New York state budget includes $27B for MTA
Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
J.P. Chan/MTA
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, Senate Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeffrey Klein and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced an agreement on the 2016-17 state budget, including a whopping $27 billion for Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
The budget holds the growth in state spending to two percent for the sixth consecutive year, continuing to reverse a decades-long trend where state spending outpaced the rate of inflation or personal incomes.
The budget contains the largest state transportation plan ever approved, with more than $55 billion of transportation investments statewide, including $27.14 billion for NEW York Department of Transportation (NYDOT) and thruway programs and $27.98 billion for MTA programs. The plan aligns capital programming for NYDOT and MTA over a five-year period (SFY 2016-20) and includes additional commitments for priority projects and programs that extend over a sixth year.
MTA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Thomas Prendergast says this is a monumental win for the people of New York and marks the largest investment ever made in the MTA.
“It is an important victory not only for New York City and its suburbs, but for all the communities across New York State,” said Prendergast. “The plan will enable the MTA to maintain critical infrastructure while renewing, enhancing and expanding our system to meet the ridership and growth demands of the future and improving the current experience for the millions who critically rely on our system each day.”
The $27 billion NYDOT capital program includes $21.1 billion for capital improvement of highways, bridges, rail, aviation infrastructure, non-MTA transit and NYDOT facilities throughout the state. It also includes $4 billion for capital investment for a sixth year.
The $27 billion MTA Capital Program includes $26.6 billion for improvement of capital facilities operated by New York City Transit, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad and MTA Bus and major initiatives including $1.5 billion for Phase II of the Second Avenue Subway. Specifically, the budget authorizes a record $8.3 billion of state support for the program.
“The governor has once again assured a year-to-year increase in state operating assistance for the transit system and brought us a significant increase in support for the MTA, including a commitment to the second phase of the extension of Second Avenue Subway to East Harlem and billions of dollars for the essential work of keeping the transit system safe and reliable,” Prendergast noted.
