On Thursday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the A and C lines will be part of the largest signal and track replacement project in Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) history. The $1.9 billion investment, made possible with funds from congestion pricing, will modernize A an d C service in Brooklyn and Queens, replacing the current signals that use technology from the 1930s. The modern system, with Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC), will permit trains to safely run faster and with shorter wait times for commuters, providing a more reliable service. “Congestion pricing keeps delivering wins for New Yorkers,” Hochul said. “Upgrading nearly 100-year-old signals does more than just modernize infrastructure that is long-overdue – it is a critical part of our plan to run better and more frequent subway service, shortening waits and slashing delays. When this project is done, hundreds of thousands of A and C train riders will benefit from the world-class service on new, modern trains that New Yorkers deserve.”   The revamp project will impact 42 track miles along the Fulton and Liberty lines and will replace the oldest remaining signal equipment currently in use by the MTA. Stations from High Street (A/C) to Ozone Park-Lefferts Blvd (A), 23 overall, will see updates. The project corridor connects to seven other subway lines, 36 bus routes as well as connections to the Long Island Rail Road. From end to end, an estimated 750,000 commuters rely on the A and C in New York City, per the MTA. The work builds on other CBTC investments serving A and C riders along Eighth Avenue between 59 St in Manhattan and High St in Brooklyn. “Signal issues are the number one cause of subway delays – no surprise considering the ancient relics we’ve been using to direct train traffic,” MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said. “Thanks to this almost $2 billion project – the largest of its kind in MTA history – we are going to be able to run more A and C trains faster, safer, and more reliably than ever before.”   Better signals, better service Signal issues are the leading cause of subway delays, according to the MTA. Much of the system runs on aging equipment with components that are no longer commercially manufactured, making maintenance increasingly difficult and expensive.   The existing signal system divides tracks into fixed sections and identifies whether a train occupies each section. CBTC provides a more precise picture of train locations and speeds, allowing trains to safely operate closer together and supporting more frequent service. The modern equipment is also less expensive and easier to maintain.   “Communication-based train control has proven to improve service for riders with faster, smoother, and more reliable trips,” NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow said. “I’m thrilled that A and C riders can look forward to experiencing a modern system that they can rely on for decades to come.”   The first phase of the signal project aims to replace aging switches and more than 250 feet of specialized track, between 104 St and 99 St in Queens.   Completion of the signal replacement project is expected in the second quarter of 2032.  ...read more read less