Senator Chuck Schumer outlined a list of projects Monday that the MTA could soon have the funds for as lawmakers on Capitol Hill continue to debate the federal stimulus package. NY1's Bobby Cuza filed the following report.

Ten stations along the "D" line in Brooklyn could be renovated, mechanical gap-fillers at Union Square could be replaced and raised sidewalk grates with bike racks could be installed to help prevent subway flooding -- all if the federal stimulus package now working its way through Congress becomes law.

"Two years ago mass transit couldn't get the time of day, with the president, with the House, with the Senate. Because of our energy crisis, because of the changes in Washington, mass transit's day in the sun is coming back in Washington," said New York Senator Chuck Schumer.

Under the House version of the stimulus bill passed last week, the MTA would receive roughly $1.7 billion.

Altogether, that bill included $12 billion for mass transit nationwide. The Senate bill now being debated includes just $8.4 billion for transit, an amount Schumer is trying to boost.

"If we got $8.4 billion, the MTA would get about $1.5 billion. Now that's a lot, but it should be better," said Schumer.

Schumer wants to increase mass transit spending by about $6.5 billion. His amendment would provide more money for expansion projects like the Second Avenue subway and plans to bring the Long Island Rail Road into Grand Central Station.

The MTA also plans to use stimulus money to complete the Fulton Street Transit Center in lower Manhattan close to its original design.

The bad news is, the stimulus money will have no effect on the MTA's plans to raise fares and cut service, because neither the House nor the Senate bill includes operating subsidies, only money for construction projects. Even there, the help from Washington is just a fraction of the MTA's needs.

"The MTA has a capital need of $30 billion for our next capital program. So as critical as those numbers are, most of the lifting will have to be done from Albany. But every little bit counts from Washington," said MTA Executive Director & CEO Elliot "Lee" Sander.

The MTA warns its list of projects won't be final until a final bill is signed into law, which could be weeks away.