Some at MTA want the East Side Access project to be a subsidiary, but not everyone agrees

MTA

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) believes the East Side Access project deserves its own office.

The project will bring Long Island Rail Road trains into New York City’s Grand Central. When work is complete platforms will require cleaning and 8 miles of tunneled track leading to and from the platforms will need to be maintained.

Leaders at the MTA stated they intend to create a new subsidiary agency that will be responsible for the oversight and contract management of the service provider when the agency submitted a request for proposals looking for contractors to run the new tracks and platforms.

Officials believe forming the new level of bureaucracy will save up to $50 million a year. Without the East Side Access subsidiary the entire setup will be classified as a railroad, which would create higher costs and additional regulations under the Railway Labor Act.

However, some MTA board members and labor leaders are not in agreement. The MTA was expected to put the move to a vote on June 23, but did not think it was the right time.

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