Bay Ridge’s long decrepit 86th Street station on the R subway line is getting federal transportation money to finish an already started rehabilitation project.
Rep. Michael McMahon announced the allocation along with $244 million of federal stimulus money going toward the rehabilitation of 13 other subway stations that are either in his district or adjacent to it.
All the subway stations are along the D and M lines winding through southern Brooklyn and into Downtown Brooklyn.
“These subway improvements are long overdue,” said McMahon. “The residents of Brooklyn deserve clean, modern and efficient subway stations and this funding from the Economic Recovery Act and FY 2009 Transit Appropriations will make that a reality.”
McMahon also thanked Gov. Paterson and Mayor Bloomberg, through whose offices the money is administrated, for their deft handling of the economic recovery funds and continued commitment to the residents of Brooklyn.
The $1.8 million allocated for the 86th Street subway station will go toward installing new ceramic tiles, painting track walls, providing new ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant tactile warning tiles and repairing corroded steel.
The money is a final portion of a $6.688 million federal rehabilitation initiative for the station.
Other stations slated for rehabilitation include the D/M lines at 79th Street, 71st Street, 18th Avenue, 20th Avenue, Bay 50th Street, and 25th Avenue.
Additionally, about $43 million will go for the subway line rehabilitation between 63rd Street and Bay 50th Street.
The money will also pay for handicapped accessibility on several D/M stations including the stops at Bay Parkway, 50th Street, 55th Street, Fort Hamilton Parkway, 62nd Street and 9th Avenue.
A little more than $22 million along this section of the subway line will also go toward line structure rehabilitation.
MTA spokesperson Kevin Ortiz did not know the time frame for the work or if it would disrupt subway service, but did note some of the contracts for the work were already awarded.
“The MTA is thankful to Gov. Paterson and New York’s Congressional delegation for their strong commitment to the transit system in a time of economic crisis,” he said.
“We will be able to put these funds to work on capital improvements that will upgrade station amenities for our customers throughout this important corridor in Brooklyn.”
