MTA will benefit from NYC business taxes and speed camera fines in NY’s $254B large budget
Things are moving quickly with the New Yorker wallet situation. On Thursday, lawmakers approved the details of a payroll tax aimed at funding the MTA’s ambitious capital plan as part of a $254 billion state budget. This budget outlines new revenue strategies for the MTA, such as implementing speed cameras to catch those speeding through […]
Amtrak postpones East River Tunnel repairs by two weeks after MTA issues, coinciding with Adams’ appeal to the federal government to pause.
It’s hit a snag. Amtrak has decided to delay the start of the East River Tunnel closure by two weeks, a decision that comes after concerns from Mayor Eric Adams, Governor Kathy Hochul, and others about the impact on commuting for millions. The rehabilitation project for the East River Tunnel is now slated to start […]
MTA asks judge to stop Trump administration from canceling congestion pricing.
The MTA is urging federal judges to keep a congestion pricing dispute within the courtroom rather than letting it spill into public demonstrations. In an interim injunction submitted late Monday, the MTA argues that state actions could end the program due to threats of “illegal retaliation,” effectively turning lawful actions into unlawful ones to avoid […]
MTA invested 8 years and over $3M opposing disability advocates in court: ‘shameful’
New York’s subway system is struggling with over three dozen elevators that are frequently out of service, leading to frustration among critics who claim the MTA prefers to battle activists legally rather than fix them. Currently, between 35 and 43 elevators—representing about 13% of the total—are down in busy stations like Times Square and Union […]
Amtrak criticizes Hochul and the MTA for shifting blame regarding tunnel closures that may cause delays
Amtrak’s president, Roger Harris, has sharply criticized Governor Kathy Hochul for her reluctance to take on some responsibility for the impending tunnel closure, which could lead to train delays as early as next week. In a pointed letter to Hochul, Harris expressed surprise at her final objections to the Amtrak tunnel closure plan, especially since […]
Long Island Republicans want audit of MTA, LIRR after latest tax squeeze from cash-strapped agency
Long Island Republicans have denounced the Metropolitan Transportation Agency's latest tax conditions on suburban businesses. On Thursday, they called for an audit of chronically cash-bound institutions. The comments come after Gov. Kathy Hochul and state legislators signed a deal to try and raise state payroll taxes again to promote the MTA's massive $68 billion capital […]
Hochul will make good on threat to pull $1.3B from Penn Station overhaul after Trump booted MTA from project
ALBANY — Gov. Kathy Hochul is good for her threat to withdraw $1.3 billion in state funding aimed at overhauling the much-anticipated Penn Station, she said Friday — that negotiations over her massive budget proposals have been dragged out. Hochul proposed that cash would be directed towards initiatives to address “fare avoidance and other issues” […]
Hochul, MTA set to blow off Trump deadline to kill congestion tolls
As NYC mayorate Eric Adams administration has sparked her in lawsuit and supported her to keep the highly controversial scheme alive, Gov. Kathy Hochul is set to blow another federal deadline intended to halt $9 traffic casualties to enter parts of Manhattan. Both the city and the state Department of Transport on Friday joined the […]
Metro-North worker accused of stealing about $206K over six months: MTA police
A longtime MTA worker was arrested Tuesday, authorities said. Tom Shabany, a cashier on the Metro North Railroad who worked for White Plains and logged 24 years on transport, was charged with a second grand theft when Westchester County District Attorney Susan Kakers described it as an “extraordinary violation of trust” on Wednesday. According to […]
MTA greenlights $250M for consultants to expand Second Avenue subway — which they claim will cost $4.3B per mile to build
MTA spending is like a runaway train. The Metropolitan Transportation Board tickled nearly $250 million on Wednesday for consultants on the already expensive and long-term second-venue extension of the already huge and expensive second-venue subway extension. Phase 2 of the Megaplan is expected to inhale $7.7 billion, or about $4.3 billion per mile, if you […]