Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi won more than $1 billion in federal infrastructure money for New York City through the federal infrastructure law, one of President Joe Biden's biggest accomplishments.

Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi.Photo byNYC Taxi & Limousine Commission From Flickr

The money will be used to buy electric vehicles, lower carbon emissions from freight transport, make ports more energy efficient, plan the redesign of expressways that have split communities, and make some of NYC's most dangerous streets safe.

But the $117 million she got to pay for the first mile of Queensway is her favourite. Queensway is a big plan to build a seven-mile park over the Long Island Railroad's abandoned Rockaway rail line in central Queens as part of the government Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program.

The Biggest Grant Under The Federal Infrastructure Law

The city has won the biggest grant under the federal infrastructure law, which has brought in $1.7 billion so far. Half of that money has been awarded through competitive grants, and the other half has been awarded based on population formulas.

The city wants a lot more, though. More than 200 people have asked for an extra $2.6 billion, many of which are for projects that will mostly or only give funds this year.

The infrastructure law passed in 2022, with backing from both parties, will give the whole country $1 trillion over five years.

The Gateway Train Under The Hudson River

The Gateway train tunnel under the Hudson River will get the most money and is in great need in New York. As per the final deal made public last month, the federal government will pay about $12 billion of the $16 billion cost of the tunnel. Most of this money will come from the infrastructure law, and New York and New Jersey will pay the rest.

The MTA has received $4.5 billion, with all but $400 million coming from money given out based on models. However, Gov. Kathy Hochul's choice to stop congestion pricing has put the plan to extend the Second Avenue subway line at risk and the $2 billion in federal funds that were meant to go to that project.

The MTA might not have enough money to match the building money available for projects that make things easier for people with disabilities and that are good for the environment.