The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) is undertaking one of the largest signal and track replacement projects in its history, fueled by a $1.9 billion allotment made possible through congestion pricing.
The project will revamp the subway services for the A and C trains in Brooklyn and Queens, taking the time to modernize technologies for faster, safer and more frequent services. The MTA will replace the 1930s-era signals and equipment located along those routes with Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC).
A total of 42 track miles will directly benefit from the updated technology, focusing on the Fulton and Liberty Lines. The project will cover 23 stations along those routes between High Street A/C to Ozone Park-Lefferts Boulevard A.
The MTA will start by replacing outdated switches and more than 250 feet of track between 104 Street and 99 Street in Queens. In a separate but related piece of ongoing work, the authority will deploy infrastructure designed to support future cell service for riders. These efforts began in 2025 and will help keep existing infrastructure in good condition.
The authority is prioritizing installation of state-of-the-art CBTC technology above all else. As a result, the MTA will be able to avoid costly maintenance of legacy systems throughout the transition and reducing the need for expensive track equipment. To further reduce costs, the MTA will implement a design-build contracting model that shifts project risks to contractors, resulting in 33 percent less signal modernization costs per mile compared to other CBTC projects.
Fully replacing the existing signal system will solve a long-running tally of issues impacting transit reliability and consistency. Currently, the system divides tracks into fixed sections and identifies whether a train occupies each section. The legacy system, however, is replete with aging equipment that is difficult to maintain due to using components that are no longer manufactured, resulting in subway delays.
Implementing CBTC will allow the MTA to receive precise pictures of train locations and speeds, outperforming the current system’s efficacy and accuracy. With the new system in place, trains will be able to operate closer together and provide more frequent service without compromising safety measures.
The MTA has already introduced CBTC technologies to other lines, including the entirety of the 7 and L lines and sections of the E, F, M and R routes. Following CBTC integration, the 7 line’s on-time performance rose from 68 percent to 91 percent. E line train speeds in Queens also increased by around 10 percent with the new system in place.
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