MTA To Study Lead Paint Levels when Renovating Aboveground Stations, Tracks and Trestles

East Elmhurst, NY — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the New York City Transit Authority will have to conduct studies relative to the amount of lead paint when renovating or repainting elevated subway stations, tracks or trestles across the City after Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation proposed by Senator Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst) and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowtiz (D-Bronx). Bill S.5754-A/A.7562-A was approved by both houses of the legislature in June.

“New Yorkers will feel safer knowing that dangerous lead paint levels in the subway system will be dealt with from now on. For too long, lead paint chips have been falling onto the streets, but now the MTA will have to remove this hazardous situations when it does renovations or repaints elevated parts of the subway system. This is a good first step in protecting our communities, neighbors, visitors and shoppers,” said Senator Peralta. “As the MTA is about to repaint the elevated tracks of the 7 train, a line that cuts across my district, this will be a good opportunity for the agency to tackle poisonous lead paint presence in the transit system.”

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said: “Our communities should not have to put themselves at risk because of an aging subway system. Our children walk home under the el, we have people selling food, and we have storm water that washes all that grime straight into our rivers. New Yorkers have a right to know what the environmental risks are and I thank Governor Cuomo for helping make sure that we will find out by signing our bill.”

Under the proposal, the MTA will have to submit a report formulating recommendations to eliminate any possible presence of lead paint in the elevated subway system.

Published reports indicated that some samples of paint chips falling onto the streets beneath the 7 train analyzed by the District 9 International Union of Painters and Allied Trades contained 224,000 parts per million of lead paint, more than 40 times the 5,000 parts per million legal threshold. As a result of these findings, Senator Peralta ad Assemblyman Dinowitz introduced their bill to address the situation.

“This is about protecting New Yorkers. It is our responsibility as elected officials. I want to thank Governor Cuomo for signing the bill into law as we work together to protect commuters and neighbors from lead paint exposure in the subway system,” said Senator Peralta.

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