On March 5th, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) announced awards of $274 million in stimulus funds to the East Side Access and 2nd Avenue Subway Extension projects. The East Side Access project will receive $194.5 million and the 2nd Avenue Subway will receive $78.9 million.

Following Mayor Bloomberg's announcement that the pedestrianization of Broadway will become permanent, Department of Transportation Commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan, launched a design competition to improve the epoxy surface currently at the site. Commissioner Sadik-Khan noted that the design competition will be supplemented by capital improvements.

The Real Estate Board of New York (RENBY) has come out in support of another stop at West 41st Street and 10th Avenue as part of the Number 7 train line expansion. RENBY Chairwoman and CEO, Mary Ann Tighe, applauded the City for raising $2 billion to expand the line.

Requests for a stop at 41st Street and 10th Avenue are being revived after two years. The Real Estate Board of New York, with help from Senator Charles Schumer (NY-D), is lobbying the Obama administration for funds for the second stop. Despite this, work on the line continues as planned without accounting for the requested stop.

The Real Estate Board of New York is petitioning the federal government for stimulus funds for the Number 7 subway line extension. The project will create a subway stop at 11th Avenue and W. 34th Street and will open in three years. The Real Estate Board is also asking for an additional stop at W. 41st Street and 10th Avenue.

Progress on the East Side Access Project, which will dramatically reduce commute times for LIRR riders, is moving forward. On Monday, ground was broken on a new entrance to Grand Central at 47th Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues. The entrance will cost $14 million to construct and will open in 2011. The entrance, however, will not be completed until 2016.

As part of the East Side Access Project, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is building a new entrance to the Grand Central Terminal on East 47th Street between park and Lexington avenues. The entrance is projected to be complete and open to the public by September 2011.

City Council approved the long-awaited Hudson Rail Yards rezoning plan. The approval came after negotiations between Council members and the project’s developers, Related Companies and Goldman Sachs. The negotiation finalized an agreement where the developers would develop 1,294 affordable apartments.

The first phase of the 7 subway train extension project is complete. This first phase of the $2.1 billion project included mining through 2,900 feet to the 34th street station at Eleventh Avenue. The tunneling work is expected to be completed by Spring 2010, while the train extension project will be open for service in December 2013.

The City Council approved the West Side Rail Yards rezoning, which will cover 13 yards of a 26-acre complex with commercial and apartment buildings. The approval was made after the developer struck a deal with the City Council to include affordability requirements. At least 431 units will be set for low-income families.