Recent Streetsblog NYC posts about Transit Funding

Construction Industry Adds Muscle to Fight Against Albany Transit Raids

By Noah Kazis | Jan 31, 2011 | 1 Comment

An erstwhile ally is getting back into the ring to fight for transit riders. Traditionally, the politically powerful construction industry has focused its attention on keeping the MTA’s capital program funded. Contractors and the building trades unions depend on the MTA’s maintenance and expansion projects for business, but haven’t been so concerned if an unbalanced […]

Cuomo’s Budget — And Likely Transit Raids — Coming Tomorrow

By Noah Kazis | Jan 31, 2011 | 7 Comments

With Governor Cuomo’s first executive budget set to be released, tomorrow is an important day for transit riders. We’ll find out whether the new governor will continue Albany’s practice of stealing dedicated transit funds to plug budget holes elsewhere, try again to reduce the state’s meager contribution to student MetroCards to nothing, or decide instead […]

Cuomo Thinks MTA Payroll Tax Is “Onerous,” Wants Alternative

By Noah Kazis | Jan 21, 2011 | 9 Comments

Andrew Cuomo continues to leave the door open for cuts or changes to the NYC region’s payroll mobility tax, which raises $1.34 billion annually for the MTA. Here’s what he had to say about the tax after an event in Poughkeepsie yesterday (at minute 5:00 of the above video): It is a very onerous tax. […]

Protecting Transit Funds Tops NYLCV’s Transpo Agenda

By Noah Kazis | Jan 20, 2011 | No Comments

Environmental advocates’ agenda for the Cuomo Administration continues to take shape, with the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund yesterday releasing its Albany agenda for 2011 [PDF]. Topping the transportation agenda is a call to protect dedicated transit funds. Raiding dedicated transit funds and cutting the MTA payroll tax should be off the […]

Splinter Group of Senate Dems Want MTA Payroll Tax on Chopping Block

By Noah Kazis | Jan 10, 2011 | 26 Comments

The fate of the payroll mobility tax, which brings in $1.34 billion a year to the MTA, just grew a little shakier. The four members of the State Senate’s new Independent Democratic Conference, who split off from the minority Democrats last week, have come out with their agenda and included in it is a call […]

MTA Finances Grow Even Shakier Under GOP House

By Noah Kazis | Jan 7, 2011 | 7 Comments

The assault on the MTA’s already battered finances could now come from yet another front: the federal government. The new Republican majority in the House of Representatives passed a rule Wednesday that would allow reductions in federal transportation spending, including investment in transit. That puts previously secure federal funds on the negotiating table, making it […]

Show More Stories