The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) set a new record in 2025 by making $15.8 billion in capital commitments, according to an announcement from Governor Kathy Hochul. This marks the largest annual investment in transit infrastructure in the agency’s history.
The funding is being used for a range of projects including accessibility upgrades, maintenance work, and major expansion initiatives. Over $5 billion of these commitments were made possible through Congestion Relief funding. The first investments from the MTA’s 2025-2029 Capital Plan, which was fully funded by Governor Hochul and the state legislature in the FY26 Enacted State Budget, were also advanced during this period.
Governor Hochul stated, “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. 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 commented on the developments: “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!”
In 2025, capital awards included $2 billion for signal improvements, $6.6 billion for rolling stock, $2.7 billion for expansion projects, $500 million each for accessibility upgrades and bus upgrades, and $3.4 billion for state-of-good-repair work and other program support.
A significant contract worth $166 million was awarded last August for engineering and design work on the Interborough Express project between Brooklyn and Queens, moving it from planning into an active phase. The 2025-2029 Capital Plan includes a total of $2.75 billion dedicated to this project.
Congestion pricing funds have supported several key projects such as:
– Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Contract 2 tunneling.
– Signal modernization on Fulton & Liberty AC lines in Brooklyn and Queens; this effort has reduced per-mile costs by one-third compared to previous similar projects.
– Accessibility improvements at seven stations—including Bryant Park Complex—completed at costs six percent below estimates.
Progress was also reported on new contracts for over 300 Long Island Rail Road train cars and an order option exercised for 270 additional electric buses for New York City Transit.
The previous high mark was set in 2022 when $11.4 billion in contracts were awarded.
Jamie Torres-Springer, President of MTA Construction & Development said: “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.”
In addition to new commitments, MTA completed $6.7 billion worth of projects during 2025—the second highest annual completion value after 2023’s total.
Improvements included replacing 41 elevators and adding ten accessible stations across subway and rail lines; average project duration decreased by more than two months compared with prior years.
Other completed efforts involved circulation improvements at Grand Central Terminal as part of the 42 St Connection program (saving $46.5 million), opening a new Rail Car Acceptance Facility in Brooklyn, rehabilitating Verazzano-Narrows Bridge’s lower level main span deck, awarding Kawasaki a contract last fall to build 378 R268 subway cars (replacing nearly fifty-year-old equipment), among others.
Major progress was made on megaprojects such as replacing Metro-North Railroad’s Park Avenue Viaduct—finished twenty-one months ahead of schedule at a savings of $93 million—and rebuilding Grand Central Train Shed with first-phase savings of $20 million; private funding secured totals $75 million toward its second phase.