Rep. Maloney started her career as an ESL *English as a Second Language) teacher in East Harlem. When her program was cut, her colleagues elected her as their advocate to restore funding - and she succeeded, setting an example that has extended throughout her career, first working with the NYC Department of Education and then as a legislative staffer in Albany. After gaining that experience, in 1982 she ran a long-shot challenge to an incumbent City Council Member in a district that spanned East Harlem, South Bronx, Manhattan Valley, and Carnegie Hill - and she won an improbably upset.
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney always works to improve the quality of life in her district, and subsequently has focused on transportation issues that impact the lives of thousands of New Yorkers on a daily basis.
2nd Avenue Subway: Building the Second Avenue Subway has been one of her top priorities since Congresswoman Maloney was first elected to Congress. New York City’s subway system has not added capacity in over 60 years, and we need to expand. Passengers on the Lexington Avenue line have the dubious distinction of riding on the most overcrowded subway line in the entire nation. There is a limit to the number of people that can be crammed into one subway car, but the Lex line seems to have exceeded that limit. A Second Avenue Subway offers a much-needed alternative for commuters. The full length subway, which will run from 125th Street to lower Manhattan, will also reach underserved neighborhoods on the East Side. Read More
50th Street Facility: Several years after the completion of its Final Environmental Impact Statement for East Side Access, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) decided to amend its original proposal which would have spread certain ventilation systems and mechanical facilities across several locations and instead decided to consolidate them into a 16 story facility on 49-50th streets between Park and Madison Avenues (the “Facility”). This caused the business community, local residents and landmark preservation experts to express serious concerns about the plan. They reached out to Congresswoman Maloney for assistance and she joined in leading a vigorous campaign. As a result, the MTA completely revised its proposal in a way that satisfied the community's concerns. Read More
63rd Street Connector: One of the first major transportation projects Congresswoman Maloney championed as a member of Congress was the 1300-foot 63rd Street Tunnel Connector. The project consisted of ½ mile of new construction and 8 miles of rehabilitation work. Designed to relieve crowding on the E and F lines and make appropriate use of the 63rd Street Tunnel, it was completed in 2001. Congresswoman Maloney worked with her colleagues in the New York delegation, particularly then-Congressman Thomas Manton who brought the idea to President Clinton's attention, to obtain federal funding. With their support, the federal government contributed $306.1 million out of a total project cost of $645 million. Read More
East Side Access: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) proposes to build a new rail link to provide direct access for LIRR riders to Grand Central Terminal. The project would bring approximately 160,000 new passengers, including 5,000 residents of Western Queens, into Grand Central Station. Congresswoman Maloney has been a strong supporter of the East Side Access project, and has worked with her colleagues to procure Congressional earmarks for the project. Read More
Long Island City Links: Long Island City Links is an initiative being developed by the Department of City Planning that will lead to a comprehensive network of pedestrian, bicycle and transit connections between Long Island City residential and business areas and new parks, retail stores, and cultural institutions. Read More
Queens Plaza Roadway: Congresswoman Maloney has worked with the NYC Department of City Planning to redevelop Queens Plaza and transform it from a pedestrian's nightmare to a welcoming gateway to Queens and Manhattan. When completed, Queens Plaza will have better traffic patterns, improved crossings, bike paths and new open space. Most of the funding for this project comes from the federal government. Read More
L Train Repairs: During Superstorm Sandy, the 100 year old Canarsie Tube that brings the L Train under the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn was flooded with 7 million gallons of saltwater and was forced to close for 11 days. The MTA tells us that this was the subway tunnel most adversely affected by the storm, and that the aging and overcrowded tunnel needs additional upgrades. Ridership on the L Train has risen nearly 240% since 1990, with an increase of nearly 470% at Bedford Avenue alone. The MTA is proposing major repairs that will have a significant impact on commuters to and from Greenpoint in Brooklyn and 14th Street in Manhattan. As part of the repairs, the Canarsie Tube will be significantly upgraded, as will the 1st Avenue and Bedford Avenue Stations. Much of the cost of the repairs will be funded from the $5.4 billion in federal funds Congresswoman Maloney and her colleagues were able to obtain to help the MTA recover from Superstorm Sandy.