MTA getting federal boost to cover repairs to Sandy-damaged tunnels

The federal government is picking up part of the MTA's tab for repair work to the R and G train tunnels that Superstorm Sandy took out of commission, Sen. Charles Schumer announced Tuesday.

Schumer said an $800 million package for the MTA will primarily go toward reimbursing the cost of repairs in the R train's Montague tunnel and the G train's Greenpoint tunnel. The money will also go toward repairing the No. 7 train's Steinway tunnel, another underwater tube damaged by flooding during Sandy. Schumer in October said the Federal Transit Administration will cover 90% of the $262 million in repairs to the Montague tunnel.