Politics
Mayor's Waterfront Infrastructure Bond Funds Long Island City Construction and Transit Projects
The New York City mayor's 2026 Waterfront Infrastructure Bond directs resources to Long Island City job sites and ferry upgrades that residents use daily.
How we reported this
The New York City mayor signed the Waterfront Infrastructure Bond Act on July 6, directing $200 million from the city's capital budget to projects along the East River in Long Island City. The legislation targets construction contracts and transit maintenance crews that operate from the neighborhood's waterfront terminals.
Why the bond matters now
City budget papers released in May showed that existing ferry and pier maintenance accounts would run short by the end of 2026 without new borrowing authority. The bond legislation passed the City Council on June 30 and took effect immediately, allowing the Department of Transportation to issue requests for proposals for two specific Long Island City sites.
Local residents who rely on the East River Ferry from Long Island City to Manhattan will see scheduled dock repairs begin in the first quarter of 2027. Construction crews will also rebuild sections of the 46th Road pier, a route used by workers commuting to Greenpoint and Williamsburg job centers. The bond paperwork lists 1,500 projected full-time construction positions tied directly to these two projects, with hiring priority language for Queens ZIP codes 11101 and 11109.
Services and daily costs for residents
The same bond documents allocate $35 million for expanded bus maintenance bays at the Long Island City depot on 21st Street. This depot serves the Q39, Q69 and B62 routes that carry thousands of riders each weekday. The additional bays are projected to reduce average repair turnaround times by two days, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's capital plan attachment.
Procurement notices for the bond-funded work are expected to appear on the city’s online vendor portal by September 2026. Contract awards will follow standard competitive bidding rules set out in the New York City Charter, with oversight assigned to the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services. Updates on individual project timelines will be posted monthly on the Department of Transportation website.