feel the immediate impact of these breaks, with a significant reduction in jobs and economic activity. Without timely action on congestion pricing, Scissura said New York City risks falling behind in maintaining and expanding its transportation infrastructure.
This could lead to increased traffic congestion, longer commute times and more strain on an already overburdened transit system.
