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NEW YORK, NY April 29, 2005 —MTA board members reluctantly voted to postpone renovating 12 subway stations because Albany's budget fell short of what they requested. As WNYC's Beth Fertig reports, the Second Avenue Subway and a Long Island Rail Road link to Grand Central may also be in jeopardy.

The Authority was hoping to get almost $8 billion from the state for the so-called mega projects. But the new MTA budget includes only $2.5 billion, more than half of which depends on a bond act voters have yet to approve.

MTA chairman Peter Kalikow said the Second Avenue Subway and East Side Access may have to go. But he said he'll lobby Washington and Albany, before the state gives the capital budget final approval.

One board member suggested stopping all spending on these projects if they're doomed, because they've already cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

However, there's a bit of a Catch 22 because federal funds are contingent on local spending.