President Obama's proposed fiscal 2017 budget includes $84 million for construction of New York's Canarsie line power and station improvements project, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced Feb. 10.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority undertaking is one of 31 transportation projects in 18 states recommended to receive a share of $3.5 billion in federal funding through the Federal Transit Administration's capital investment grant program.
The 10.1-mile double track Canarsie L line operates between South Brooklyn and Manhattan, carrying more than 300,000 passengers on an average weekday. The project aims to improve capacity and add power substations and upgrade other electrical infrastructure upgrades to enable operation of additional trains on the line.
It is also intended to improve access at the Bedford Avenue and First Avenue stations.
The Feb. 10 announcement "is a significant and positive step but not the last step in the application process," said MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz.
In addition to the fiscal 2017 funding recommendation, the Canarsie project is receiving $16.3 million in prior year Core Capacity funds. The MTA applied for federal funds in December 2014.
