News flash: Pols reveal subways in need of fix
THE RECONSTRUCTION of LaGuardia Airport entered a new phase and gained a highprofile partner Tuesday.
Gov. Cuomo announced the start of construction of Delta Airlines’ new $4 billion terminal on the airport’s eastern half. The governor also announced that JLC Infrastructure, a joint venture comprising Magic Johnson Enterprises and Loop Capital Markets LLC, will become an investor in the project — marking the first time in state history that a minority-owned business will be a partner in a publicprivate construction project.
Administration officials said JLC Infrastructure is investing $10 million and will have a 5% ownership stake in LaGuardia Gateway Partners, the consortium that’s building — and will ultimately own and operate — the terminals on LaGuardia’s western half.
Cuomo also said a groundbreaking will be held in two weeks for the new $1.6 billion train hall near Penn Station. THE CITY COUNCIL’S two-day subway tour confirmed what was already painfully obvious to commuters: The trains are overcrowded and often late.
Oh, and a lot of the stations aren’t user-friendly for people with disabilities.
The not-so-new revelations came from chats between the politicians and 2,000 straphangers on Thursday and Friday — with 75% of the riders reporting they were late to school, work or a big appointment in the last two weeks.
In addition, 75% griped that they were stuck on crowded platforms or delayed in packed trains at least four times per week, Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez said Tuesday on the steps of City Hall.
“These issues have real consequences,” said the Manhattan Democrat (inset), who chairs the Council’s Transportation Committee. “Those who missed appointments or were late to work and school can face penalties. Some miss out on job opportunities, while others can even be fired.”
Rodriguez called for Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio to sit down and develop a plan, while throwing his support behind the mayor’s call for a millionaire’s tax to raise transit funds.
De Blasio proposed a tax hike of 0.5% on the city’s wealthiest residents to raise $800 million per year for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal (D-Manhattan), one of the pols riding the rails last week, noted the complaints about accessibility in the system.
“People with disabilities — those who used walkers, those in wheelchairs, those who have troubles walking up and down the stairs — have to suffer the humiliation of perhaps getting into the subway, but . . . not being able to get out,” Rosenthal said.
She said only 23% of the 472 stations are equipped with working elevators, and a quarter of those are out of service on any given day.
“That doesn’t meet the requirements on the Americans with Disabilities Act, and it doesn’t meet the requirements of New Yorkers,” Rosenthal added.