NY Gov. Cuomo announces $1B federal loan to boost commuter rail safety after fatal derailment

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will receive a $1 billion federal loan to improve rail safety.

He says the safety improvements are meant to avoid a repeat of a 2013 train derailment that killed four people in the Bronx.

The money will be used for the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad, which serve the New York City suburbs.

The funding will be used to complete the installation of Positive-Train Control systems. They automatically slow the train if its safety is in jeopardy.

Cuomo also announced he is reappointing Tom Prendergast as MTA chairman.

The governor made his remarks Friday to the Association for a Better New York business group in Manhattan.

Cuomo touted the state's recent on-time budget agreement and outlined his priorities for the upcoming legislative session.