The Senate's budget would add $150 million this year to the MTA capital program. The Assembly says the state should pick up the tab on debt service for another $600 million in MTA borrowing. It's unclear how much that plan would cost the state budget this year, but it appears as though both houses are trying to set aside another $600 million for the MTA over the course of this capital program. MTA director Marc Shaw told reporters last month that declining interest rates would allow the MTA to cover all but $600 million of its capital budget gap.

In addition, both Senate and Assembly would boost this year's State DOT's construction budget by $150 million.

The State Senate plan also adds $50 million to non-MTA transit and rail freight projects and puts $200 million back into the "multi-modal" funds for projects legislators identify in their districts. The Staten Island Advance reported that a third Island bus depot would be funded under the plan.

By law, New York's budget should be submitted by April 1st, but is traditionally completed much later. Differences in revenue projections between the two houses and the Governor's office suggest that negotiations could drag on through the summer.