New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, two key political leaders, wrote a letter to Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chairman Janno Lieber on the 24th, informing him that they have vetoed the five-year capital plan set to take effect early next year due to uncertainties in the funding sources.
The MTA Capital Program Review Board (CPRB), responsible for approving MTA construction plans, consists of four members, with the two leaders of the state legislature occupying two seats, and the other two seats held by the Governor and Mayor.
Although the MTA board overwhelmingly approved the five-year capital plan with a 10-0 vote on September 25 and submitted it to the CPRB on October 1 as required by law, the state legislature leaders did not take a stance on the issue until December 24.
In the letter, it was stated that the proposed plan is facing significant funding deficits which need to be addressed urgently before approving the plan. Stewart-Cousins and Heastie plan to negotiate the funding gap in the upcoming fiscal year budget, set to expire at the end of March next year.
The total amount of the five-year capital plan is approximately $65 billion, with a funding gap of around $33 billion. The plan aims to improve New York City’s public transportation system, including enhancing subway accessibility, improving station facilities, installing modern fare gates, and conducting critical facility repairs.
The controversial congestion pricing policy, scheduled to begin on January 5 next year with a base rate of $9, is expected to increase to $11.25 on “Gridlock Alert Days,” as reported by the New York Post on the 26th. The MTA has designated a total of 20 such days this year, including 11 in December, 4 in November, and 5 in September.
Governor Hochul issued a statement on Thursday, indicating that she has discussed with the MTA and explicitly instructed that congestion pricing should not be increased on “Gridlock Alert Days.”
Following the veto of the five-year capital plan on December 24, according to New York State law, MTA leaders have 10 days to respond, but if the state legislature leaders do not retract their veto within 10 days of the MTA’s response, a completely new capital plan must be submitted by the MTA.
Despite the capital plan being rejected by the state legislature at the year’s end, John McCarthy, MTA’s Chief Policy and External Relations Officer, remains “optimistic.”
Governor Hochul’s spokesperson, Avi Small, stated that the MTA has presented a comprehensive plan and now looks forward to the legislature providing their suggestions.