Transit Funding
Streetsblog Basics
Silver on MTA Funding Plan: Wait Until 2012 Budget Debate
The current MTA capital budget is very bad news for transit riders, who are being asked to shoulder $7 billion in debt all on their own. Where can the 8 million daily riders who count on the MTA turn for help?
August 1, 2011
Guess Who Has a Lot to Lose From an MTA Meltdown: Drivers
Can you spot the flaw in this excerpt from the New York Times' Saturday backgrounder on MTA chief Jay Walder’s pending departure for Hong Kong?
August 1, 2011
MTA Identifies $2 Billion in Savings — Now Comes the Hard Part
Jay Walder's surprise resignation announcement last week overshadowed some important news about the MTA's finances: The agency has identified $2 billion in savings in its capital program [PDF], which maintains and expands the transit system, but expects $1 billion less in federal assistance. That brings the total gap in the five-year, $26 billion capital plan to $9 billion that must be accounted for by the end of the year. This enormous deficit will define the political context in which Governor Andrew Cuomo chooses Walder's replacement.
July 26, 2011
Mica Transportation Bill Would Devastate New York Transit
Rep. John Mica's proposed transportation bill would take a machete to federal transportation spending, cutting overall transportation funding by a third and entirely eliminating dedicated funds for pedestrian and bike infrastructure.
July 8, 2011
Will Cuomo Protect Transit Riders and Sign the Transit Lockbox Bill?
Led by Assembly Member James Brennan, the State Assembly joined the Senate and took a strong stand in support of transit riders this afternoon, passing the transit lockbox bill by a unanimous vote of 98-0. Speaker Sheldon Silver came out in support of the legislation last night, putting it on a smooth path through the Assembly. The question now is whether Cuomo will sign the bill -- and there are a few indications that he may not.
June 24, 2011
Assembly Passes Transit Lockbox, Moves on to Governor
The transit lockbox bill, designed to prevent future raids on dedicated transit funds, has passed the State Assembly, according to the Assembly's website. Having already passed the Senate, the legislation now only needs the signature of Governor Andrew Cuomo to become law.
June 24, 2011
Transit Lockbox Still Alive, Under Threat From GOP Assembly Members
Though the state legislature was expected to work well into the morning last night, dealing with major priorities like rent regulation and gay marriage in addition to lower-profile but still-important bills like the transit funding lockbox, the negotiated deals fell apart and the legislature put off all its business until this morning. The path to passage for any of those bills is a little less obvious than it was a day ago, but the lockbox still has a good chance of making it through the State Assembly.
June 24, 2011
Silver Supports Transit Lockbox, Assembly Vote Likely Tonight
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver supports the transit lockbox bill, said spokesperson Mike Whyland this evening. According to Whyland, the bill will be voted out of the Rules Committee tonight and head to the floor.
June 23, 2011
25 Senators Demand Robust Transit Funding
In a letter to Finance Committee leaders [PDF], 25 senators today urged adequate funding for mass transit in the next transportation authorization bill.
June 23, 2011