MTA deputy director Chris Boylan recently told Crain's NY Business that "Things are getting better for us in Congress," pointing to the accession of Senator Charles Schumer and Rep. John Sweeny of the Albany area to key transit-funding committees.

But this week's NY Observer cites a crew of Congressmen pointing to tougher times ahead in D.C. for New York interests. The (in)ability of NY's delegation to coalesce around projects like the Second Ave. subway or the LIRR-Grand Central project was indeed one butt of the piece's generous supply of ironic humor.

"Things are only going to get tighter for us," said transportation expert Representative Jerry Nadler. Summing up NY's overall plight in Washington, Representative Gary Ackerman told the Observer, "It sucks."



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