MTA investing in new subway, commuter-rail and bus services, Gov. Cuomo says

For the second straight year, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will use state-supported funds to improve service and provide customer enhancements for the New York metropolitan area transportation system, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced yesterday.

MTA’s updated financial plan includes new services on subway and commuter-rail lines and bus systems. The authority also plans to make investments aimed at providing a better station environment, improved communication and an "enhanced customer experience" via technology, Cuomo said.
 
MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) will spend $7.9 million annually on the new bus and subway services, as well as $5.9 million to enhance the customer environment with additional track and station cleaning, more controllers to manage service on numbered subway lines, better turnstile layouts and more security cameras.
 
MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) will invest $2.6 million in five new weekday trains, half-hourly weekend service to Ronkonkoma and Port Washington, and weekend service to Greenport for an additional 10 weeks.
 
Meanwhile, MTA Metro-North Railroad will invest $1.7 million per year to add real-time customer information displays at all of its stations in New York State by 2020.
 
MTA's updated financial plan also includes an additional $11.5 million for NYCT and LIRR to adjust service, largely to the frequency of service on existing routes where necessary to meet agency service guidelines for customer loading and waiting.
 
The revised financial plan also includes $11 million in enhancements to the customer experience at stations and in new technology "to make it easier for customers to plan and manage their travel," according to the press release.

The service initiatives are included in MTA’s mid-year revision of its four-year financial plan, which reflects adjustments to its revenues and expenses; most of the service investments and customer enhancements will be phased in during the next 12 months.

MTA's board, which is scheduled to discuss the investments at its regularly scheduled committee meetings today, will vote on next year’s final financial plan in December.