Andrew Cuomo, who once had strong control over the MTA as governor, recently suggested that City Hall should take over the Transportation Authority. This comes as the mayor attempts to revitalize an independent bid after facing a significant defeat.
“I know the MTA well. It’s a huge entity—bureaucracy stacked on bureaucracy,” Cuomo remarked during a Wednesday interview on Fox 5’s Good Day New York.
“I propose that New York City take charge of its own transportation… Let the mayor handle the New York City Transportation Authority.”
Such a proposal elicited skepticism from traffic advocates and political opponents, who recalled the controversies surrounding his tenure overseeing the agency.
During his time, Cuomo faced criticism for a number of moves, such as the pursuit of former transit chief Andy Byford, spending over $100 million on decorative enhancements for bridges and tunnels, and the “Summer Hell” service disruptions in 2017, which also cost significant resources.
“Ten years went by with Cuomo in charge of the MTA. If he truly believed in city control, he could have enacted changes then,” critics pointed out.
Some feel that now, years after leaving office, his suggestions seem belated. “His remarks appear as mere political theater from someone who had their chance and failed to deliver,” they added.
John Kaehny, director of a watchdog group, pointed out that Cuomo underperformed as a promoter of subway and bus services during his governorship, calling the oversight a “constant drama.”
Cuomo also allegedly focused resources on vanity projects—like illuminated bridges—rather than on addressing the urgent needs of the metro system. Moreover, he approved a contentious law for congestion pricing in Manhattan to fund the MTA’s capital plan while overseeing the long-awaited construction of a second avenue subway line.
Responding to Cuomo’s transit takeover idea, Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa remarked, “I’m reminded of the ‘Summer of Hell'” referencing the service disruptions while Cuomo was in charge.
“Cuomo had his chance and compromised the subway system,” Sliwa stated. “Transit management isn’t something a mayor typically handles; rather, he seems eager to return to the governor’s office.”
One government watchdog suggested that Cuomo’s current bid for credibility feels “desperate.” Nicole Gelinas, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, noted, “He’s throwing out ideas to see what gains traction.”
Cuomo’s proposal emerges in a context where Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani recently gained attention for advocating a fareless bus service funded by increased taxes on billionaires and large businesses, a move requiring state approval.
“Cuomo seems to be searching for a straightforward counter to Mamdani’s free bus initiative, but that’s not really feasible,” Gelinas argued.
Reorganizing the MTA is a complex issue, particularly with nearly $9 billion in taxes being levied to support local agencies and mass transportation.
Kenny added, “That’s an impractical suggestion. It’s not going to materialize,” emphasizing that any shift would need the support of Albany, particularly from Governor Kathy Hochul, who took over after Cuomo’s administration.
Hochul has not commented on this speculative proposal, with a spokesperson stating that her focus remains on serving the millions who rely on the MTA daily.
Interestingly, this isn’t a new concept. In 2019, former city council president Corey Johnson proposed dissolving the state-run Metropolitan Transport Authority and relocating city trains and buses under a proposed “Big Apple Transit” structure.
During earlier campaigns, Cuomo suggested engaging community service workers to boost subway outreach and offer alternatives to homeless people marginalized by the transport system.
