Hello, I’m Brian Fritsch, Associate Director for the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, PCAC.
Our system is very old. Its needs—starkly evidenced by the explosion at the State Street Substation and the serious accompanying delays—are many. When the legislature returns in January, we hope that funding the 25-29 capital plan is at the top of their agenda.
On the operating side, PCAC believes the December Plan takes the necessary steps for a successful 2025 and beyond, but there is little margin for error.
In addition to addressing the clear risks outlined in the board book, PCAC still seeks answers to a number of budget related questions, including:
- How the reduced Congestion Pricing toll will impact the MTA’s future debt load, and how bond markets will react to a lower fee structure
- How NYCT will grapple with its shortfall in needed maintenance workers
- The impact of lagging revenue numbers despite improved overall ridership and some progress fighting fare evasion, which must continue to improve
- And how the projected $14 billion in Federal support for the next capital plan comes together under a new administration in D.C.
PCAC urges Governor Hochul to keep all the tools on hand – and to find new ones – to allow the agency to continue to provide reliable and affordable service while avoiding New Jerseyesque fare increases or service reductions. That includes flexing dollars from highways to transit, as Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro recently did to save SEPTA.
We encourage a strong equity lens as Albany weighs potential funding sources for the next capital plan.
Most importantly though, a quarter century into the not-so-new millennium, we can’t nickel and dime our aging transit system. We must fully fund the next plan to update our assets without delay. Thank you!