Cuomo Launches Subway Program: Adopt A Station For $600K

NEW YORK CITY, NY – Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday announced a program for sponsors to “adopt” subway stations by paying for maintenance and upgrades.

For a contribution of up to $600,000, a company or other sponsor will be able to fund “enhanced maintenance efforts and additional security components and features” at a specific station. Cuomo said the cost of adopting each station would be “determined by square footage and traffic of a station,” with contributions capped at $600,000.

MTA chairman Joe Lhota said details of the plan are not complete but sponsors may be granted naming rights over their adopted station.

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Speaking at a breakfast with the Association for a Better New York in Midtown, the governor said companies will be able to choose from a list of 72 stations spread throughout Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan and Queens. The stations were chosen based on factors like customer complaints, though Cuomo's office didn't immediately name the locations.

It said for every station receiving funds in Manhattan, one will be chosen in the outer boroughs.

In a related program, business donating up to $250,000 will be able to join an effort to “develop private-sector solutions to problems facing the system, specifically related to the rider experience, including innovative staffing, technology, and communications practices,” the governor stated.

Cuomo said the program seeking $250,000 contributions would be “similar to businesses lending their support to parks and historic sites through conservancies.”

Earlier this week, the MTA chairman announced a sweeping range of fixes for the subways, calling on the city and state to split the $836 million bill.

Cuomo called for Mayor Bill de Blasio to contribute more funds to the city’s troubled subway system.

“Today I’m making the state’s funds available to begin the transformation of the MTA,” the governor said. “Our partner should do the same. There is no time for delay and there is no tolerance for a lack of commitment on this issue.”

De Blasio was quick to reject the request, saying the state previously raided some $450 million the city had contributed with the intent of funding the MTA.

It was the latest in a series of contentious exchanges between Cuomo and de Blasio, who have been trying to blame one another for crisis conditions like delays and derailments on the subway.

The "Adopt-A-Subway" program comes after Cuomo aired the idea of privatizing Penn Station, currently run by Amtrak, earlier this month. The troubled train hub is undergoing major repairs expected to last until around Labor Day.

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Lead image of Governor Andrew Cuomo speaking July 17 by AP.