As part of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority's $27 billion five-year capital program, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced plans for the renovation of 31 subway stations across New York City and unveiled a totally new design for the 1,025 subway cars that are on tap to be bought by the agency.
"The governor gave the MTA a mandate to implement new, world-class designs as quickly as possible for all new subway cars and that's what you're seeing today – innovation making the lives and commutes of all New Yorkers easier," MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas Prendergast said in a press release.
The MTA, a state-run agency, is using design-build contracts to speed up the process. The authority said it will issue requests for proposals this week for the construction of the new subway cars.
"The MTA design team developed a bold and visionary reimagining of the quintessential commuter experience, incorporating best practices from global transit systems, and focusing on our core mission to renew, enhance and expand," Cuomo said in the release.
The designs will include enhancements to the exteriors and interiors of the cars designed to cut waiting times and increase capacity.
Out of the 1,025 new cars, up to 750 will be an "open car end" design, which replaces the door between the cars with an accordion-like connector that will creates more space. Additionally, the width of door will be expanded to 58 inches from 50 inches, which is aimed at cutting delays by letting customers get into the cars faster. The cars will also have WiFi, USB chargers, information displays, digital advertisements, illuminated door opening alerts and security cameras. Outside, the new subway cars will sport a new blue front with large windows, LED headlights, and a blue stripe with gold accents along the sides.
Cuomo also highlighted the initiative to create a new and improved design standard for subway stations.
"We are going to do more than renovate -- we are bringing subway stations to a higher standard than ever before, and the new vision for subway cars will increase capacity and reduce overcrowding and delays," Cuomo said.
The 31 stations included in the renovation program announced on Monday expand on a plan to do renewal work at more than 170 other stations.
Station design elements include enhanced lighting, improved signage, the additional of countdown clocks and improved cellular connectivity and Wi-Fi.
The N.Y. MTA is one of the country's biggest issuers of municipal bonds, with about $37 billion of debt outstanding. The MTA's capital plan includes $5.7 billion in bonding capacity and includes $1.6 billion in pay-as-you-go capital.
