MTA

Governor Cuomo's proposed budget slashes $65 million from the state's general fund contribution to the MTA, breaking a promise he made five years ago. Now a bipartisan group of 65 Albany legislators are calling for those funds to be restored in the final budget.

Five years ago, Cuomo promised to allocate $320 million annually to the MTA to make up for cutting one of the agency's dedicated revenue streams. At the time, advocates warned that Cuomo wouldn't keep his promise for long. They were right: This year the governor's draft budget calls for a $65 million cut to MTA funding.

Andrew Cuomo personally intervened to get the Second Avenue Subway running by January 1. But when it comes to the less flashy task of getting the whole subway system to run reliably, the governor is nowhere to be seen.

On fare hike day, straphangers should remember that Cuomo broke a promise that would have helped keep money in their pockets.

The subways remain vulnerable to routine weather events setting off enormous disruptions, while the governor touts bells and whistles like underground internet connectivity.

"You have to have a mass transit system that people want to use," Governor Cuomo asserted at a transportation-themed press event today. At least he got that much right.

You can tell Governor Cuomo doesn't get on a New York City bus unless it's for a photo-op about on-board USB ports.

After spending the first half of the year touting frills like Wi-Fi and charging ports on buses, Governor Cuomo finally delivered some news this morning that will make a real difference to transit riders. The MTA plans to buy hundreds of open gangway subway cars, which can carry more passengers and help relieve crowding on maxed-out lines.

There's a huge disconnect between the way Governor Andrew Cuomo talks about transit improvements and the service upgrades that transit riders actually want to see.