Tri-state transit needs at least $7 billion to recover from Sandy: Officials

MTA chief Joe Lhota told a Senate panel Thursday the tri-state area transportation system needs federal help to not only repair damages from Superstorm Sandy but to rebuild to protect against future storms at an estimated cost of $7 billion.

"Our preliminary estimates total nearly $5 billion in damages and this figure could rise," Lhota said of MTA losses.

"This figure represents just what we need to get the system back to where it was the day before the storm," Lhota said, but added "it's critical" to make investments "to protect our system from future storms."

The hearing came a day before the White House is expected to submit its Sandy disaster aid request, reported to be for about $50 billion, a number many lawmakers say is too low.

New York and New Jersey together have requested about $80 billion, which includes money needed for fixing damage and rebuilding subways, tunnels, bridges and roads.