Transit

Last week's tragic bus crash in the Bronx, which left 15 dead, has captured the attention of New York's media and political elite. Since the crash took place nine days ago, the New York Times has published no fewer than seven articles updating its readers on every detail and development.

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.

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.

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.

Governor Cuomo is coming out with his draft budget today, and some sort of transit funding raid is expected to be included in the package. The press release from his budget office includes these details about MTA funding:

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.

Andrew Cuomo continues to leave the door open for cuts or changes to the NYC region's payroll mobility tax, which raises $1.34 billion annually for the MTA. Here's what he had to say about the tax after an event in Poughkeepsie yesterday (at minute 5:00 of the above video):

The fate of the payroll mobility tax, which brings in $1.34 billion a year to the MTA, just grew a little shakier. The four members of the State Senate's new Independent Democratic Conference, who split off from the minority Democrats last week, have come out with their agenda and included in it is a call to "reform" the tax and even consider eliminating it. Any cut to the mobility tax would spell disaster for transit riders.