John Petro

The MTA’s financial situation became much murkier yesterday as Governor Cuomo announced that retroactive raises will be part of a labor agreement between the transit authority and the Transport Workers Union.

I think most transit riders would laugh -- cynically -- at the idea that the MTA has more than enough funds to meet its needs. But this is exactly what the MTA’s chairman Tom Prendergast said when he learned that the state would be diverting $30 million from the MTA’s funding stream to balance the state budget.

During his campaign for mayor, Bill de Blasio called for the creation of a citywide, "world-class" Bus Rapid Transit network consisting of at least 20 routes. These new routes would provide a crucial link for communities beyond the reach of subways and speed trips that are poorly served by the city's Manhattan-centric rail system.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Citi Bike is in the red, needing "tens of millions of dollars" to keep running.

Governor Andrew Cuomo is pushing for $2 billion in tax cuts in his next budget, citing growing surpluses. But a new report on New York City’s infrastructure from the Center for an Urban Future makes it clear that there is no surplus -- the state is responsible for billions in unfunded infrastructure repairs to city subways.

John Petro is a policy analyst for New York City affairs and the co-author of "Vision Zero: How Safer Streets in New York City Can Save More Than 100 Lives a Year."