Governor Hochul announces that the MTA achieves a record $15.8 billion in capital commitments in 2025 to improve transit

New York – Governor Kathy Hochul announced today that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) achieved an unprecedented milestone in 2025, committing a record $15.8 billion in capital investments, the largest single-year investment in transit infrastructure in the agency’s history. The commitments cover a wide range of projects designed to enhance accessibility, maintain the state of good repair, and advance major expansion projects, including initiatives funded by congestion relief revenues.

“New York is investing in transit like never before, with record levels of investment being made to upgrade our existing system and to bring better transit to more communities,” Governor Hochul said. “The historic year for capital investments at the MTA — including $5 billion in projects made possible by congestion pricing — will improve the commutes of millions of New Yorkers and will ensure that this lifeblood of the entire region is able to deliver for riders for years to come.”

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber echoed the Governor’s optimism, highlighting the tangible benefits for commuters. “This record year of commitments cements C&D’s status as a top-tier infrastructure developer. New Yorkers want to know where congestion relief revenues are going — the answer is right back into the transit system with new train cars, modern signals and more ADA elevators. Thank you, Governor Hochul!”

The record-breaking commitments in 2025 reflect investments across all corners of the transit system. Signal improvements received $2 billion, ensuring more reliable train service, while $6.6 billion was allocated to rolling stock upgrades, bringing new train cars to Long Island Rail Road and New York City subways. Expansions, including megaprojects like the Interborough Express, were funded at $2.7 billion, while $500 million was dedicated to accessibility improvements to make stations and trains more user-friendly. An additional $500 million was directed toward bus upgrades, and $3.4 billion supported state-of-good-repair initiatives and other program needs.

One notable advancement came last August when the MTA awarded a $166 million contract for engineering and design of the Interborough Express, moving the project from planning into active development. The 2025-2029 Capital Plan, fully funded by the state through Governor Hochul’s leadership, earmarks $2.75 billion for this transformative transit project linking Brooklyn and Queens.

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Congestion pricing revenues have been a major driver of these investments. Projects funded through this mechanism include the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Contract 2 for tunneling, which is progressing on time and on budget. Signal modernization on the Fulton and Liberty AC lines in Brooklyn and Queens has advanced using a new delivery approach, making the project 33 percent cheaper per mile than prior signal upgrades. Accessibility upgrades at seven stations, including the Bryant Park Complex on the BDFM7 lines, came in six percent below engineering estimates, showing that efficiency and cost savings are possible even in large-scale projects.

The MTA’s new 2025-2029 Capital Plan has also generated significant progress for future system improvements. Contracts for over 300 new train cars on the Long Island Rail Road were executed, and an option was exercised to purchase 270 additional electric buses for the NYC Transit bus fleet, expanding both capacity and sustainability across the system.

“This year’s record-setting numbers are the latest proof that the new MTA is delivering the capital program better, faster, and cheaper. From state of good repair and accessibility upgrades to signal modernization and major expansion projects, we are advancing projects all across the region that will improve the lives of New Yorkers for a generation,” said MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer.

The scale of 2025’s achievements is highlighted not just by commitments but also by completions. The MTA finished $6.7 billion in projects during the year, just below 2023’s record of $7.1 billion. Residents have seen direct improvements throughout the system, including 41 elevator replacements and the opening of 10 new accessible stations across subways and railroads. The average duration of these projects dropped by more than two months, reflecting a focus on efficiency and timely delivery.

Major projects completed in 2025 included circulation improvements at Grand Central as part of the 42nd Street Connection program, which achieved a savings of $46.5 million. The new Rail Car Acceptance Facility in Brooklyn opened, providing state-of-the-art infrastructure for testing and maintaining new subway cars. The rehabilitation of the lower level main span deck of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge also concluded successfully, further enhancing the city’s transportation infrastructure.

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The MTA has also made significant progress on megaprojects. The first phase of the full replacement of the Park Avenue Viaduct, the elevated steel structure carrying four Metro-North Railroad tracks into Grand Central Terminal, was completed 21 months ahead of schedule and $93 million under budget. Meanwhile, the rebuilding of the Grand Central Train Shed, which supports Park Avenue and surrounding skyscrapers, finished its first phase $20 million under budget and has already secured $75 million in private funding for the next phase.

The combination of record commitments, ongoing completions, and innovative project management underscores a larger transformation for the MTA. The agency has surpassed the previous record of $11.4 billion in contracts awarded in 2022, demonstrating its capacity to invest in both the present and the future of New York transit. From signal modernization and rolling stock replacement to major expansion projects, the MTA’s focus has been on improving the experience of millions of commuters while making the system more resilient, reliable, and accessible.

Governor Hochul’s leadership and the backing of the state legislature have been central to these achievements. The FY26 Enacted State Budget fully funds the MTA’s 2025-2029 Capital Plan, ensuring that large-scale initiatives and day-to-day improvements can move forward simultaneously. “New York is investing in transit like never before,” the Governor said, emphasizing that these investments will benefit generations of commuters.

For New Yorkers, the results are already tangible. From new elevators that improve station accessibility to faster, more reliable trains and expanded bus fleets, the city’s transit system is seeing both immediate benefits and long-term improvements. Major infrastructure projects, such as the Interborough Express and Second Avenue Subway expansions, promise to reshape commuting patterns, expand capacity, and connect communities that have long waited for enhanced transit access.

As 2025 closes, the MTA sets a new benchmark for what is possible in urban transit investment. With $15.8 billion in capital commitments, $6.7 billion in completed projects, and ambitious plans for the next five years, the agency is positioning itself as a global leader in transit innovation and infrastructure delivery. Governor Hochul, MTA officials, and construction leaders alike point to this year as a turning point, demonstrating that large-scale investment, careful management, and forward-looking planning can deliver real results for millions of riders.

“The historic year for capital awards will ensure that this lifeblood of the region continues to operate safely, efficiently, and reliably for years to come,” Governor Hochul said. “We are investing not only in transit infrastructure but in the communities and commuters that rely on it every day.”

With record-setting numbers, forward-thinking project management, and a focus on accessibility, reliability, and expansion, the MTA’s 2025 capital commitments mark a pivotal moment in New York’s transportation history. For residents, commuters, and the city itself, the investments promise a future where the region’s transit system can meet the demands of a growing population while remaining among the most modern and efficient in the world.