Back to All

A New Threat to the MTA’s Climate and Resilience Goals- Capital Committee Testimony

Good afternoon! I’m Jack Connors, Research & Communications Associate at the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, PCAC. 

Last week was UN General Assembly and Climate Week in NYC, with traffic congestion at its peak and vital conversations about reducing car dependence, our carbon footprint, and building resilient transit systems top of mind. Nearly all MTA expansion projects—including the Second Avenue Subway and IBX, along with state-of-good-repair and resiliency projects, will help us reach critically important climate goals to make our system more resilient to extreme weather – whether it be heat or water. 

However, these goals are threatened by a federal government that appears to value space for cars on the road above all else. We’ve watched with alarm as USDOT cancels RAISE Grants, originally awarded in 2022, for projects in Boston, Connecticut, and elsewhere across the country. These projects support transit, reduce our collective reliance on cars, and promote public health. We know how much safer and greener transit is compared to driving. Yet even though these projects are projected to reduce traffic violence and increase safety—a clearly stated goal of this administration and one we agree with—they seem to be at serious risk of cancellation. We know the administration’s hostility to New York over congestion pricing remains unresolved (even if the outlook is positive and the program is a major success), and stand ready to challenge their clear hypocrisy and cynicism.  

There are always challenges with capital funding. Last year at this time we were still anticipating implementation of congestion pricing and concerned about securing funding for the 2025-29 plan. If it’s not one thing, it’s another. PCAC looks forward to continuing to help the MTA and riders overcome whatever hurdles lie ahead so we can continue to build a more resilient and reliable system for generations to come. Thank you!