Andrea Ibarán and her 15-year-old son take the bus every day at the corner of East 106th Street and 2nd Avenue in East Harlem to go to work and school.
Ibarán says that it takes 20 minutes and the adolescent 15 to get to school in just 10 blocks. It seems too much for such a short distance and he would prefer a train.
“Super. Uff, it would make life easier for everyone,” Andrea said.
For nearly 50 years, this majority Latino community has waited for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to finish a 1975 project that would extend the subway line 1.5 miles from 96th Street.
The wait is desperate, and it could get longer, according to a report, if the MTA doesn’t solve its financial problems so it can get much-needed federal aid.
“Especially this area is a lot of low-income Hispanic people, and having to walk, take a taxi, is not convenient,” Andrea added.
“Also for the ‘seniors’, the elderly. It makes it easier for them instead of walking like ten blocks to catch the train,” said Marsha Rosario, a worker in the area.
Documents released Thursday say the agency must take “additional steps” before $3 billion in assistance from Uncle Sam is approved as debt repayment.
The revelation opened Pandora’s box. And the project, which includes terminals at the 106th, 116th, and a new level below the platforms at Lexington Avenue and 125th Street, jumped from $6.9 million to $7.7 billion. The difference of 800, they allege, is due to inflation.
-How long do you take on the bus?
“Oh, like 25 minutes”
-On the train it would be much less.
“Yes, yes, it’s true,” said James González, a neighbor.
“Do what you have to do. Pay what you owe and think of us, the community, which is what we need the most,” added Andrea.
In his recent budget proposal, President Joe Biden includes almost 500 million for the work that is not subject to the MTA solving its deficit.
As the straw does not fill the camel’s back, MTA Chairman Janno Lieber has asked local legislators to pass a bill from Gov. Kathy Hochul that increases payroll taxes and takes an additional $500 million from city coffers. .
The long-awaited project also depends on the payment of interest on the debt that the MTA expects to assume. The feds would not send aid while the agency faced financial peril.
