In May, the Straphangers Campaign, Transportation Alternatives and the Tri-State Transportation Campaign wrote to state legislative leaders requesting public legislative hearings on two upcoming MTA documents: the MTA preliminary 2005 budget, and the 2005-2009 MTA capital program. Both are expected to be released in July.

The annual budget is expected to have a $539 million deficit for 2005, which could translate into fare increases and service cuts. MTA executive director Katie Lapp has said that these changes could be announced before the end of the year.

The capital program is also of utmost importance to the future shape of the downstate region’s transportation system. Many new capital investments (and the first big system expansions in 60 years), such as the Second Ave Subway, East Side Access, LIRR Main Line third track, # 7 extension, and others will be competing for funding. The capital plan will also determine the MTA’s ability to continue to bring its systems toward a state of good repair.

In the past, the MTA has not allowed significant public input on these plans: it has publicly released them very close to the time that they were required to be adopted. Last year marked a turning point, however — the MTA released the 2004 annual budget months in advance, giving the public and elected officials had more time to respond to it.