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Meng Announces Good News For Public Transit In New York Region

February 5, 2013

$2 billion in Hurricane Sandy aid allocated to local transit systems

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced today that $2 billion from the Hurricane Sandy relief package is being made available to New York area transit systems that were hit hard during the storm.

The funds, appropriated through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) new Emergency Relief Program, will help protect, repair, reconstruct, and replace public transit facilities and transit equipment that was damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. The money is the first installment of $10.9 billion that is to be awarded by FTA.

Meng, who strongly advocated and supported the Sandy aid measure, voted in favor of the bill when it passed the House last month.

“Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc upon our public transit system, and much of it continues to be in need of repairs and new equipment,” said Meng. “These funds are crucial to getting our transit infrastructure back to where it was before the storm struck. After waiting three months to win passage of the Sandy aid bill, I am pleased that the money from it is finally flowing to our area.”

The Emergency Relief Program was established under the two-year surface transportation law, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21). The funds will be allocated as grants to municipalities in the tri-state area that own or operate public transit systems.

The House passed the $50.5 billion Sandy relief package on January 15. It was approved by the Senate and signed into law by President Obama last week.