New York, N.Y. – U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $1,568,483 in federal funding for the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Safety Research & Demonstration Program. Specifically, the MTA will receive funding for two projects focused on improving visibility of transit bus operators and for improving safety through train detection and worker warning systems.
“These federal funds, made possible through the FAST Act, which we worked so hard to pass, will help make New York’s transportation systems safer for passengers, pedestrians and workers,” said Senator Schumer. “I am pleased that the Department of Transportation is providing these funds to the MTA—North America’s largest transportation network—and using monies we secured in Congress towards smart upgrades to our transit systems.”
“This critical federal funding for the MTA will help strengthen our transportation infrastructure,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I will continue to fight for investments like this one which helps enhance safety protocols, safeguarding New York’s transit employees by improving the technology they use to communicate underground and upgrading mechanical designs in buses to better protect pedestrians.”
The NYMTA will receive $880,035 to develop a prototype of a new street-side mirror design for transit buses to reduce blindspots of bus operators in future vehicle designs.
The NYMTA will also receive $688,448 to work in partnership with the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) to enhance communication systems involving track workers and wearable alert units. The NYMTA, through New York City Transit, will develop protection systems based on enhanced communication between modules installed in railcar cabs and track worker personal wearable units.