The MTA has released its next capital program, which outlines the agency’s rebuilding and expansion plans between 2010 and 2014.

According to the MTA, 73% of the $28 billion program ($25.5 billion for NYC Transit, LIRR, and Metro-North and $2.5 billion for MTA Bridges and Tunnels) is for rebuilding existing infrastructure. The rest is for expansion projects like the 2nd Ave. Subway, East Side Access, and the 7 train extension.

According to the agency’s document, the funding gap is $9.9 billion but could end up being much more than that.  The agency assumes an optimistic 25% increase in federal funding and increased City aid.  (In June, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli warned against relying too heavily on debt to plug the agency’s budget hole.)

A preliminary look at the program finds a stronger agency commitment to bus rapid transit with $135 million going to finish the first phase of bus rapid transit projects. This includes 34th Street in Manhattan, Hylan Blvd. in Staten Island, and another project  “to be determined.”  The Select Bus Service along Fordham Rd. in the Bronx and a similar plan for Nostrand Ave. in Brooklyn were funded in the previous 2005-2009 capital program.

The plan also includes a “regional bus analysis” to investigate barriers and needs for an expanded regional system.

Other notables include movement toward smartcard technology and cashless tolling, maximizing commuter rail stations in New York City, double tracking the LIRR from Farmingdale to Ronkonkoma, and continued study of the Tappan Zee Bridge/I-287 corridor. Conspicuously missing is the LIRR third track project, which would add another track to the LIRR Main Line from New Hyde Park to Hicksville,  and improvements for Long Island Bus.

The agency will be presenting the program to the MTA Board on September 23 and will submit it to the Capital Program Review Board in October. In the meantime, the agency is accepting public comment online.

Documents are available at www.mta.info.