STATEN ISLAND — The MTA allocated $221.4 million to replace the Staten Island Railway's aging fleet in their proposed capital plan released this week.
The replacement of the SIR's 64 trains, which date back to the early 70's, were part of the $372 million in improvements to the line, which also include adding three new power substations to increase power supply for the new cars, according to the 2015 to 2019 plan.
"We are thrilled about the $300 million for the new cars," said Borough President James Oddo, who pushed for them since 2005 with Councilman Vincent Ignizio. "The MTA got their moneys worth out of the existing fleet."
The MTA did not have an estimated time when the new fleet would arrive or any design specifications for the cars.
Aside from the new cars, the budget also funds the installation of real-time train arrival monitors at every station along the route. The countdown clocks were originally funded by Ignizio at four stations in January, but the plan will expand it to the other 17 stops, according to the budget.
“I am obviously very pleased MTA included new cars for the Staten Island Railway in their capital plan, which the Borough President and I have been actively advocating for years," Ignizio said in a statement.
"Those cars, along with the new real-time arrival technology for buses and the SIR, expanded express and super-express bus service, a new fleet of local and express buses, a new train station and park and ride and system wide security cameras represent a significant investment and a recognition that the South Shore has been underserved for many years."
The SIR was also funded for mainline track replacement, radio system enhancements and component repairs at stations in the plan.
The plan also allocated $431 million for various work on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, part of the upgrades announced in 2011, which include replacement of the upper level approach, reconstruction of the Brooklyn approach and rehabilitation of anchorage and piers, according to the plan.
While Oddo and Ignizio both said they were pleased with upgrades to the SIR, they both said they were disappointed the plan did not include any funding for the planned North Shore Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line.
"This is a critical, critical component to making the revitalization on the North Shore a realty," Oddo said.
"We have all these projects happening, the Wheel, Empire Outlets, Lighthouse Pointe and URL. You need to be able to move people along that corridor."
The plan for the BRT would use existing right of ways along the shuttered North Shore Rail line in some places, and could cut residents travel time to the St. George Ferry Terminal in half, according to Streetsblog.
The MTA announced they would pursue a BRT instead of a light rail system in 2012 because it's cheaper, but it would still cost an estimated $371 million, Streetsblog reported.
