Transit Funding
Streetsblog Basics
Jim Brennan, Marty Golden Aim to Slow Transit Raids
Since 2009, Albany has stolen roughly $260 million dollars from dedicated transit funds in an attempt to plug the state government's enormous deficits. Those cuts have wreaked havoc upon the MTA's budget, precipitating major service cuts and fare hikes.
March 30, 2011
Jim Brennan’s Office: MTA Will Not Lose Another $170M in State Budget
The MTA will not lose another $170 million in budget negotiations, according to the office of Jim Brennan, who chairs the Assembly's authorities committee.
March 25, 2011
Assembly and Senate Would Strip Another $170M From Transit Riders
When Andrew Cuomo released his executive budget in February, it included a $100 million raid on dedicated transit funds. As Cuomo hammers out the budget in negotiations with the State Assembly and Senate, however, it seems that the MTA could lose up to another $170 million. Both houses of the legislature are seeking cuts and the issue appears to be very much alive.
March 24, 2011
Cuomo Budget Amendments Claim End to MTA Raids After This Year
In amendments to the state budget released last week [PDF], the Cuomo administration claims that its $100 million raid on dedicated MTA funds was a one-time deal that won't be repeated in the next three years.
March 7, 2011
Budget Woes Force MTA To Cut More Than Half of All LI Bus Lines
Nassau County's unwillingness to pay for its own buses is ending in disaster for Long Island Bus riders. The MTA has announced that it plans to cut 25 of the 48 LI Bus lines and axe weekend service on two more.
March 2, 2011
Albany Lacks Leadership on Transit as Time Runs Out on MTA Capital Funding
The MTA is still staring down a $10 billion hole in its capital plan, and the consequences of that deficit continue to roll closer. Unless money is found by the end of the year, transit expansions like the Second Avenue Subway will slow down and important maintenance will be left undone. But despite the approaching deadline, no one in Albany seems willing to step up and even begin to tackle the issue.
March 1, 2011
Bloomberg Budget Sets Up Round Two of Parking Meter Fight
Mayor Bloomberg unveiled his budget plan yesterday, including hundreds of measures to close a deficit of billions of dollars [PDF]. While the most controversial element may be Bloomberg's plan to lay off thousands of teachers, included among the smaller-scale deficit-closing measures is one that is sure to set up a fight over transportation policy. The budget again includes a 25 cent increase in the hourly rate for on-street parking in most of the city, a proposal which the City Council negotiated out of this year's budget in January.
February 18, 2011
Cuomo Cuts $100 Million to Transit [Updated]
Reactions to Governor Cuomo's proposed budget are beginning to come in. The cuts to transit, which are being pegged at $100 million, are being portrayed as painful, though perhaps not devastating.
February 1, 2011
Construction Industry Adds Muscle to Fight Against Albany Transit Raids
An erstwhile ally is getting back into the ring to fight for transit riders.
January 31, 2011
Cuomo’s Budget — And Likely Transit Raids — Coming Tomorrow
With Governor Cuomo's first executive budget set to be released, tomorrow is an important day for transit riders. We'll find out whether the new governor will continue Albany's practice of stealing dedicated transit funds to plug budget holes elsewhere, try again to reduce the state's meager contribution to student MetroCards to nothing, or decide instead to balance the state's enormous deficit without putting that burden on the still-struggling MTA.
January 31, 2011