Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. says the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has agreed to major renovations to the 149thStreet/Grand Concourse subway station. Additionally, the agency will make repairs to the 138th Street/3rd Avenue subway station.
The announcement follows months of advocacy by Borough President Diaz and his office, along with the two Bronx residents who serve on the board of the MTA, Charles Moerdler and Fernando Ferrer. The two stations are among the worst in the City, and are consistently rated as such not only by transit advocacy groups but by Bronx commuters as well.
Repairs at both stations are scheduled to begin in Spring 2012, following a design and planning phase. Complete details on those repairs are included in the attached letter from Thomas F. Prendergast, President of MTA New York City Transit, to MTA Board Member Charles Moerdler.
"These two stations are in the worst condition of any in the Bronx, and I am thrilled that our advocacy on behalf of Bronx commuters has borne fruit, and that these stations will now see significant improvements. It is time for the Bronx to receive its fair share from the MTA, and the agency's commitment to making these much-needed repairs is a major first step towards that goal," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. "I would like to thank Jay Walder, Chairman and CEO of the MTA, and Thomas F. Prendergast for moving their agency forward on these projects. In addition, I am grateful to both Charles Moerdler and Fernando Ferrer for their hard work in making these repairs a reality."
Borough President Diaz added, "When the Bronx works together, we can achieve great things, and our work making these station repairs a reality shows us that. I look forward to working with the MTA to bring these repairs to completion, and I will continue to advocate on behalf of our borough's commuters to ensure that they have a clean and safe experience in our subway system.