🚦Subways, Tolls, and a $6,000 Tesla Fire: Welcome to Edition #5 of the BOMA-NY Transportation Report 🗞️
Welcome to February, where the trains are running (mostly), the escalators are stalling (definitely), and your building’s loading dock might be competing with congestion pricing for attention.
This month’s BOMA-NY Transportation Report brings the usual mix of big capital plans, budget jousting, and mobility meltdowns—all tailored to help commercial property managers stay informed and ahead of the curve. From Gateway Tunnel breakthroughs to the first real test of Grand Central Madison, the city’s evolving transit landscape is shaping how workers, tenants, and visitors move in and out of our buildings.
In this issue:
🚇 Grand Central Madison finally opens—with misspelled art, broken escalators, and a cheaper route to JFK
🚧 Congestion pricing drama escalates—NJ lawmakers want to block it, while the MTA counts on the billions
💰 Hochul’s budget tosses casino cash at the MTA (Adams says, “Not so fast”)
🔋 E-bike batteries spark another dangerous fire; meanwhile, a $449 device lets anyone turn a regular bike electric
🚘 Uber/Lyft must go electric by 2030, but who’s paying for the chargers?
🛫 FAA grounds all flights after a contractor deletes one too many files (yes, really)
💵 Toll cheats nabbed, plate hiders fined, and MSG asks NYC for a forever lease atop Penn Station
🧯 EV fire in CA takes 6,000 gallons to put out—and it wasn’t even plugged in
Whether you’re managing curbside congestion, weighing the ripple effects of delayed transit upgrades, or just wondering what your building tenants will face during their commute, this report keeps it real, relevant, and—always—a little bit ridiculous.
📍Read on. Stay sharp. And maybe don’t charge your e-bike next to the fire exit.
🚆 February 2023 Transportation Report Summary
🚨 Budget, Funding & Big-Ticket Projects
MTA’s Budget Rescue Plan
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Governor Hochul proposes $1.25B in new annual funding for the MTA:
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Includes a payroll tax increase, $300M one-time cash, and a share of future NYC casino revenue.
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NYC would be asked to contribute $500M more annually—Mayor Adams and Comptroller Lander objected.
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Congestion Pricing Battles
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Still awaiting federal sign-off; Hochul supports moving forward.
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Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ) introduced a bill to block MTA funding if congestion pricing is implemented.
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If approved, the program is expected to raise $1B/year, leveraged into $16B in bond funding for MTA upgrades.
🚇 Transit News
Grand Central Madison Opens
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The $12.7B project finally delivers LIRR access to the East Side.
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Benefits East Side commuters with time savings of ~9 minutes per trip.
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First days saw escalator failures and even a misspelled Georgia O’Keeffe quote on station walls.
Subway Safety
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Subway crime is down 16% since October 2022.
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NYPD surge and mental health outreach showed promising results.
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Subway ridership still at ~65% of pre-COVID levels, higher in outer boroughs.
🚧 Enforcement & Roads
Toll & Plate Enforcement
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NYPD and MTA cracked down on toll cheats—seizing 21 cars in one day.
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New $250 fine for obscuring license plates.
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Proposal for monthly data reporting on camera-evading drivers.
Speed Cameras & Buses
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State funding for speed cameras on MTA bridges and ramps.
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MTA pressuring NYC to complete more dedicated bus lanes—only 11.9 of 20 miles completed in 2022 due to staffing and political pushback.
🚴♂️ Micromobility & EVs
Uber/Lyft to Go Fully Electric by 2030
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Mayor Adams mandates 100,000+ rideshare vehicles must switch to EVs.
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City plans 315 charging stations and fleet electrification.
E-Bike Fire Concerns Escalate
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Critical injuries from an overnight battery fire in Inwood; fire blocked apartment exit.
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Ongoing FDNY warnings: don’t charge batteries while asleep or in exit paths.
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Meanwhile, e-bike kits like Swytch allow traditional bikes to be electrified cheaply.
✈️ Aviation & Rail
Gateway Tunnel Gets $292M Federal Boost
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President Biden visited NYC to announce the long-awaited Hudson River tunnel funding.
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Project includes new tunnels, concrete casing under Hudson Yards, and rehabilitation of Sandy-damaged tunnels.
Newark Airport Terminal A Opens
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Brand new $2.7B terminal features 21 gates and modern amenities.
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Part of Port Authority’s $25B regional airport overhaul.
FAA Ground Stop Explained
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Nationwide flight freeze in January due to an FAA contractor mistakenly deleting NOTAM files.
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FAA modernization still underfunded; full upgrades delayed until 2030.
🏙️ Urban Planning & Property Management
MSG Wants to Stay Put—Forever
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Madison Square Garden seeks permanent status atop Penn Station despite strong political and public opposition.
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The relocation estimate? $8.5B—deemed too costly in today’s climate.
Interborough Express (IBX) Light Rail
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New 14-mile route planned from Bay Ridge to Jackson Heights using an existing freight corridor.
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$5.5B project aims to connect 17 subway lines and boost outer borough transit.
🧯EV Fires & Sustainability
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Firefighters used 6,000 gallons of water to extinguish a Tesla battery fire in California.
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EPA, DOT, and DOE jointly released a decarbonization roadmap:
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Electrification alone isn’t enough—calls for greater mass transit investment, urban planning, and reduced car dependence.
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🚸 Pedestrian & Street Safety
Vision Zero Updates
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2022 saw 255 traffic deaths (down slightly from 275 in 2021).
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Upper West Side called out as a pedestrian danger zone due to poor traffic patterns.
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Delancey Street will get a $21M federal grant for reconstruction and micromobility safety upgrades.
🃏 Odds & Ends
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NYC’s iconic NYPD vehicles get a green-striped redesign—but no electric models announced yet.
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Casino bidding war underway: SL Green, Related, and Thor Equities are pitching projects from Times Square to Coney Island.
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Emirates flight flew 13 hours only to return to origin due to New Zealand flooding.
