New York, NY – Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D,WF-Fresh Meadows) sent a letter to Governor Cuomo calling on the State to deliver its share of funding toward the MTA’s 2015-2019 Capital Plan.

This year’s Executive Budget proposal does not include new money or a dedicated funding stream that would allow the MTA to generate funds for its $28 billion dollar plan.

The letter led by Assemblyman James Brennan (D-Brooklyn) asks the Governor to include an appropriation in this year’s budget to eliminate the current provision that makes state money available only after the MTA has exhausted all other available funding. Lawmakers are urging immediate funding spread out over the next four years to avoid further delays of capital projects because of uncertainties in funding.

The full letter can be read below.

Dear Governor Cuomo:

We write to urge you to make good on your promise and fund the State's share of the MTA capital program – starting now in this year's budget.

We were glad to see an agreement struck between you and Mayor Bill de Blasio to fund the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s 2015-2019 Capital Program and noted your pledge in January to “modernize and fundamentally transform the MTA.” We are also pleased to see an end to the annual raids on dedicated transit funds. Now we ask you to make good on your promise and include an appropriation in this year’s budget for the 2015-2019 MTA Capital Program, and to approve the Capital Plan as soon as possible so this vital work can begin. We also urge you to convene the MTA Capital Program Review Board to approve the 2015-2019 Capital Plan as soon as possible so this vital work can move forward.

Nearly nine million New Yorkers rely on our subways, buses and commuter rail services every day. MTA service is the linchpin of the region’s economic livelihood and quality of life – and manufacturing for MTA equipment creates good jobs across the state. Yet more and more, New Yorkers are stymied by reliability and quality of service because our investment in mass transit has not kept pace with the growth in ridership throughout the region.

In 2015 and again in January, you committed to pay $7.3 billion toward the remaining four years of the MTA capital program – a necessary and important step. Unfortunately, your Executive Budget currently neither includes $0 in new money for the MTA Capital Program, nor does the budget provide a funding stream to enable the MTA to generate the necessary funds. Instead, the budget says that the MTA can seek new funds from the State only after it has exhausted all other means of funding – including taking on additional MTA debt. In order to keep the State’s promise to transit riders, the State should appropriate one quarter of the promised MTA capital funds – $1.825 billion – for each of the next four years, starting now, or provide a mechanism for the MTA to generate the necessary funds.

Funding the Capital Plan immediately would also eliminate the budget provision requiring the MTA to exhaust all other available money before State funding becomes available, decreasing the uncertainties that have led to capital projects falling behind schedule and going over budget.

Our current subway, bus and commuter rail service crisis is the inevitable outcome of unreliable public support and funding for the transit – but progress is within reach. We urge you to protect millions of daily transit riders, promote economic growth, and make our State more environmentally sustainable by following through on your commitment to fund the 2015-2019 MTA Capital Program.