Transit Funding

For some reason, the governor has not appointed his three members to the 10-member panel.

Advocates unveiled a six-point policy agenda including the enactment of congestion pricing to help fund the MTA's Fast Forward plan.

The worst horror stories will be shared with state legislators, many of whom haven't taken a subway or bus in years.

Streetsblog recently spoke to Dinowitz to find out what his constituents are telling him about transit service, how he plans to use his oversight role in the Assembly, and what he thinks must be done to turn around bus and subway service.

Speaking in Manhattan this morning, Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a "state of emergency" for the MTA, giving his newly-appointed agency chairman Joe Lhota 30 days to redesign the agency's organizational structure and 60 days to address shortcomings in the agency's $29 billion, five-year capital plan.

The Albany budget deal reached over the weekend makes it official: Governor Cuomo has broken his promise to make up for cuts to the MTA payroll tax in 2011. While the state shrinks its commitment to he MTA, other Cuomo economic development priorities are moving ahead, including an expansion of the Van Wyck budgeted for $564 million.

New York derives much of its economic strengths from the city's subways and buses. Instead of using his budget to ensure that these systems can continue to support jobs and growth, Cuomo is drawing down support for transit so he can make splashy announcements about airports, highways, and convention centers.

Governor Cuomo wants to cut $65 million from the state's annual contribution to the MTA. An analysis by the Riders Alliance and Regional Plan Association identifies transit improvements that money could pay for.

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.