Business Leaders Convene on New York Transit Budget
The Tri-State Transportation Campaign and the New York City Partnership/Chamber of Commerce co-sponsored a well-attended June 8th meeting to discuss the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's capital program and budget shortfalls. Key leaders from New York City business, civic and labor organizations established a framework for formulating and promoting a proposal to re-fund, or "stick to" the MTA's $9.6 billion third capital rebuilding plan, which has experienced funding shortfalls from the City of New York and the federal government. Discussion focused on the need to expand as well as maintain the MTA system due to the changing landscape and economically and environmentally onerous traffic congestion. Participants also spotlighted the MTA's role in reducing car travel, the ascendancy of suburban political clout, new revenue proposals and the fate of the 1993 East River bridge toll trial balloon. Revenue issues mentioned were the benefits of funding transit with dedicated transportation user fees instead of general taxes, public skepticism that taxes will be used properly, the lack of highway account flexing for transit projects and the need to involve other partners in a new transit deal. A working group was formed to distill the discussion, line up research tasks, get others involved and report back to the group before the end of July.
