Five biggest projects on Trump's infrastructure list

Behind the scenes for the Second Avenue subway construction site in Manhattan, New York. Image credit: amny.com — Behind the scenes for the Second Avenue subway construction site in Manhattan, New York. *Image credit: amny.com*

by ALEXIS CHASTAIN | April 18, 2017

Soon after President Donald Trump took office, two McClatchy news organizations obtained a list of 50 national infrastructure projects. The Trump transition team gave the list to the National Governor's Association, providing a possible look into the Administration's top priority projects for Trump's $1 trillion infrastructure plan.

While the program was expected to be released as early as May, on April 12, special assistant to the president for infrastructure policy DJ Gribbin said the timing of the package is still "up in the air," depending on how they decide to move it through Congress -- either stand alone or attached to another bill.

The 50 proposed projects on the list would cost a total of $137.5 billion and would create over 400,000 direct and indirect jobs. If the $1 trillion infrastructure plan goes through, here are the five biggest investments that could be granted funding and the potential jobs they could create.

1. Second Avenue Subway (Phase 2 & 3)

The Second Avenue Subway will be the biggest expansion of New York City's subway system in 50 years. Once complete, the line will stretch 8.5 miles down Manhattan's East Side, from 125th Street in Harlem to Hanover Square.

Federal cost: $14.2 billion
Key players: New York Metropolitan Transit Authority
Jobs: 16,000 direct jobs
Status: Seeks funding, Phase 1 completed

2. Texas Central Railway

With nearly 50,000 Texans traveling between Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) more than once a week, the 240-mile high-speed rail line will shorten travel time between the two cities from 3.5 hours to 90 minutes.

Federal cost: $12 billion
Key players: Texas Central Partners, LLC
Jobs: 40,000 direct jobs
Status: Planning

3. Gateway Program

The Gateway Program lays out a plan to reconstruct and modernize the Amtrak rail infrastructure in the Northeast corridor, from Newark, New Jersey to Penn Station, New York.

Federal cost: $12 billion (est. total cost: $24 billion)
Key players: Amtrack, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
Jobs: 15,000 direct jobs; 19,000 indirect jobs
Status: Planning

4. NextGen Air Traffic Control System

NextGen is an air traffic control system that uses GPS through satellite-based navigation. The FAA seeks to replace out-dated radar technologies with NextGen to shorten flight times, save billlions in fuel, and increase air traffic capacity.

Federal cost: $10 billion
Key players: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Jobs: 2,300 direct jobs
Status: Seeks funding

5. DC Union Station Expansion and Rehabilitation

This project aims to expand and preserve the 110-year-old Washington Union Station and its surrounding rail infrastructure. With nearly 37 million people passing through the hub each year, Amtrak and USRC hope to alleviate congestion and maintain efficient operations.

Federal cost: $8.7 billion
Key players: Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC), Amtrak, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Akridge
Jobs: 16,000 direct jobs
Status: Seeks funding